Debate on ministries' budgets: Attorney-General's Chambers/Law -Ministry of Law

Govt to seek public ideas on rejuvenating Old Kallang Airport

Giving an update on an initiative launched last year, Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong said the Singapore Land Authority will be engaging stakeholders in the Old Kallang Airport project in the coming weeks. The initiative aims to transform
Giving an update on an initiative launched last year, Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong said the Singapore Land Authority will be engaging stakeholders in the Old Kallang Airport project in the coming weeks. The initiative aims to transform state land and properties into vibrant places that enhance the character of the precincts they are in. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Singaporeans will be able to chip in with their ideas on how to rejuvenate the Old Kallang Airport, as the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) ramps up efforts to collaborate with the public on the interim use of vacant state land and properties.

Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong announced this yesterday in response to a question by Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), who wanted to know how the Government plans to make use of state properties. He wondered if they could be used to meet social and community needs.

Giving an update on an initiative launched by the SLA and the Urban Redevelopment Authority last year, Mr Tong said the SLA will be engaging stakeholders in the Old Kallang Airport project in the coming weeks.

The initiative, named Reinventing Spaces into Vibrant Places, aims to transform state land and properties into vibrant places that enhance the character of the precincts they are in.

Separately, the SLA is also working with the National Parks Board to develop a site in Tanglin Road for community use, said Mr Tong. It will have a playground, benches and earth trail with lights.

Besides these projects, the SLA is working on an upgrade to OneMap - its free intelligent map service that gives people access to geospatial information contributed by government agencies. The upgrade, which will be launched later this year, will use 3D models and renderings to project how buildings look in a neighbourhood, even for buildings that are not yet constructed.

"This will support the efforts of businesses and the public to create new platforms and products, as well as develop services for the benefit of the community at large," said Mr Tong.

Later this year, the SLA will launch the 3D Singapore Sandbox, which will allow the authority to facilitate private sector access to 3D geospatial models and data, he added.

Mr Tong said he hoped the project would encourage the private sector to develop innovative solutions and services, and allow the SLA to get valuable feedback to improve its geospatial models.

Dominic Low

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 29, 2020, with the headline Govt to seek public ideas on rejuvenating Old Kallang Airport. Subscribe