New legislation part of ongoing efforts to ensure Singapore’s long-term coastal protection plans are implemented effectively
4 March 2024 – To enable coastal protection plans to be implemented effectively, national water agency PUB will propose new coastal protection legislation to support new coastal protection measures.
2 The new legislation will seek to:
3 PUB will commence engagement with stakeholders later this year to garner feedback and seek their views on the proposed policies.
4 In parallel, since November 2023, PUB has been working on a two-year study to develop a new Code of Practice (COP). The COP will provide a set of common design standards and Operation and Maintenance requirements to guide the industry on planning, designing and construction of various types of coastal protection structures in Singapore. It will also include best practices for the implementation of multi-functional coastal protection measures.
5 Since being appointed the national coastal protection agency in 2020, PUB has embarked on several workstreams which include policy formulation, planning and site-specific studies, strengthening capabilities in coastal hydrodynamic modelling1, and launching research initiatives2 to develop effective solutions to safeguard Singapore from rising sea levels.
Update on site-specific studies
6 From 2021, site-specific studies have been launched progressively at City-East Coast, North-west Coast and Jurong Island. These studies will develop tailored coastal adaptation options and plans for each segment of the coastline, such as sea walls, earth mounds and tidal gates, as appropriate. In addition, PUB also commenced a feasibility study for coastal barriers at the South-west Coast.
7 Where possible, measures will incorporate multi-functionality and be co-located with existing or future amenities and recreational spaces. PUB will also explore hybrid solutions which could include nature-based elements. An example of a hybrid solution would be the use of mangroves or vegetation in front of coastal dikes to help with the dissipation of wave energy at the coastline.
8 The Third National Climate Change Study released in January 2024 has projected that mean sea levels around Singapore could rise by up to 1.15 metres by 2100, and up to around 2 metres by 2150. With coastal protection being a complex undertaking that requires decades of careful planning and execution, it is imperative that we ensure our long-term plans can be implemented effectively. It is also a shared responsibility that calls for collective effort from the Government, experts, industry, and community.
Footnotes:
[1] Development of the Coastal-Inland Flood Model commenced in 2021. More information available here.
[2] PUB launched the $125 million Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme (CFRP) in March 2023. Under the CFRP, Singapore's first Centre of Excellence dedicated to strengthening capabilities and expertise in coastal protection and flood management research and solutioning was set up in September 2023.
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