For residents who have balloted for flats in Fernvale Lea, news that a columbarium would be built there in 2016 was something that they did not see coming.

They may have been aware about this when they read a recent Straits Times report on 30 Dec.

The Housing Development Board (HDB) said in the report that the "town map and site plan issued included notes which indicated that "places of worship may include columbarium as an ancillary use".

Indeed, if one was combing through the HDB website, there are disclaimers which do allude to the possibility of a columbarium - if you look real hard for it.

Here's what the HDB web page for Fernvale Lea's site map looks like:

So where's the disclaimer?

The first instinct for most BTO-hunters would be to look at the map to study the location of the BTO and probably the amenities available in the area (public transport hubs and schools) and even the 'feng shui'.

If you want to see the disclaimer, it is located inconspicuously in the bottom corner.

Can you find it?

It's the portion that is circled in red.

The website also doesn't make it easy to read the disclaimer clause even after zooming in, you have to constantly re-adjust the text to read it in full:

Are residents of Fernvale Lea justified to have their NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) moment of bemoaning the fact that a columbarium will be popping up next to their homes? Quite a number of churches and temples actually do have small wings on their premises that serve as columbariums - St Mary of the Angels at Bukit Batok is one example.

Judging by the top comments on Straits Times' Facebook Post on this issue, the answer seems to be a surprising no:

But some netizens made valid points:

The issue here is that Fernvale Lea residents feel shortchanged that due to the 'luck of the draw', their flats will be located next to a columbarium.

Even if they did their due diligence and navigated the HDB website to read the disclaimers, they are only just that - disclaimers.

The Fernvale Lea BTO launch was in 2012.

But HDB, in July this year, had awarded a tender to Australian funeral services company Life Corporation to build a Chinese temple integrated with a columbarium at a land parcel in Fernvale Link next to Fernvale Lea.

Here are a few questions to ask:

1. Are BTO-buyers, prior to this piece of news, fully aware that proposed places of worship may contain columbariums?

2. Should HDB make disclaimers on its website more clearly to BTO-buyers?

3. If HDB knows that it is going to build a columbarium around the same time as a new BTO, should HDB make it explicit that a columbarium would be built instead of what the disclaimer says that 'places of worship may include columbarium as an ancillary use'?

4. There will be some time lag between the BTO and the development of amenities around the BTO. Will it be the HDB or Town Council's responsibility to keep its buyers updated about such developments? Afterall, these BTO buyers will be the future residents.

Related articles:

Sengkang columbarium saga: Perspectives from two ends

Life Corp CEO claimed Straits Times reporter did not verify facts on Sengkang columbarium

The Sengkang columbarium saga raises important questions in land-scarce Singapore

Top image from here.

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