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What price Flooding?

Homeowners worried property values in flood prone areas could fall

ESTHER NG AND LEO NG WEE KEAT

estherng@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE

“It’s already clear in people’s minds which areas are flood-prone. This could dampen demand and prices for these places,” said ERA’s Asia-Pacific associate director Eugene Lim, who reckoned that both residential and commercial premises could take a hit of 10 to 15 per cent.

While it is unlikely that homeowners will rush to sell their property, “potential rental values” in these areas, which include Telok Kurau, Opera Estate and Thomson, “could possibly be affected”, he added.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer Nicholas Mak agreed: “There’s always a risk that flooding will damage cars, paintwork, plants or cause the electrical system to short circuit, something which tenants will bear in mind.”

Mr Faiek Peck, a tenant at one of the townhouses on Gentle Road, off Dunearn Road, told MediaCorp on Tuesday that he planned to move out. “We’re discussing with the owner whether we can get out of the contract or not ... If he’s not willing to improve the situation to do something to prevent it again, we’ve got to see what we can do, get lawyers involved and get out of here,” he said.

While some homeowners may want out, buyers may not want to buy, said Mr Mak.

This was on the mind of a homeowner at the Gentle Reflections development, who has been staying at a hotel with her family of four since last Saturday’s flood.

Declining to be named, she said: “Who’s going to buy now after the bad publicity?”

# CONTRARIAN WILL BUY ? ? ? ? #

Yet, in the past few days, Knight Frank’s head of business unit Daniel Leong has received a few calls from buyers interested in Tessarina, a development along Wilby Road which has been hit twice by the floods, the first in November last year.

“They’re hoping the owners would give up and sell at rock-bottom prices,” said Mr Leong. “But these owners are not moving.

If they have to sell, it’s because they need a quick sale, but homeowners in Bukit Timah are solid financially.”

While property consultants agree that property values in flood-prone areas may head south if flooding becomes a regular occurrence and flood-alleviating solutions prove ineffective, it is “too early to see longlasting change in buying and renting preferences”, said Mr Karamjit Singh, managing director of real estate consultancy Credo.

He described the three floods in the last month as “the exception” — a sentiment shared by property firm Cushman & Wakefield’s managing director Donald Han.

“Bukit Timah is famous for flooding [but NOT into the houses ? ? ? ?], yet districts 10 and 11 are the preferred location for prestigious living – people buy with their eyes open,” he said.— The floodwaters have receded, and the worry now on the minds of some homeowners in low-lying areas is that property and rental prices will follow. Real estate experts have mixed views on whether values will dip or if this is just a premature, knee-jerk reaction.

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More greenery, better drainage system

If global weather patterns bring more rain — and flooding occurs regularly — developers will need to relook the design of their developments, which could include building multi-storey car parks, architects told MediaCorp.

“It can be aesthetically pleasing with greenery and landscaping, blending in with communal areas,” Singapore Institute of Architects president Ashvinkumar Kantilal said. But this is not always possible to build multi-storey carparks when there are height restrictions. Developers also need to look at the topography of the land, said architect Dean Zhou, 34. “At the moment there’s too much ‘hardscape’. There needs to be more green turf and spaces to absorb the water,” he said.

Improving the drainage system and installing more pumps in a basement carpark are other options. Building a hump of 15cm above the minimum platform level before the entrance of a basement carpark would also help, Mr Ashvinkumar said.

ESTHER NG

More greenery, better drainage system

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CYCLING and SWIMMING

NEW CONSUMERS SECTORS

for ECONOMIC GROWTH

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PICTURE

RWS invites MONKS to PRAY for

MORE MORE MORE MORE

RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN

FLOOD FLOOD FLOOD FLOOD

GENTING SINGAPORE

BOOMZ BOOMZ BOOMZ BOOMZ

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HEARD:

GOD wants an ORCHARD RESERVOIR ? ? ? ?

may be later LATER, MBS will also become RESERVOIR ? ? ? ?

GOOD NEWS for RWS

GOOD FORTUNE for GENTING SINGAPORE

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MINISTER GEORGE YEO just told the newspapers that

SINGAPORE is just a BONSAI

[probably a WORLD CLASS BONSAI]

YOG is for the kids

equivalent to OLYMPIC BONSAI ? ? ? ?

It is easy to mess the kids up and receive no complaints.

