Ways Singapore government uses to increase land

Land reclamation is exceptionally important for a highly populated country like Singapore. Land reclamation has helped Singapore to increase the amount of land for us to use. For example, building more homes in private and public housing estates and recreational facilities and also to expand commercial and industrial activities and transport needs, which include roads, expressways, the Mass Rapid Transit System and airport facilities
Land reclamation method:
The landfill method is used to reclaim land from the coast and the swamps in Singapore. It is also used in reclamation works involving the merging of islands. One such project is the amalgamation of Pulau Sakra and Pulau Bakau into one big island called Pulau Sakara, which is ten times the size of the two former islands.
In the early years, the fill materials evacuated from the hills in Bedok, Siglap, Tampines and Jurong were used for filling the reclamation areas. In recent years, sea sand obtained from the seabed is the main source of fill materials for reclamation. The reclamation contractors import the sea sand from the neighbouring countries such as Indonesia.

The following is the stages of landfill method:

1) Piles are first forced into the seabed to make it stable.
2) These piles ensure that the land will not collapse when put into use.
3) A sand wall is then built to keep seawater out.
4) Sand stored at the sea is sucked up
5) Sand fills enclosed area and spread around the area
6) Sand is compressed
7) Granite wall built to prevent soil erosion by waves
8) Vegetation and trees are grown to prevent soil erosion
9) Land ready for used in 1 to 5 years

Advantages:

1) Jobs will be created for local people.
2) Lots of different types of waste can be disposed of by landfill in comparison to other waste disposal methods.
3) The gases given off by the landfill site could be collected and used for heating.
4) Waste transport costs will be reduced, as our waste will only have to travel a short distance to landfill. This will also reduce the amount of pollution caused by transporting the rubbish.
5) Local rubbish will be dealt with locally instead of shifting the problem to another area or country.

Disadvantages:

1) Dangerous gases are given off from landfill sites that cause local air pollution and contribute to global warming.
2) Local streams could become polluted with toxins seeping through the ground from the landfill site
3) Once the site has been filled it might not be able to be used for redevelopment as it might be too polluted.
4) The trucks delivering the waste to the site are very big and noisy. They will spoil the peace and quiet in the area and could also contribute to traffic congestion (traffic jams) in the local area.
5) The gases given off from the site as the waste begins to decompose (break down) will cause the air in the local area to be smelly.
6) Landfill achieves a lower conversion of wastes into energy than other waste management options. (E.g. incineration)
The following is some articles on the issues regrading Singapore's land reclamation activities:
Jakarta says it wants to stop sand exports to Singapore
Straits Times, Singapore, 09 Feb '02
Government allows sand exports to continue
Jakarta Post, Indonesia, 16 Feb '02
Local media absorbed by land reclamation issue
Straits Times, Singapore, 13 Mar '02
Government restricts coastal sand extraction to aid environment
Jakarta Post, Indonesia, 29 Jul '02
House calls for sand-mining ban as marine damage looms
Jakarta Post, Indonesia, 10 Sep '02
Land Reclamation at Pulau Tekong - First studies 'show adverse effects'
Straits Times, Singapore, 03 Jan '03
KL calls for immediate halt to Singapore's land reclamation
Straits Times, Singapore, 14 Jan '03
Malaysia wants further study on Singapore land reclamation
Straits Times, Singapore, 30 Jun '03
Singapore reclamation works 'hurt Johor fishing'
Straits Times, Singapore, 09 Jul '03
Singapore, KL to settle land reclamation dispute
Straits Times, Singapore, 14 Jan '05
Singapore finds it hard to expand without sand
Environmental News Network, 15 Apr '05
Adapted from: http://thisisfetish.tripod.com/id25.html

Land rehabilitation is the process of returning the land in a given area to some degree of its former state, after some process (industry, natural disasters etc.) has resulted in its damage. Many projects and developments will result in the land becoming degraded, for example mining, farming and forestry. While it is rarely possible to restore the land to its original condition, the rehabilitation process usually attempts to bring some degree of restoration. Modern methods have in many cases not only restored degraded land but actually improved it, depending on what criteria are used to measure 'improvement'.
The following is the stages of land rehabilitation:
1) Waste dumps are contoured to flatten them out, to further stabilise them against erosion.
2) If the ore contains sulfides it is usually covered with a layer of clay to prevent access of rain and oxygen from the air, which can oxidise the sulfides to produce sulfuric acid.
3) Landfills are covered with topsoil, and vegetation is planted to help consolidate the material.
4) Dumps are usually fenced off to prevent livestock denuding them of vegetation.
5) The open pit is then surrounded with a fence, to prevent access, and it generally eventually fills up with groundwater.
6) Tailings dams are left to evaporate, then covered with waste rock, clay if need be, and soil, which is planted to stabilise it.

Advantages:
1) Land would be saved and not be poured down the drain
2) Requires countries with warm weather, such as Singapore (E.g. to evaporate dams)

Disadvantages:
1) Requires lots of manpower
2) Very unlikely to restore the land to its original condition
Increase price of land is one method that Singapore adopt to reduce the high demand for land. This discourages people from having the land and makes land in Singapore a precious one.

Advantages:
1) People will treasure the amount of land they have and utilise it to the maximum
2) Discourage people from purchasing large properties which are unnecessary for them. (E.g. Big house for small family size)

Disadvantages:
1) Buyer will have to pay a high price for a bigger property and may not be able to afford one.

Maximise existing land use in urban area such as Sengkang. It could be achieved by building taller buildings with more facilities in it.

Advantages:
1) It will be more convenient for shoppers in a shopping centre as there is a wide variety of things sold and public transport, such as MRT and bus interchange, is made available.
2) Reduce air pollution as people will not have to travel from one place to another to get what they want.
3) Time would be saved as people can do things one time off.

Disadvantages:
1) During peak hours, the place would be overcrowded and might cause some traffic jam. Moreover, we may have to wait for a longer time for what we want.


Maximise existing land use in agricultural area by improving farming methods, such as terracing, irrigating and soil-less farming.

Advantages:
1) Less manpower will be needed to complete a certain task as some processes can be done with the help of machines.

Disadvantages:
1) When farming methods are improved, more machines would be used and unwanted gas would be given out, thus this will lead to global warming.

Reflection:
Personally, I feel that the best method that Singapore has adopt is maximizing land use in urban areas. Issues have been brought up regarding land reclamation and I do not wish seeing Singapore in bad terms with her neighbouring countries because we, as citizens, require their help (E.g. Water supply). While land rehabilitation can be a good choice, I find that it is very probable for a land to not be in its original after destruction. In my opinion, the idea of increasing the price of land is not feasible because it is just like a kind of restriction that ‘forbids’ people from buying the land, which may be put into good use. Maximising the land use in agricultural areas can be considered but not a high percentage of Singapore’s land is used for farming.
This change (the increase of land) is inevitable because of the growing population and also the need to sustain economy growth. Demands for more buildings to be built are unavoidable as people now have higher expectations (More facilities, entertainment etc.) of a developed country like Singapore. The government should be responsible for the change as they are the ones who know exactly whether there is a need for a structure to be built or for the land to be used. The whole nation will benefit from this change. It will attract more tourists with better facilities and entertainment centre (E.g. Casino). Singapore will need to employ more high and low skilled foreigners to do relevant jobs and to be competitive in the workforce. Furthermore, citizens will be able to afford to own a property which would not have been possible with the shortage of land. There is always a limit that Singapore can increase her land as she is a small island.