Sengkang temple site not meant for commercial columbarium: MND
The Ministry of National Development is in discussions with Eternal Pure Land to see how the land can be restored to the original plan of a Chinese temple, Minister Khaw Boon Wan says.
SINGAPORE: The decision to award a site designated as Place of Worship to a company not affiliated to a religious organisation is a first for the Government, said National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan in Parliament on Thursday (Jan 29).
Mr Khaw said the Ministry of National Development is "in discussion" with Eternal Pure Land to "ensure that the land is restored to the original plan of a Chinese temple". He was responding to questions posed by MPs Seng Han Thong, Lee Li Lian and Lee Bee Wah.
"We now understand that the winning tenderer for this site, Eternal Pure Land, is actually a private company without any religious affiliation. From what we know, the plan of the company is to run a commercial columbarium on the site," the minister said. "This is not in line with our plan for the Places of Worship site."
He added that many temples provide an incidental columbarium service for their members and devotees, and whether the eventual temple in Sengkang will provide such a service is a decision for the temple trustees to make.
Mr Khaw said a review to improve land tender process for Places of Worship was launched late last year, for example by tightening eligibility requirements for tenderers.
"We have been engaging religious groups on the review. The Sengkang temple case has highlighted the necessity for such a review. I will provide more information when the review is completed," he stated.
The current tender process allows for religious organisations and companies to participate. This is because some of the religious organisations form companies to enable and facilitate their ownership and development of such sites.
"This has been the practice since 1991 when State Lands were put up for tenders for Places of Worship use. The assumption is that only companies affiliated to religious organisations would participate in such tenders," he added. Since 1991, seven sites have been won by companies, all affiliated to religious organisations.
Previously, property owners in Sengkang were up in arms over plans to build a Buddhist temple with columbarium services near their new homes, despite measures to mitigate possible inconveniences for residents being put in place.
The Housing and Development Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority indicated that plans for a columbarium at a Chinese temple planned in Sengkang can go ahead, despite objections from residents.
- CNA/kk
- wong chee tat :)
Showing posts with label Sengkang West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sengkang West. Show all posts
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Future residents of Fernvale Lea BTO in Sengkang West surprised by columbarium plan
They say they were unaware facility would be next to upcoming BTO area
Published on Dec 30, 2014 7:29 AM
Some future residents of Build-To-Order project Fernvale Lea claimed that the development booklet of the area showed the site was reserved for a Chinese temple. However, the HDB and URA said the town map and site plan issued included notes which indicated that "places of worship may include columbarium as an ancillary use". -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/housing/story/future-residents-sengkang-west-surprised-columbarium-plan-20141230#xtor=CS1-10
By Lester Hio
A new columbarium expected to come up in Sengkang West in 2016 to provide a resting place for the dead has already stirred up unease among the living.
Australian funeral services company Life Corporation won a tender called by the Housing Board in July to develop a Chinese temple integrated with a columbarium at a land parcel in Fernvale Link.
The proposed site sits squarely next to an upcoming Build-To- Order residential area, Fernvale Lea, which will have residents moving in early next year.
Life Corp, the parent company of Singapore Funeral Services, said the space will be used to run funeral services, columbarium space and associated services.
Life Corp CEO Simon Hoo said details of the project were still being finalised. "We are still working with the architect on the design for the look and feel of it. We expect it to be completed in 2016," he told The Straits Times earlier this month.
News of the integrated columbarium took some future residents by surprise. They said they were unaware that the site would include such a facility. They also claimed that the development booklet of the area they were issued with showed the site was reserved for a Chinese temple.
"If the plan was to have a columbarium there, then it should be written properly in the booklet," said human resources executive Josephine Soh, 28, who is moving into Fernvale Lea next year. "I know I should respect the dead, but I don't wish to live near a columbarium knowing that the dead are resting there," she said.
Others wondered how resale prices of their flats might be affected. Property executive Rite Jailani, 33, said: "The location is already not that good. It's not near the LRT or coffee shops. Now I'm scared the value of the flat will drop if people know it's near a columbarium."
In response to queries by The Straits Times, the HDB and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said the town map and site plan issued included notes which indicated that "places of worship may include columbarium as an ancillary use".
They added that the space occupied by the columbarium should be out of sight from surrounding buildings and not exceed 20 per cent of the total gross floor area of the building.
There are a few columbariums located near residential districts, such as Yishun Columbarium in Yishun Ring Road.
But some still feel that such facilities should not be near where people live. IT project manager Loh Hon Chun, 33, who has lived in Sengkang West for five years, said: "My understanding of a columbarium is that it's somewhere in a forested area, like Mount Vernon, not near somewhere with high resident density."
- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/housing/story/future-residents-sengkang-west-surprised-columbarium-plan-20141230#xtor=CS1-10- wong chee tat :)
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