Otherwise, like MBS is sued by the World Lawyers when there was a Mess Up ? ? ? ?

knightrider ( Date: 22-Jul-2010 10:59) Posted:

Yeh, 1,000,000 % agreed. 2 yrs ago saw the National Geographic Channel (Channel 11, now don't know what channel, bloody hell change to 3 digit to confuse us), KL build the tunnel for 2 usage - traffic and flood. That is a brilliant and wizardry ideas. And they pay in Ringgit ! We build "Marina Barlarge" in Singapore dollar. What a shame !

And spend $$ on those lousy ideas, build cyclist path or ask Pedestrian to squeeze the same path with bicycle. Read yesterday Straits Times, why must we give ways to YOG bus and they spend $$ to paint the words and sign on Express way, all this are non-sense. If the ERP is working well, then why need to give way. Use the most traditional way : "Oon Oon ....................................Oon !", then all vehicles will give way la. So simple also don't use brain and just know how to announce that YOG is exceeded the S$300million budget or more, correct me, if my figure is wronged !

Even got some ministers "don't know what is horse's long face" (in mandarin). He mentioned that hope YOG will be as overwhelming as the fever of WorldCup. I nearly fell from my chair out of laughing. Compare YOG against WorldCup. If don't have mirror also know how to urine to take a look at the reflection ! All those on top already too complacent or too comfort, please go outside to walk walk take a look how big is the world or universe, don't always sit in small Singapore and assume the tiny ideas is great- 夜郎自大. I always can't stand the Teo 46 (hokkien) !

When news telecast always say Singapore - world class standard, my friend overseas ask me "A Zoon boh" (Hokkien).

178investors ( Date: 21-Jul-2010 23:12) Posted:

PUB gave excuses; Cabinet (highest paid) gave excuses..... (When Singapore perform well, they claim all the credits leaving out the hardwork of the people. When things screwup, they claim it's once in a century event (financial crisis investment in UBS); or acts of God ( flood); or external events beyond their control (everytime economy tanks). Toss a coin: Head they look smart when singapore perform; Tail, not their fault.) ... First World logic?? really sad.

MM Lee says no amount of engineering can prevent flooding
By S Ramesh | Posted: 21 July 2010 2012 hrs

Photos 1 of 1

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew

<>

Video

MM Lee says no amount of engineering can prevent flooding

SINGAPORE : Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said no amount of engineering can prevent flooding.

He was speaking to reporters after touring the waterfront development at the Kallang and Kolam Ayer areas.

The Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme is a long-term initiative which transforms Singapore's reservoirs and waterways into vibrant, aesthetically-pleasing rivers and lakes.

Mr Lee was given an update on the developments in the area which included a 250-metre stretch of the Kallang River.

But the river's condition caught Mr Lee's attention.

He said: "The pity is with the recent rains, the water is a bit murky. But if we can find some way to prevent the silt from getting into the river, it will be bluer and cleaner at most times. You have to wait for two days (with) no rain for the silt to settle."

"But it is very beautiful. It adds to the ambience of the whole place, rather than have a dirty river, no broad walks. It shows a well cultivated and well-tended river side."

Mr Lee was asked if he thought the response from the various agencies to the recent spate of floods in Singapore was sufficient.

He replied: "How can you say that the response is sufficient? At the same time, whatever we do when we get extraordinary rains like we had recently, no amount of engineering can prevent flooding.

"There's a limited amount of space that's been dug underground, limited amount of space you can run off for canals and if you have an extraordinary rainfall, well you got to prepare for it."

Singaporeans have reacted strongly to the last three incidents of floods in different parts of the country.

The Minister Mentor acknowledged that Singapore and Singaporeans expect everything to be perfect in the country and he said the leaders tried their best to do just that.

Mr Lee added: "Somethings are beyond (that); it's an act of God unless you want to lose half the roads and have canals."

Today's visit also gave Mr Lee a glimpse of some activities like kayaking that take place along the Kallang River.

Mr Lee was accompanied by the Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim and grassroots leaders.

- CNA/al

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No way to prevent floods: MM Lee

S’poreans expect everything to be perfect, but some things are ‘an act of God’

S Ramesh

rameshs@mediacorp.com.sg

TOO BAD ? ? ? ?

ORCHARD RESIDENTS HAVE TO SHIFT OUT ? ? ? ?

SELL THEIR ORCHARD PROPERTIES ? ? ? ?

BLAME GOD ? ? ? ?

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SO GOD wants an ORCHARD RESERVOIR ? ? ? ? GOD did not ask people to buy ORCHARD properties ? ? ? ? GOOD for RWS GOOD for GENTING SINGAPORE

teeth53 ( Date: 22-Jul-2010 00:47) Posted:

Act of god, humm...for god has acted.

