My girlfriend and I applied for Jade Spring Phase 1 (we didn't know there were two phases when we first applied) in December last year and again received an impossible ballot number of over 1,000 (we have tried balloting a couple of times before). We resigned ourselves to our fate, hoping something better might come our way when we finally get to choose our first flat.

However, Phase 2 of the Jade Spring build-to-order project was announced recently on the HDB website. What infuriates us is that it is open to applications again. What happens to applicants who applied unsuccessfully in December? According to the the friendly HDB helpdesk staff: 'They have to send in their applications again, as this is a new announcement.'

What does this mean? It means, like all other couples who applied in December, my girlfriend and I must pay $10 (more than the cost of a lottery ticket, by the way, although chances of striking the lottery seem higher) again to take part in another draw. With perhaps another few thousand people, for the same project, on the same site, for which we applied barely three months ago.

My question is, why is this considered a new project? I'm sure there are more than enough applicants in December to fill these flats on offer now.

Even if there aren't, shouldn't these applicants be given priority?

Because we paid, because we endured the pain of large ballot numbers and because Phase 2 should not be considered a new project at all. Why do we have to pay to re-enter the balloting system?

Lim Yong Chuan