The Labrador Park

[Singapor3]

Yeah call Clift, would love to meet my Spmate..

[^tamago^]

Nature lovers fear coral project will cause damage
But NParks says it is not true that artificial reef structures harm the environment
Straits Times, The (Singapore)
Home, Pg H5
November 26, 2007
Author: Shobana Kesava



A GROUP of nature lovers say the coral and marine life of Labrador Park is being destroyed by the very structures which a Singapore Polytechnic (SP) team built to save it.

The enthusiasts, who have posted their views on an online blog belonging to a Ms Ria Tan, have observed that, at low tide, 2m-long structures made of PVC pipes and concrete can be seen lying on the shore.

The pipes and struts, which shift on the silty sand, are crushing the seagrass, they say.

Ms Tan, 46, told The Straits Times she saw such a structure on Labrador beach in the middle of last year, but didn't know what it was until this newspaper ran a report on them last month.

She said: 'My initial blog entry was to find out whether what I'd seen on the beach last year had anything to do with The Straits Times article, because it had a striking resemblance.

'I didn't expect to get such strong responses from readers.'

The nature activist leads a group of about 100 volunteers who scour Singapore's shores at low tide to document the range of marine life there and what affects it.

The structures she and some readers of her blog have seen are what the SP team calls 'seacils' - frames of concrete, PVC piping and plastic on which the team hopes that coral and marine life - which it rescued from a Labrador Park site slated for dredging by the Maritime and Port Authority - will take hold.

It is too soon to say if this conservation effort is succeeding.

But the 40 seacils in the SP project were laid in place about 100m offshore.

Of the seacils, National Parks Board (NParks) spokesman George Tay said: 'The project is not harming the environment, since the artificial reef and garden sit on the sea floor, away from the natural coral reef zone of the nature reserve.'

Those on the beach could have come loose and been washed ashore, he said, adding that NParks had asked the SP team early last week to remove them.

He said the structures are in the process of being removed.

When The Straits Times revisited Labrador beach yesterday, one such structure, with two larger moulds to build it, were still on the beach, just like they were last month. Some PVC piping had been removed.

Asked about the structures on the shore, their creator, a volunteer on the SP team, Mr Charles Rowe, said that was where the team has been building them since March last year. When completed, they are moved out to sea.

Captain Frederick Francis, who heads the SP volunteer team, confirmed that the team had been asked by NParks to remove the structures from the beach.

He maintained that the structures were not damaging marine life, and that sea grasses and algae can be seen growing on the beach.

Professor Leo Tan, former chief of NParks, said, while those trying to do good for the environment should not be discouraged, experiments should be monitored more closely, with NParks, scientists and sociologists working with them.

Prof Tan, himself a marine biologist, said: 'The only way to find the right technique to regenerate corals is to conduct experiments like this, but the project's methodology has to be made clear and follow-through must go on for up to 10 years before we know if an experiment is a success.

'Projects should not just be praised at the outset and forgotten.'

skesava@sph.com.sg

Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited

[RafflesCity]

New connectors to link Southern Ridges to waterfront

14 May 08

A SERIES of connections will provide a seamless link at the Southern Ridges from Alexandra Road to the waterfront at Bukit Chermin, the Urban Redevelopment Authority announced on Wednesday.
Along the way, visitors can take in the greenery and rustic charm of the mangrove areas of Berlayer Creek, and the waterfront views at Bukit Chermin.

The Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk was first announced last Saturday by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the official opening of the two pedestrian bridges - Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch - at the Southern Ridges.

URA said the plan is in line with its efforts to further enhance the attractiveness of Singapore's Southern Ridges and southern waterfront as yet another leisure and recreation destination for Singaporeans and visitors.

The Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk will offer three distinctive experiences:


Alexandra Road Garden Trail
Berlayer Creek Mangrove Trail; and
Bukit Chermin Harbour View Walk

'When completed, the Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk will not only open up stretches of inaccessible coastline for the public's enjoyment, but also link up the attractions in the Southern Ridges and the southern waterfront to form a comprehensive recreational corridor,' said the URA.

'The project will allow visitors seamless connectivity while enjoying a variety of recreational activities.'

Visitors can enjoy scenic hilltop and nature walks across Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill and Kent Ridge Park, wine and dine at the food and beverage outlets at Gillman Village, explore the Berlayer mangrove creek, and take in the views of the Keppel Bay enroute to Harbourfront.

Said Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, Chief Executive Officer of URA: 'The Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk, when completed, will allow us to better appreciate some of the very special places on our island that were previously not accessible.

'Together with the earlier completed links at Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch at the Southern Ridges, this new project will further realise our plans to create a memorable experience for Singaporeans and visitors in this part of Singapore.'

Construction for the Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk is scheduled to start in 2009 and it is expected to be completed in 2011.

The 830 metre Alexandra Road Garden Trail will stretch along the eastern bank of Alexandra Road between Depot Road and Telok Blangah Road.

It will be well connected to the Southern Ridges recreational corridor and the HortPark. The nearby Gillman Village and the recently completed Alexandra Arch will also act as attractions for the users of the park connector.

In line with the Garden Trail concept, footpaths and cycle paths will meander around the matured roadside trees along Alexandra Road, and special landscaping such as flowering shrubs will add interest to the walk. There will also be rest points and information centres along the trail.

