Source: CNA
SINGAPORE: Residents in Tampines can look forward to a Town Hub by 2015 - touted as Singapore's first integrated lifestyle hub in the heartlands.
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SINGAPORE: Residents in Tampines can look forward to a Town Hub by 2015 - touted as Singapore's first integrated lifestyle hub in the heartlands.
The size of seven football fields, the Tampines Town Hub will bring key facilities together.
This includes bringing together the community club, sports and recreation centre, Tampines Regional Library and HDB branch office.
The project will be managed by the People's Association (PA).
The Town Hub was announced by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan as part of the Tampines five-year masterplan.
Mr Mah, who is also an MP for Tampines GRC, said the project aims to bring residents together.
"In the old days where life was a bit more relaxed, people had more time to talk to one another, you had this natural community spirit building up. In a more hectic, faster paced lifestyle, it's harder to build. So you need to have places and spaces which will facilitate this community spirit.
"In today's world, where there are so many different interests, I think people have many different places to go to. What we hope to do with the Town Hub is actually to gather people back together again."
The Town Hub is the centrepiece of the Tampines masterplan for 2011 to 2015. Other initiatives to improve the quality of life in the town include building more and better parking facilities.
The Town Hub will take over the space currently occupied by the Tampines sports complex and stadium and it has not been decided if the existing sports facilities will be demolished, or integrated into the Town Hub.
To minimise inconvenience to users during the construction phase, PA is in talks with nearby schools such as Simei ITE to open their sports grounds to the public.
Minister Mah declined to put a price tag on the project as plans have not been finalised.
Residents will be able to give their feedback on the proposal at a two-day roadshow in the estate this weekend.
"We're going to take this feedback, and rework it together with PA, and together with our other agencies, then talk to the architects and then finally, come up with a more finalised proposal, and then go to Ministry of Finance and ask for money, ask for budget. That's the reason why I can't tell you at this stage how much it will cost," said Mr Mah.
When asked if the Town Hub will bring in more votes at the upcoming General Election, Mr Mah said this is just one project and he should be judged for his work in the last 22 years.
This includes bringing together the community club, sports and recreation centre, Tampines Regional Library and HDB branch office.
The project will be managed by the People's Association (PA).
The Town Hub was announced by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan as part of the Tampines five-year masterplan.
Mr Mah, who is also an MP for Tampines GRC, said the project aims to bring residents together.
"In the old days where life was a bit more relaxed, people had more time to talk to one another, you had this natural community spirit building up. In a more hectic, faster paced lifestyle, it's harder to build. So you need to have places and spaces which will facilitate this community spirit.
"In today's world, where there are so many different interests, I think people have many different places to go to. What we hope to do with the Town Hub is actually to gather people back together again."
The Town Hub is the centrepiece of the Tampines masterplan for 2011 to 2015. Other initiatives to improve the quality of life in the town include building more and better parking facilities.
The Town Hub will take over the space currently occupied by the Tampines sports complex and stadium and it has not been decided if the existing sports facilities will be demolished, or integrated into the Town Hub.
To minimise inconvenience to users during the construction phase, PA is in talks with nearby schools such as Simei ITE to open their sports grounds to the public.
Minister Mah declined to put a price tag on the project as plans have not been finalised.
Residents will be able to give their feedback on the proposal at a two-day roadshow in the estate this weekend.
"We're going to take this feedback, and rework it together with PA, and together with our other agencies, then talk to the architects and then finally, come up with a more finalised proposal, and then go to Ministry of Finance and ask for money, ask for budget. That's the reason why I can't tell you at this stage how much it will cost," said Mr Mah.
When asked if the Town Hub will bring in more votes at the upcoming General Election, Mr Mah said this is just one project and he should be judged for his work in the last 22 years.
