Fernvale residents can look forward to a new integrated community facility by the second half of 2020.
Sengkang West MP Lam Pin Min yesterday said the project - which will house the Fernvale Community Club, a wet market, a hawker centre and a childcare centre - is on track.
It is currently in the design stage, Dr Lam told reporters at a carnival celebrating his ward's 11th anniversary. A tender will be called "very soon" and work will begin shortly.
Sengkang West started as a ward under Ang Mo Kio GRC in 2006 and was carved out as a single member constituency ahead of the 2011 General Election.
At the carnival, Dr Lam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong - who is an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC - unveiled the facade of the facility, which will be built on the site of the former Fernvale Point.
The winning design was picked by residents out of three options, and clinched 80 per cent of about 5,400 votes cast.
Since the lease for neighbourhood shopping mall Fernvale Point expired in April 2015, residents in Sengkang West have raised concerns over the lack of a wet market, and also asked for hawker centres and childcare centres in the area.
Dr Lam, who is Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport, announced last year that the National Environment Agency had approved a wet market at the site.
Madam Tan Bee Neo, 57, who used to "jalan-jalan" (walk around) Fernvale Point frequently, quipped: "I was wondering when the new centre would be ready. I was getting bored."
The retired stallholder is looking forward to the wet market and going for activities at the community club.
The carnival, organised by the Sengkang West Citizens' Consultative Committee, saw Dr Lam, PM Lee and Ang Mo Kio GRC MPs Darryl David, Intan Azura Mokhtar and Koh Poh Koon mingling with about 3,000 residents.
Dr Lam, who has overseen Sengkang West since 2006, took stock of how the estate has changed.
"From a very ulu (remote), quaint little estate, it has transformed into a very vibrant place, especially for young families," he said.
There are now about 64,000 residents in Sengkang West, up from 25,000 a decade ago.
And more new homes and facilities are being built, he added.
For instance, the Sengkang General Hospital will be completed next year and open in phases.
Noting the perennial requests from his residents for more public transport options, Dr Lam said connectivity in the area has seen a significant boost.
He cited two new bus services, and the deployment of two-car LRT trains - up from single-car trains when the system was first launched - to ease the peak-hour crunch on a service that has seen heavier demand due to a growing population.
For sales consultant Nadiah Mohamad, who is planning to have her first child next year, the upcoming integrated facility could not have come at a better time.
"My husband and I work, so having everything in one place is convenient for us. We can rush to pick up our kid at the childcare centre there, then grab food nearby at the hawker centre," said the 34- year-old. "People used to say there's nothing in Sengkang. But new things are coming up fast."
