3 - Holland Bukit Panjang Town Council

town
events
Residents lining up to poll for the three-in-one upgrade at Holland Close.
An Inside-out Revamp
Holland Close neighbourhood gets three-in-one upgrade
A
three-in-one revamp will be carried out in Blocks
31 and 32, Holland Close at a single go.
Residents staying in the two blocks
comprising 322 units, will soon benefit from the Home
Improvement Programme (HIP) and Lift Upgrading
Programme (LUP) and the Neighbourhood Renewal
Programme (NRP).
Residents polled at the void deck of Block 32, Holland
Close on Sept 18 and 19. Guest-of-honour Mr Lim Swee
Say, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC (Buona Vista),
graced the event on the first day. He toured the exhibition
on the upgrades and a mock-up flat of prospective HIP
improvements.
All three required a 75 per cent consensus to proceed.
More than 80 per cent of the households gave their
support for all three upgrades.
The HIP and LUP will be overseen by the Housing
and Development Board. Residents need only pay as low
as $680 to enjoy the benefits of a refurbished home with
essential upgrades and optional new fittings, plus new
lifts that stop at every floor.
The exterior surroundings will also be spruced up
under the NRP. Residents can look forward to upgrades
that include a community plaza between the two blocks,
a playground, a fitness area and a barrier-free access
ramp at Block 31.
The upgrades will begin with the LUP in the first
quarter of 2011. All three upgrading programmes are
targeted to complete by end 2013.
73-year-old housewife, Mrs Leong Weng Cheong has
been living in Block 32 for 35 years. “I’m happy that these
upgrades are going to take place. It’s too bad that my
two children who live on their own now won’t be able to
enjoy them,” she said.
Mr Lim Swee Say chatting with
residents as he toured the exhibition.
One of the facelifts include a new community plaza.
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 2
Fresh Look,
New Branding
Ulu Pandan’s new neighbourhood logo to adorn six blocks in Ghim Moh
R
epair and redecoration works
are currently underway at
Blocks 1 to 6 in the Ghim
Moh neighbourhood. This is part of
the cyclical renewal and restoration
process that all HDB blocks enjoy
every seven years.
This time, however, a lot of “heart”
is going into the works that will last
seven to eight months and are due for
completion at the end
of the year.
In an effort to portray Ulu
Pandan as “a great place to live in”,
designers have come up with a new
neighbourhood logo, in consultation
with Mr Christopher de Souza, MP
for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC (Ulu
Pandan).
The logo will be painted at the side
of the blocks, “to welcome residents
back home every day”.
The neighbourhood logo shows
the national flower–Vanda Miss
Joaquim, with a heart within the
petals, surrounded by leaves. The heart
represents the firm community bonds
residents in the area enjoy.
“This captures our slogan, ‘Ulu
Pandan, Our Home’, and should
promote a ‘cherish our home’ feel
among residents,” says Mr De Souza.
“We also aspire to be a sophisticated
new town surrounded by nature, and
the green leaves reflect this”.
Many people come to the famous
Ghim Moh market from all over
Singapore, and Mr De Souza hopes
the new mural design, visible from
the market, will promote a sense of
belonging and community pride within
the estate.
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 3
town
events
Now open:
Door to Convenience
Dr Teo Ho Pin opens the Fajar LRT station’s side door
B
lock 449 resident Mr
Ong Kheng Guan is
a happier commuter
and resident now. With the
opening of the new side
door at Fajar LRT station,
the 56-year-old now enjoys
complete shelter from rain
and shine as the side door
connects to a network of
covered linkways.
“It’s really very
convenient now,” says Mr
Ong, who attended the
opening ceremony for the
side door on Aug 29,
“There is no need to carry
an umbrella on rainy days.”
Together with MP for Bukit
Panjang Constituency Dr Teo Ho Pin,
about 100 residents, grassroot leaders
and LTA representatives celebrated
the opening with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony, followed by a lion dance
performance by troupe members from
Bukit Panjang Community Centre, as a
symbol of an auspicious beginning.
