ENVIRONMENT & WATER ENGINEERING
PUB COMMENCES COASTAL PROTECTION
STUDY AT CITY-EAST COAST First site-specific study is key to developing a flood resilient master plan to protect Singapore’s south-eastern coastlines from sea-level rise. PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, will commence a site-specific study along Singapore’s City-East Coast, looking into possible solutions to protect it from the threat of rising seas caused by climate change. This is the first of a series of planned studies for different parts of Singapore’s coastline, which will be progressively carried out over the next few years and are a key plank in Singapore’s long-term coastal protection plans. The study covers 57.8 km of the coastline, across three areas - Changi, the East Coast-Marina stretch and part of the Greater Southern Waterfront district. This section of the coastline had been identified to be more vulnerable and critical, based on factors such as the potential impact of a flood event, criticality of assets (e.g. airports, economic and industrial districts) and opportunities to dovetail with upcoming developments. The study will take around four years to complete, and will include work such as literature reviews to glean international best practices, collecting site data to support design works, formulating adaptation measures and pathways, and developing the designs of solutions to mitigate flood risks. Ms Hazel Khoo, Director of PUB’s Coastal Protection Department, said, “When PUB was appointed national coastal protection agency in April 2020, this study was earmarked as a significant milestone in our mission to prepare Singapore for the impacts of sea-level rise. But this is just the beginning - the real challenge is to develop solutions that are flexible and adaptive to climate change uncertainties, to safeguard our island and people from flooding risks while ensuring our coastlines remain liveable”. “This is also an opportunity for us to explore a combination of both engineering and nature-based solutions, with innovative designs, to better integrate with local development and land-use plans. This will allow us to potentially enhance the living environment and create new recreational spaces with multi-functional uses for the community like what was done at Marina Reservoir”, she added. Having divided Singapore’s coastline into different segments, PUB will adopt a phased approach to progressively roll out studies and develop protection measures for the respective segments of the coastline. Studies to protect Jurong Island and the North-West
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THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER May 2021
coast, comprising Sungei Kadut and Lim Chu Kang, will commence later this year and in 2022, respectively. The City-East Coast study will be undertaken by CPG Consultants Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Singapore-based consultancy services, infrastructure and building management firm CPG Corporation. CPG was appointed, following an open tender exercise in 2020. To augment its knowledge and capabilities in coastal protection and computer modelling, CPG will be partnering with Royal HaskoningDHV, a consultancy firm headquartered in the Netherlands, that specialises in coastal engineering, as well as with water management solutions provider Hydroinformatics Institute (H2i).
Building local expertise and engaging with stakeholders To enhance its knowledge and expertise in coastal engineering, PUB has formed a Coastal Protection Expert Panel, comprising both local and international experts in the relevant fields. The panel will share international best practices and planning considerations, and will provide advice that will allow PUB to build new capabilities and aid in its overall planning efforts. The panel is chaired by Professor Chan Eng Soon, Chief Executive Officer of the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS). Panel members include coastal engineering experts such as Professor Marcel Stive from the Netherlands, Professor Robert Dalrymple from the US, as well as Professor Robert Nicholls and Professor David Balmforth, both from the UK. Said Prof Chan, “I am glad to have the opportunity to work with a team of eminent colleagues in this field - especially in guiding PUB as it embarks on the monumental task of protecting Singapore from flooding due to intense rainfall and rising sea levels. Our aim is to function as an independent advisory body to PUB’s coastal protection efforts”. Besides consulting experts, PUB also intends to adopt a collaborative approach as it develops the strategies and solutions to protect Singapore's coastlines. The agency will work closely with the community and relevant stakeholders, including nature groups and businesses, to seek their feedback on the proposed coastal protection measures and explore opportunities to create a vibrant living environment in harmony with nature.
