Ravi Chandran
Draft Masterplan 2019 envisions that GSW will be transformed into a new major gateway for urban living along Singapore’s southern coast
By: Hitesh Khan/
The Greater Southern Waterfront (GSW), which extends from Pasir Panjang to Marina East, will be transformed into a new major gateway and location for urban living along Singapore’s southern coast. URA said development of GSW will take place in phases, starting with the former Pasir Panjang Power District, Keppel Club and Mount Faber in the next 5 to 10 years.
Power-Up Pasir Panjang
Built in the 1950s and 60s, the two former power station buildings, along with the surrounding disused industrial structures, form the core of the Pasir Panjang Power District. With its waterfront setting and rich industrial heritage, the district can be transformed into an extraordinary destination for all to enjoy.
Draft Masterplan 2019 says that a continuous waterfront promenade will seamlessly connect various places of interest along the GSW in future.
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Along this corridor, the new Pasir Panjang Linear Park will connect West Coast Park to Labrador Nature Reserve, and offer park users a glimpse of Pasir Panjang’s working container port and Power District up close. Other future connections will also link up places of interest along the waterfront to the hilltops for visitors to enjoy a distinctive recreational experience.
One Faber Group is studying a new funicular system at Mount Faber to bring visitors from the foothills to the hilltop and cable car station by 2023. This provides easy access to Mount Faber and the rest of the 10km-long Southern Ridges.
The Keppel Club site will be redeveloped into a new residential precinct. Future residents will enjoy convenient access to the waterfront, nature and two nearby MRT stations. The development of the site will respond sensitively to its existing context and topography, said URA. It will also be guided by a comprehensive green and blue plan that will complement the nearby Berlayer Creek and Labrador Park. The neighbourhood will be walkable, and well connected to public transport nodes and amenities.
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More recently, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong touched on GSW in his National Day Rally Speech.
He said his Government has a long-term plans to remake and take full advantage of our coastline, an that one of these plans is the GSW.
“The GSW comprises 30km of our southern coastline, from the Gardens by the Bay East, all the way to Pasir Panjang. It contains 2,000 hectares of land: six times the size of Marina Bay and in our terms, double the size of Punggol. The GSW includes the PSA city terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel, and Brani. And it also includes the Pasir Panjang Terminals too. By 2027, the city terminals will move to Tuas. Later on, in 2040, the Pasir Panjang Terminal will also go to Tuas Port. This will free up prime land for re-development. It will be an opportunity to reshape the GSW into a new place to live, work and play.”
Mr Lee said that Keppel Club, which us now a golf course, will be one of the first GSW developments.
“There is enough land here to build 9,000 housing units – HDB and private housing with waterfront promenades, with greenery, and open spaces. And that is just the start, because there is space and land for public and private housing elsewhere in the GSW too. With GSW the size of two Punggols, you get a sense of the possibilities. Think of it as Punggol by the Bay.”
More office spaces will be developed in GSW, said Mr Lee.
“Next, I go on to “work” – the commercial areas. Several big companies already have offices near Labrador Park. Such as Google, Cisco and Unilever. We will develop more office space in the GSW, like this one, which is Mapletree Business City, will bring in more jobs. People can work near where they live, and live near where they work. This will create life and activity both during the day and at night.”
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Mr Lee said that once Brani Terminal moves out, his Government intends to develop Pulau Brani together with Sentosa.
“We will build new attractions on Brani, just like we have Universal Studios on Sentosa. We will also revitalise Sentosa’s beach areas and expand its nature and heritage trails, to keep its island character. We will also link up the GSW with all the surrounding green areas, so that you have a whole connection from West Coast Park to East Coast Park, and also connect up the Rail Corridor and Sentosa. With a new green heart in the centre, Singapore will be even more of a City in a Garden.
“I have already received one special request. When we discussed these plans at Cabinet, Ng Chee Meng put his hand up, and said: “NTUC is very grateful to the Government for Downtown East. How about a Downtown South?” I said, ok, we will do that. We will set aside land for the Labour Movement to build a resort, probably on Pulau Brani. We will make this gesture, to thank our workers for all their contributions to the nation. Because Singapore is for all of us.
“Our city today comprises multiple layers and the imprints of different eras. The Greater Southern Waterfront will add yet more layers to the city.”
Prominent real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield said in August that the emaking of Greater Southern Waterfront and climate change activities could set stage for “Great Eastern Waterfront” to emerge in Singapore.