The opening of the side door is
a much anticipated addition to the
neighbourhood, which some residents
called “the missing piece of the jigsaw
puzzle”.
Since the construction of six
covered walkways serving Blocks
447 to 453 of Bukit Panjang Ring
Road under the barrier-free access
programme, residents had enjoyed
Dr Teo and residents are delighted by the opening of the side
entrance.
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 4
seamless, sheltered access
right up to the LRT station,
save for a tiny hurdle: the
covered walkway leads up to
Fajar LRT station’s emergency
exit, which allows commuters
to exit the station but not
enter it.
Before the opening of
the new side door, users of
wheelchairs and prams had to
make a detour along a narrow
sidewalk to enter the station
via the main entrance. The
width of the sidewalk can
hardly fit a wheelchair and
a slip may cause the user to
tumble into oncoming traffic. But now
such accidents can be prevented.
Resident Madam Lim Ai Kheng
who does her grocery shopping at the
supermarket in Fajar shopping centre
opposite the station is rejoicing over
this modification. “I can save more
steps now, by exiting the supermarket
through a side door facing the LRT
station’s side entrance. It’s faster.”
Residents no longer need to make a detour along the narrow path
to enter the LRT station.
New Facilities, New Options!
Bukit Timah residents now enjoy covered linkways and Barrier-Free Access (BFA)
ramps between blocks, plus a new multi-purpose court
Covered Linkways
at Blocks 6 to 8,
Toh Yi Drive
W
ith the new
covered linkways,
residents need
not worry about walking
under the sun or in the
rain anymore. For some, it’s
even a shortcut to school.
Moving around is also made
easier with the barrier-free
access ramps for the elderly
residents and those who uses
prams and trolleys.
“I can get to
school faster with
the new linkway.
It’s really useful
for me!”
– Mr Gian Yisong, 20, Block 10 resident and
student of Ngee Ann Polytechnic
“The BFA ramps
will help my aging
parents in future,
when they can’t
use the stairs.”
– Teng Jing Ying, 21, Block 7 resident
Multi-purpose Games
Court at Block 286,
Toh Guan Road
“We really enjoy
the new court
and environment.
”— Siblings Melissa, 17;
Mervin, 12; Merric, 11, with
their mother, Mrs Ling
(second from right)
Residents near Block 286 Toh Guan
Road now enjoy more recreational
space with a new multi-purpose games
court. Completed in August this year,
the court is often abuzz with residents
playing games such as badminton,
sepak tekraw and volleyball.
“This is my first time playing
volleyball at this court.
Although there is another
court nearby, it is often fully
occupied. The new court gives
the residents more space for
­their recreation.”
– Clarence Tan (right), 17, seen here with his
schoolmate Lip Koon
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 5
town
events
Barrier-free access ramps make moving around easier for residents, especially pram-users and the wheelchair-bound.
We Hear you!
Residents of Blocks 621 and 623 in Senja Road gets two new
linkways after raising concerns to their MP
W
hen Mr Liang Eng Hwa,
MP for Holland-Bukit
Timah GRC (Zhenghua)
made house visits to Blocks 621 and
623 Senja Road in 2008, residents
enquired about the possibility of
constructing covered linkways that
connect the two blocks to the bus stop.
“It was very problematic whenever
it rained as there was no shelter to the
bus stop,” said Mr Toh Thiam Siew, a
resident of Block 623.
In June this year, two years after the
request was raised, two linkways are
completed– one connecting Blocks 623
and 621, the other connects Block 621
to the bus stop along Senja Link.
After garnering feedback from the
residents and Grassroots Organisations
(GROs) in Zhenghua, the town council
carried out site surveys and feasibility
studies to ensure that construction
of linkways was possible within the
allocated budget.
Further input was sought from
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 6
Residents are now sheltered all the way from their homes to the bus stop.
Zhenghua Citizens’ Consultative
Committee and Housing Development
Board before construction began.
Mr Ng Choon Joo, Senior Property
Manager of Holland-Bukit Panjang
Town Council underscores the
importance of residents’ feedback.
