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Singapore is looking at reclaiming the northeastern coast near Lorong Halus.
According to CNA, the proposed reclamation covers two sites and will be carried out "in the near future".
One near the Lorong Halus Jetty, which is located just off Coney Island East entrance, and another down the road.
From landfill to Singapore's first manmade wetland
Many older Singaporeans would be familiar with Lorong Halus as a former garbage landfill and sewage disposal site from 1970 to 1999.
Since then, Lorong Halus became a wetland in 2011 through the national water agency PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme.
Today, Lorong Halus is a park connector between Pasir Ris Park and Coney Island Park, with the Lorong Halus bridge running through the Serangoon River.
Speaking to Mothership, President of Nature Society (Singapore) Shawn Lum shared that "the Serangoon River estuary used to host the largest flocks of migratory coastal wading birds ever recorded in Singapore, upwards of 20,000 I have been told by veteran birders."
The wetlands currently serve as the only known home of the locally endangered little grebe, which has been attracting birdwatchers since the 1960s.
Photo of a little grebe at Lorong Halus. Photo courtesy of Francis Yap.
Potential for "nature positive" reclamation
Lum believes that since reclamation efforts started in the late 1970s, "it could be argued that the principal ecological impacts in the area have already occurred."
He adds that "if best practices are used" and "biodiversity surveys of the areas that may be reclaimed show moderate to minimal impacts to benthic and nearshore marine life", impacts to water quality can be managed.
In Lum's opinion, there are two good challenges that the reclamation can potentially achieve.
First, using nature-based approaches to supplement engineering strategies, to keep sea level rise at bay.
Next, to consider establishing mudflats, ponds and wetlands to attract and support migratory birds.
"This could partially 'compensate' for what was lost in the past and also serve as a pilot project for possible nature positive, larger scale reclamation efforts in the future," he shared.
No confirmed reclamation plans
Mothership understands that there are no confirmed plans on the use of the future reclaimed land for now.
The area for reclamation is estimated at 40 hectares which is about two-third the size of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.
A JTC spokesperson told Mothership that it "called the tenders to study the possibility of land reclamation at Lorong Halus to meet future land use needs."
This would include "an environmental impact study for both marine and terrestrial receptors".
They also shared that "JTC welcomes the inputs of all stakeholders, including nature groups, to these studies when ready.”
Tenders close in July.
Top photo via Getty Images