THINK water and you will have a good idea of the main theme running through the winning design for an ambitious $25 million makeover for Punggol.

The blueprint revealed on Friday aims to revive the coastal town's heritage as a fishing village by capitalising on its maritime setting.

There will be a 10km cycling trail in a rustic setting along the 4.2km waterway and a pedestrian 'kelong-like' bridge to recapture the old fishing days.

The waterway will also boast a coastal promenade and a host of water activities.

At the heart of the waterway in Punggol's town park will be a 'heartwave' wall boasting a mini waterfall.

Visuals on the wall will depict the history and development of Punggol from its early days to a 21st century town.

All this and more was unveiled on Friday by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan at the HDB Hub, where he announced the winner of the Punggol Waterway Landscape design contest launched in May.

Local firm Surbana International Consultants and its partner, Japanese firm Sen Inc, beat 10 local firms. Merit prizes were awarded to Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism and Co-Design Architects.

Mr Johnny Wong, HDB's deputy director of building research, said the Housing Board was won over by Surbana's concept of incorporating Punggol's unique identity into the waterway's landscape.

Construction will be completed by 2010.

Mr Mah said the Punggol project is on schedule 'and has been progressing steadily even during this economic downturn'.

Since August last year, the HDB has launched more than 5,000 flats under its build-to-order (BTO) projects in Punggol. BTO developments are built only when a certain demand is met.

The HDB plans to offer about 3,000 flats for sale annually in Punggol, subject to demand. And by the end of 2011, there will be about 23,000 flats completed.

Mr Mah said that even with the slowdown, he expects 'sufficient take-up for these flats' as people are still getting married and young families are being formed.

The HDB is targeting the sale of the first site - a mixed commercial and residential development - to the private sector in mid-2010.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.