“Residents are the users of the estates
and their views and opinions should
always be taken into consideration,” he
explained.
This sentiment is appreciated by
residents like Mr Toh, “I’m very glad
that our feedback has been heard. Now
that sheltered linkways connect the
blocks to the bus stop, we won’t get
drenched during downpours if we are
not carrying umbrellas.”
in
focus
Say ‘No’
to Monkey Menace
Monkeys are fascinating to look at,
but feeding them will do them more
harm than good.
Save the monkeys by not feeding them
M
onkeys are fascinating
creatures to look at. But
they can also be a serious
nuisance if they come into our estate
and steal food from us.
The Holland-Bukit Panjang Town
Council has been receiving feedback
about stray monkeys roaming around
Bukit Panjang, Cashew and Zhenghua
area. But there have been no reported
attacks since they were first sighted
here in June 2008.
Monkeys belong in the wild where
there is plenty of food available. They
are part of their natural habitat’s
ecosystem. By feeding in their natural
habitat, monkeys help our forest
regenerate and ensure a balance in the
forest.
Humans alter their natural
behavior when we feed them. They
become familiar with humans and rely
on us for food. Instead of foraging for
food in the wild, they will enter our
estates to look for food.
When food is denied, it might
result in ugly conflicts between the
monkeys and humans. They also
tend to turn aggressive when they are
provoked or feel threatened.
For the safety of your loved ones,
please do not feed the monkeys and
just observe them from a distance.
Keep the Monkeys at Bay
Here is what you should do to ensure the monkeys do not become a
menace:
• Do not offer food to the monkeys
• When leaving the house, close windows and doors
• Do not keep fruits and other foodstuff in the open when monkeys are around
• Close your refuse bins tightly
• Fences with barbed wire should be put up in you stay in a private estate
If the monkeys enter your house, scare them away by spraying water at them or create noise. You can also call the town council at
1800-766-9100 if the problem gets out of hand.
Residents should keep the
windows and doors close when
there are monkeys around.
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 7
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 8
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 9
cover
story
Unique Sporting Facilities Near you
B
esides the newly opened CTC, there is no lack of places where residents can stretch their muscles in Bukit
Panjang— from fitness corners conveniently located at all estates to neighbourhood parks conducive for leisurely
walks or jogs. On this page, we suss out two lesser-known and unique sporting facilities near you.
Condo-like: Tennis Court at Segar Road
Tennis-loving residents can
make use of the two courts at Block
478A Segar Road. Run by the Segar
Residents’ Committee and right below
some blocks of flat in the Segar estate,
the facility is very popular with the
residents living in the area.
Location: Block 478A Segar Road Cost: $3/hour
Opening hours: 7.30pm to 9.30pm (Mon to Fri)
Booking enquiries: Segar Residents’ Committee office
Block 475 Segar Road, #01-430 Tel No: 63106131
“The fees are reasonable
and I find that the game
keeps me fit and alert.
It’s also great fun for the
whole family, good for
bonding,”
– Secretary Sharon Goh, 43, who
has been practicing on these courts
for the past five years.
Take a bow: Zhenghua’s archery range
For those willing to try something
different, archery is an excellent
option. Located on the fourth floor of
Zhenghua Community Club (CC) is
the indoor range where Mr Mohamad
Jafaar, 46, runs basic classes for
beginners.
Mr Jafaar teaches basic and
intermediate levels, going through
theory, safety, bow set up and
practical lessons. After completing
the basic course, trainees may join
the archery club and make use of the
outdoor range.
The basic course of four sessions
costs $80 for PAssion Card members
and $90 for non-members. Public can
sign up for lessons on-line or at the
CC.
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 10
Location: Zhenghua Community Club
1 Segar Road
Cost: Club fees at $144/year (adults);
$96/year (students)
Opening hours: 9am to 6pm from Tuesdays to Sundays
Booking enquiries: Call Zhenghua CC at 63103702
in
focus
Keep your home
m
zzie-free
while you are away
Find out how you can prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your house
C
ome every November and December, many families
in Singapore pack their bags and head for their
holiday destinations overseas.