God is angry with us take and take, pay and pay, not giving enuff, so god acted and give us more water, especially to low landed area, and not knowing when or how it can or will stop.

If we don't learn and not enuff engineering to overcome it, will Sinjiapor be 1st class in everythings we do ?.

Leow Lee said it beyond their control, If he cannot. then seow liao, then who can ?.

Mr Lee added: "Somethings are beyond (that); it's an act of God unless you want to lose half the roads and have canals."

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UNBELIEVABLE

teeth53 ( Date: 22-Jul-2010 01:19) Posted:

and one for Sinjiapor record. one fellow citzien, it very sad.

http://www.asiaone.com/static/multimedia/gallery/100720_crash/

Tree crushes car, man dies

SINGAPORE - A driver was crushed to death by a fallen tree on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident happened along the junction of Thomson Hills Drive and Yio Chu Kang Road, a spokesperson for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said.

The tree, which was uprooted because of a heavy shower, fell on a Honda Freed and killed the driver...more.

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MM Lee says no amount of engineering can prevent flooding
By S Ramesh | Posted: 21 July 2010

ENGINEERING is DOOM ? ? ? ?

MERiTOCRACY ---->

MEDiOCRACY ? ? ? ?

178investors ( Date: 21-Jul-2010 23:12) Posted:

PUB gave excuses; Cabinet (highest paid) gave excuses..... (When Singapore perform well, they claim all the credits leaving out the hardwork of the people. When things screwup, they claim it's once in a century event (financial crisis investment in UBS); or acts of God ( flood); or external events beyond their control (everytime economy tanks). Toss a coin: Head they look smart when singapore perform; Tail, not their fault.) ... First World logic?? really sad.

MM Lee says no amount of engineering can prevent flooding
By S Ramesh | Posted: 21 July 2010 2012 hrs

Photos 1 of 1

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew

<>

Video

MM Lee says no amount of engineering can prevent flooding

SINGAPORE : Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said no amount of engineering can prevent flooding.

He was speaking to reporters after touring the waterfront development at the Kallang and Kolam Ayer areas.

The Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme is a long-term initiative which transforms Singapore's reservoirs and waterways into vibrant, aesthetically-pleasing rivers and lakes.

Mr Lee was given an update on the developments in the area which included a 250-metre stretch of the Kallang River.

But the river's condition caught Mr Lee's attention.

He said: "The pity is with the recent rains, the water is a bit murky. But if we can find some way to prevent the silt from getting into the river, it will be bluer and cleaner at most times. You have to wait for two days (with) no rain for the silt to settle."

"But it is very beautiful. It adds to the ambience of the whole place, rather than have a dirty river, no broad walks. It shows a well cultivated and well-tended river side."

Mr Lee was asked if he thought the response from the various agencies to the recent spate of floods in Singapore was sufficient.

He replied: "How can you say that the response is sufficient? At the same time, whatever we do when we get extraordinary rains like we had recently, no amount of engineering can prevent flooding.

"There's a limited amount of space that's been dug underground, limited amount of space you can run off for canals and if you have an extraordinary rainfall, well you got to prepare for it."

Singaporeans have reacted strongly to the last three incidents of floods in different parts of the country.

The Minister Mentor acknowledged that Singapore and Singaporeans expect everything to be perfect in the country and he said the leaders tried their best to do just that.

Mr Lee added: "Somethings are beyond (that); it's an act of God unless you want to lose half the roads and have canals."

Today's visit also gave Mr Lee a glimpse of some activities like kayaking that take place along the Kallang River.

Mr Lee was accompanied by the Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim and grassroots leaders.

- CNA/al

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ACT of GOD ? ? ? ?

DiD GOD plant this TREE ? ? ? ?

CLAIM against NEA ? ? ? ?

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UNBELIEVABLE

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The incident happened along the junction of Thomson Hills Drive and Yio Chu Kang Road, a spokesman for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said.

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Laulan ( Date: 20-Jul-2010 16:50) Posted:

Jul 20, 2010 (Straits Times)

Tree crushes car, man dies

By Kimberly Spykerman

AN UPROOTED tree fell on a car and crushed the driver to death during a heavy shower on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident happened at about 2 pm at the junction of Thomson Hills Drive and Yio Chu Kang Road.

Rescuers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force took 20 minutes to extricate the body of the man from the crushed car.

He was pronounced dead at about 2.50 pm.

No one else was in the car.

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can CLAIM from employer compnay where owners [shareholders] are not there ? ? ? ?

PAID by AH KONG [sharehoulders] ? ? ? ?

knightrider ( Date: 21-Jul-2010 13:20) Posted:

This are people who is "how lian", scare no people they are "reached", must stay so expensive one meh ! Stay in hotel 81 only S$81 per day ! ha ha LOL.

