Singapore’s only hot spring located at Gambas Avenue, Sembawang. (Photo:
Singapore’s National Parks Board (NParks) announced during a public exhibition on Saturday (25 November) that the 0.1ha Sembawang Hot Spring will be transformed into a 1ha community park by 2019, reported Channel NewsAsia.
The agency plans to retain the kampung vibe of the mainland’s only hot spring and add new facilities and attractions like a café, sheltered seating areas and a cascading pool.
“We are a concrete jungle with lots of tall buildings, highly developed places and intensified plot ratio, so to find a jewel like this in Singapore is really rare, and we’re quite determined to keep this rustic vibe with the kampung spirit going,” said Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung, who visited the exhibition last weekend.
The park will also come with a floral walk, where fruit-bearing trees like chiku and rambutan will be planted along with herbs such as ginger to recreate Singapore’s bygone era.
“Many of the residents from Sembawang and Yishun used to live in kampungs around here. They know how it was like back then and they also reminisce about the past,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the public exhibition running until 3 December showcases the proposed plans for the Sembawang Hot Spring. The public may check these plans at this link and provide feedback until 10 December.
Previously, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) purchased the land occupied by the hot spring in 1985. In 2002, it constructed most of the existing facilities there, including the standpipes, perimeter fence, concrete floor, cemented walkway and the entrance gate.
The military intends to return the land to the government, which will then give it to NParks. Construction of the community park is targeted to commence in early-2018, with completion targeted by 2019.
This article was edited by Keshia Faculin.