Mosquitoes can breed even when you are not at home.
Therefore, it is important to keep your neighbourhood
dengue-free, even while you’re away.
For more information, please visit
www.dengue.gov.sg or call National Environment
Agency’s dengue hotline at 1800-X-DENGUE
(1800-933-6483) or 1800-333-7777
Mozzie-proof your Home
Follow the steps below to keep your home mozzie-free during your holiday:
• Cover all toilet bowls
• Turn over all the pails and containers that trap water
• Cover the gully traps so the mosquitoes cannot fly down the pipe to lay eggs
• Add sand granular insecticide to
• Clear blockages and add BTI potential breeding areas, such as insecticide in roof gutters
vases and places where stagnant water could not be removed
• Cover the bamboo pole holders with caps
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 11
in
focus
Our heartiest congratulations to councillors who had been
conferred the National Day Award 2010!
Mr Neo Say Keong, BBM
Mdm Ng Siew Hua, Linda, PBM
Mdm Ng Sor Kheng, PBM
New Term, Fresh Blood
The Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council welcome fresh faces into various committees:
Member
Mr Nah Tua Bah, PBM
Chairman
Mr Yap Yew Choh,
Kenneth
Member
Member
Mdm Ong Siong Ai, Mr W K Yip, Aloysius
Margaret
Member
Mr Lee Mau Hin
PROJECT
Member
Mr Gan Giap Leong,
PBM
Member
Mr Han Peng Siew,
Marcus
Member
Mdm Ke Chui Khim
Member
Mr Tan Yong Kwang
Congratulations to them on their new appointments!
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 12
STRENGTHEN
YOUR BONES
and
a firm
firm body
body
and get
get a
and get a firm body
with
workout
with just
just 29
29 minutes
minutes workout
In
Singapore,
over
the past
past 3
3 decades,
decades,
In
Singapore,
over
the
In
Singapore,
over
the
past
3
decades,
hip
fractures
in
women
aged 50
50 and
and
hip
fractures
in
women
aged
hip
fractures
in
women
aged
50
and
above
have
increased
5 folds
folds from
from
above
have
increased
5
above
have
increased
5
folds
from
75
cases
to
402
cases
per 100,
100, 000
000
75
cases
to
402
cases
per
75
cases
to
402
cases
per
100,
000
population.
population.
population.
Strength training helps to increase bone density and is especially important
Strength
training
helps
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density
and is
especially important
Strength
training
helpstoto
tolose
increase
bone
density
important
for
women,
who tend
muscle
mass
at the and
rate is
ofespecially
1% per year
in their
for
women,
who
tend
to
lose
muscle
mass
at
the
rate
of
1%
per
year
in
for
women,
who
tend
to
lose
muscle
mass
at
the
rate
of
1%
per
year
in their
their
late 30s and 40s. This muscle often gets replaced by fat. Muscles cushions
late
30s
and
40s.
This
muscle
often
gets
replaced
by
fat.
Muscles
cushions
late 30s
and
40s.protect
This muscle
gets replaced
bymention
fat. Muscles
cushions
joints
and
help
againstoften
osteoporosis,
not to
the trimmer,
joints
and
help
protect
against
osteoporosis,
not
to
mention
the
trimmer,
joints
and
help
protect
against
osteoporosis,
not
to
mention
the
trimmer,
tighter appearance you’ll gain by toning up. So women of all ages should take
tighter
appearance
gain
by
up.
tighterimmediately
appearance you’ll
you’ll
gainstrength
by toning
toning
up. So
So women
women of
of all
all ages
ages should
should take
take
action
and start
training.
action
action immediately
immediately and
and start
start strength
strength training.
training.
Strength training also jump starts metabolism, burning more calories even
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training also
jump
starts metabolism,
burning
more calories
even
Strength
jump
metabolism,
burning
even
after
you training
leave thealso
gym
- andstarts
this goes
on for hours!