The second segment of the project is the 960 metre Berlayer Creek Mangrove Trail. Berlayer Creek is one of the few mangrove areas located in the southern part of Singapore and in close proximity to the city area.

The proposed mangrove trail will offer urbanites a quiet nature retreat from the busy city life and the opportunity to enjoy the natural charm of the mangrove.

The Bukit Chermin trail will culminate at the 330 metre Bukit Chermin Harbour View Walk proposed at the mouth of Berlayer Creek.

This elevated boardwalk on sea will skirt around the foothill of Bukit Chermin, and connect to the future promenade of the Reflections at Keppel Bay condominium eastwards and Labrador Park westwards. Rest points along the boardwalk will allow visitors to soak in the beautiful southern waterfront views of Keppel Harbour and Sentosa.

A New Playground in the South

The Southern Ridges, Labrador area and Keppel waterfront will collectively form a major recreational and leisure destination at the southern part of Singapore.

Two attractive linkages at the Southern Ridges - Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch and their connecting elevated walkway - are now open to the public.

Visitors can take a seamless stroll from HarbourFront MRT station all the way to Kent Ridge Park through a series of other interesting trails.

Mount Faber, a key node within the Southern Ridges, has also been revamped to cater for better facilities such as restaurants and eateries while developments along the Keppel waterfront such as St James Power Station, VivoCity and Harbourfront Centre have anchored the waterfront as a leisure and vibrant commercial centre.

[hyacinthus]

have u tried the southern ridges yet?

[kurakura]

Originally Posted by hyacinthus

have u tried the southern ridges yet?

isit open at nite?

[hyacinthus]

I guess it's open for 24 hours.

[Cliff]

Originally Posted by hyacinthus

I guess it's open for 24 hours.

I somehow find this reply so midly satirical and witty that its funny.

[Cliff]

Originally Posted by Singapor3

Yeah call Clift, would love to meet my Spmate..

Sorry, I wasn't following this thread. I'm Cliff, not that condo at Mcullum St. lol. You're in SP? What course? I'm graduated tho, after May 30th

[xtemujin]

Reading the "URA annouces plans for Labrador Nature & Coastal Walk" the name Berlayer Creek and Bukit Chermin does not ring any bell for me.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/text/2008/pr08-52.html

It'll be great if the Labrador park will be connected from West Coast park to the Harbourfront/Vivocity area.

Right now walking from the main road to the up slope of Labrador Park is the main challenge for people without their own vehicle.

I hope to see some of the map plan for the Labrador area.

Construction for the Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk is scheduled to start in 2009 and it is expected to be completed in 2011.

The Southern Ridges was expected to be completed at the end of 2007 but it was only officially opened on 100508(Sat) a delay of nearly five months.

Here are some photos of the Labrador Nature Reserve taken by me on 200508(Tue), so 3 years from 2008, we'll see a newer and better Labrador Nature Reserve and hopefully I'm still around and able to update my Flickr album on 2011.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtemuji...7605131773911/

[RafflesCity]

Originally Posted by xtemujin

Reading the "URA annouces plans for Labrador Nature & Coastal Walk" the name Berlayer Creek and Bukit Chermin does not ring any bell for me.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/text/2008/pr08-52.html

It'll be great if the Labrador park will be connected from West Coast park to the Harbourfront/Vivocity area.

Right now walking from the main road to the up slope of Labrador Park is the main challenge for people without their own vehicle.

I hope to see some of the map plan for the Labrador area.

Bukit Chermin is a little hillock opposite Keppel Island beside the Reflections at Keppel Bay. There are several colonial houses on it:

image hosted on flickr


It is currently inaccessible from Labrador Park. URA's plan would be to create a boardwalk to link up the coastal areas facing Keppel Island. Berlayer creek is a canal beside the land that used to house shipbuilding activities I think. There used to be an army camp there I believe (Tanjong Berlayer camp).

[xtemujin]

RafflesCity,

Thanks for the heads up.

Yeah, Bukit Chermin is currently inaccessible from Labrador park .

[redstone]

Hmm currently the BnW bungalows are all SLA property, handed down from the RAF when they withdrew. Would it be a good idea to make them all conserved and sell it to private owners?

[RafflesCity]

These bungalows are definitely worthy of conservation.

[RafflesCity]

The bungalows at Bukit Chermin will be sold on tender for Hotel use in November this year.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/text/2008/pr08-62.html

"The 3-ha hotel site at Bukit Chermin Road, located next to Keppel Club, comprises four black and white bungalows set amidst a hilly terrain. The sale of this site for hotel development is timed to coincide with the completion of the Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk nearby in 2011. Together, the Bukit Chermin hotel development and the Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk will enhance the attractiveness of Singapore’s Southern Ridges and Southern Waterfront as a premier leisure and recreation destination."

[Autobots]

offical opening Labrador Nature & Coastal Walk this morning:-

（新加坡讯）耗资1000万元，全长2.1公里的拉柏多自然与海岸径(Labrador Nature & Coastal Walk)已在今早正式开幕。

这个结合了茂盛绿林、独特红树林及怡人海景，于去年中动工的本地最新悠闲好去处共分三段，一边衔接拉柏多公园和南部山脊(Southern Ridges)，另一边则连着私人公寓吉宝湾映水苑(Reflections at Keppel Bay)。

[xtemujin]

Some photos to share.

http://xtemujin.wordpress.com/2012/0...alk-singapore/