Ground-Up Initiative, turtle museum’s move to replacement site in Chencharu delayed
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SINGAPORE - Non-profit organisation Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) and the Live Turtle Museum in Lorong Chencharu in Yishun have yet to move into their replacement sites after works were delayed when the contractor of the project went bust.
The 1.2ha area, adjacent to HomeTeamNS Khatib, was supposed to be completed by December 2023. But the contractor, Double-Trans, ran into financial difficulties and ceased operations in August 2023, the Housing Board said on June 12 in response to The Straits Times’ queries.
HDB appointed a new contractor, Chye Joo Construction, to take over the project earlier in 2024. The preparation work for GUI’s replacement site was completed in end-April, while the Live Turtle Museum’s site was completed on June 11, it said.
HDB said it has been in touch with the organisations to initiate the handover of the sites, but GUI has not received final approval from the authorities to begin construction works on the replacement site. Works on the Live Turtle Museum were also stalled as it is a sub-tenant of GUI.
“In the meantime, HDB will continue to maintain the sites until GUI and Live Turtle Museum are ready to take over their replacement sites,” it said.
GUI, which is known for its focus on sustainability and community building, and the Live Turtle Museum have to vacate their current premises in Lorong Chencharu to make way for new developments in the area .
Their tenancies, which were due to expire in June 2023
Mr Cai Bingyu, executive lead of GUI, said the non-profit organisation is struggling to raise funds for the construction costs of its new premises, which amount to about $4.5 million.
The first phase of works, which includes basic facilities and amenities such as utilities and toilets, will cost about $2 million, he said. The organisation has raised about $246,000 so far.
Mr Cai Bingyu, executive lead of Ground-Up Initiative, says the non-profit is struggling to raise funds for the construction costs of its new premises.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
“We are planning our last fund-raising event before the move, but ticket sales have not been good,” he added.
The two-day fund-raising concert, which will be held on June 28 and 29 at its current space in 91 Lorong Chencharu, is expected to raise about $80,000 before expenses if all 1,500 tickets are sold, Mr Cai said.
Around 75 were sold as at June 12.
Mr Cai said he hopes the first phase of works will be completed by the first quarter of 2025.
Meanwhile, Ms Connie Tan, owner of the Live Turtle Museum, said the ongoing construction works in the area have attracted animals such as monkeys, monitor lizards, otters and rats to the museum.
“Some of my turtles have been injured in attacks by predators.
“When Orto moved out and construction started, the turtles also started getting sick because the environment became dusty,” she said, but declined to reveal how many turtles had been affected.
The museum has about 700 turtles.
Orto leisure park, which moved out of its Yishun premises in June 2023, was popular for its food and beverage outlets, trampoline park, and prawning and fishing businesses.
Ms Connie Tan, owner of Live Turtle Museum, said some of her turtles had been injured in attacks by predators, after construction works in the area began.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
To address the pest issue, HDB said it has sealed the gaps between the hoardings and ground with a cement base and installed a rubber mat between the worksite gate and ground. Its contractor also engaged a pest control specialist.
In response to the sightings of monkeys and otters, the National Parks Board (NParks) will activate patrols in the area to “condition” them away from the site, HDB added.
NParks will also rescue and relocate monitor lizards if they are found in the area, it said.
Ms Tan said the number of visitors to the museum has fallen by 90 per cent since the works began in June 2023, as the hoarding and construction vehicles in the area have deterred people from visiting.
They would have to pass through a small lane, which is used by heavy vehicles, to get to the museum, she added.
The Ground Up Initiative located at 91 Lorong Chencharu, on June 12, 2024.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
In a video posted on the museum’s TikTok page in April, Ms Tan said the museum was “in trouble” as its revenue could only cover less than 30 per cent of its operations cost.
“The video went viral with more than 600,000 views and more people started coming, so our situation has improved slightly. But we are still eating into our savings, which we need to build the new building,” she said.
HDB said it has been engaging the Live Turtle Museum to address feedback on reduced footfall. In July 2023, it constructed a staircase leading to the museum from Yishun Avenue 2 to give visitors another route to get there.
To address the issue of construction vehicles along the driveway leading to the Live Turtle Museum, HDB said it coordinated with the museum in April 2024 to manage ground traffic and ensure that such vehicles do not affect visitors’ access.
In June, it also created a new access point for construction vehicles to enter their worksites, to minimise heavy vehicle traffic along the driveway, it said.
HDB added that it had offered in April 2024 to put up signs to inform the public that the Live Turtle Museum’s business remains in operation, but this was not taken up.