Yetmore
mostcalories
Singapore
after
you
leave
the
gym
and
this
goes
on
for
hours!
Yet
most
Singapore
after youare
leave
the gym
- and
this goes on
hours!
Yet most
Singapore
women
unaware
of the
importance
of afor
sound
strength
training
program.
women
are
unaware
of
the
importance
of
a
sound
strength
training
women are unaware of the importance of a sound strength training program.
program.
With
smaller
and
lighter
equipments
that are
are designed
designed specifically
specifically for
for women,
women,
With
smaller
and
lighter
equipments
that
With
smaller
and
lighter
equipments
that
are
designed
specifically
for
women,
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company started
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has
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1998
has
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the
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your
views
Thank You
for Stopping the Flow!
Efficient town council staff
rectify residents’ water
seepage problem
M
r Ku Khok Peng, Bert,
a resident of Block 206,
Clementi Avenue 6 first
noticed water seeping through his
master bedroom and living room walls
in June, when Singapore was hit with
intense rainstorms.
Mr Ku quickly contacted the town
council to find out what could be
done. He was attended to promptly. As
a result of the freak weather, the town
council saw an increase in the number
of feedback on water seepage problem,
which is more common in older flats.
Town council’s staff were kept on
their toes, ensuring that the residents’
concerns were addressed.
Depending on the urgency of
the case and the availability of the
contractor, the residents’ problems
are usually resolved within a week or
1
2
maximum two weeks.
Pleased with the service, Mr
Ku wrote to the town council to
commend Senior Property Officer, Ms
Razlinda Binte Saparwan.
The efficiency of Senior Property
Officer, Mr Bahtiar Bin Ismail had left
Ms Chong Yih Tyng impressed too.
“He was constantly prompt in
my returning calls. Without being
asked, he would follow-up with the
contractors and made sure my flat’s
leakage problems were rectified,”
wrote the resident of Block 114
Clementi Street 13 in her compliment
letter.
Is your flat leaking?
The signs of water seepage:
3
5
1) Flaking on the walls or ceiling
2) Water seeping through walls or from the ceiling during heavy downpours
3) Yellowish or brownish water stain marks where the seepage occur
4) Walls feel cold and damp
5) Bulging wall paint
Call the town council at 1800-766-9100 if you
notice any of the above. We will send our officers to
assess the problem and assist you in resolving it.
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 14
spot
the difference
your
views
Can you spot five
differences from the
pictures below?
Circle the differences
and you could be one
the 10 lucky winners
of a $50 shopping
voucher!
Name:
Address:
I/C No:
Contact No:
Congratulations!
Here are the winners of last issue’s
“Spot the Difference” quiz!
1) Siti Mariam Bte Abu Bakar - SXXXX345Z
2) Liew Yuen Foo - SXXXX044H
3) Toh Lay Hwa - SXXXX964H
4) Ajay Sasidharan - SXXXX221B
5) Lindy Tay - SXXXX058Z
6) Terence Lee - SXXXX215I
7) Susan Lee Hong Kiow - SXXXX091B
8) Loh Chee Chuan - SXXXX593I
9) Christopher Jonathan - TXXXX062B
10) Muhammad Khairi Bin Abdul Talib - SXXXX574D
✁
Send us your entries by Dec 11
to the following address:
“Spot the Difference!”
Holland-Bukit Panjang
Town Council
Blk 256 Bangkit Road #01-71,
Singapore 670256
We Remove your
Bulky Item for Free*!
Call us at 1800 7669100 or 6416 7900
to make an appointment
*This free service applies only to residents staying in HDB estates.
It does not include the removal of renovation debris, dismantling and
the removal of built-in furniture.
Holland - Bukit Panjang Town Council 15
Did you miss out
on any of our stories?
p02
p02 Coming Soon:
Facelift at
Holland Close
p03
p05
p07
p11
p03 Ulu Pandan’s
New Logo
p07 Stop the
Monkey Business
p05 What’s
Brand New at Bukit
Timah?
p11 Keep your home
mozzie- free