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Amara Hotels and Resorts,

the hospitality arm of Amara Holdings,

yesterday announced a

272-room hotel project in central Bangkok.

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SPRING CHICKEN

SUCKLING PIG

PUPPY

are ALL UNDERageD

and should be BANNED

alooloo ( Date: 15-Jul-2010 14:18) Posted:

I believe MBS need to take some responsibility...

In the first place, that youngster won't be at the crime scene, if he was prohibited to enter the casino....
"End of Story"

niuyear ( Date: 15-Jul-2010 14:16) Posted:

shall we jail the parents or the grandparents too?

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A hot-cold Goldilocks global economy spells trouble

SIMON TAY
E
Recently, Spain, another economy under scrutiny, issued a 10-year bond and allocated some US$500 million ($700 million) to China. Even the Chancellor of euro-giant Germany Angela Merkel was reassured during a state visit that the Chinese would continue to back the euro and hold European assets. Some see Europe depending on China as a sign that the latter continues to grow in global stature, payback for its past humiliation by colonial powers. I see instead an unequal, hotcold global economy that can cause problems. Problems in the eurozone loom large and will likely be protracted. Surveys show young Europeans do not expect a future that is better than their parents’. Vising Brussels last week, even amid a heat wave and the all-European World Cup Final, the economic cold could be felt.
By contrast, the Chinese economy is hot, growing at more than 10 per cent, and it is not alone. The Asian Development Bank predicts Asia, excluding Japan, will grow 7.5 per cent this year. For Singapore, after the depths of last year, the first half rebound was spectacular at 19.3 per cent. Undergrads are again becoming picky in their choice of employer and government bonuses for civil servants will resume. Yet, this hot-cold contrast with Europe does not mean Asia has emerged triumphant from the crisis. Problems in Europe can affect Asia in the future. Greece is not really the problem. The core of Europe is affected too. The United Kingdom is reining in government debt. Next year, expect Germany — Europe’s largest economy and the ultimate guarantor of the Euro and Greek bailout — to also start serious tightening. This will touch Asia. About 10 per cent of Asian products goes into Europe — mostly Germany and the key economies — and Europe is a major trader and investor.uropeans are asking Beijing to invest in their economy and the euro, even as China seeks to cool its own burgeoning growth rates. Some may see a triumph in this, that China is the big winner in the ongoing crisis. When problems in Greece began to crystallise last year, one of their first efforts was to seek assistance from Beijing.
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE ?
For Asia, the current figures may be too good. China shows signs of over heating. Beijing is struggling to prevent asset bubbles but too much credit tightening could lead to collapse. Events in their housing market will be anxiously watched.
For Singapore, the numbers rise steeply from the lows of last year. Some sectors are driven by restocking inventory and could be temporary oneoff factors, rather than indicators of a broad and sustained recovery.
The euro depreciation bears attention. It has already come down some 17 per cent compared to the yuan. German exports in recent months have soared on the back of Chinese demand. Asian consumers too will find European holidays and luxury goods cheaper. Europeans are tightening their belts to cut government spending, while hoping that selling to China and elsewhere can keep their factories busy. The hot-cold economies will seek to rebalance themselves.
The process, however, can neither be simple nor without consequences. Reacting to domestic circumstances, each region may take action that could have untoward results for others.
Asia must hope that Europeans are not entirely inward looking and pre-occupied. The way Europeans have turned to
In this engagement, equality and mutual respect in the relationship must follow. The historical European sense of superiority must be put aside and any growing sense of Asian triumphalism resisted.
The contrast between the hotcold economies reminds me of the three bears in Goldilocks. Two bowls of porridge, like today’s economy, were too hot or too cold. Only the last bowl was just right. This is not easy to emulate in the global economy. If we can’t get it right, the danger is we alternately burn, freeze and then live with the tepid.China is not, in this sense, a bad sign. But it would be best that others in Asia are also engaged.

The writer is chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and author of Asia Alone: The Dangerous Post Crisis Divide From America. He was a keynote speaker at the Asia-Europe meeting public conference in Brussels.

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Residents jittery over what the next storm will bring
SINGAPORE
Some frustrated households at Gentle Reflections have moved to hotels and serviced apartments for $700 to $1,000 a night.
Some tenants, like Mr Adre Volschenk, have had enough. The South African plans to move out of the townhouses at Gentle Road, off Dunearn Road, once his lawyer settles the lease agreement. He has lost two cars and $15,000 worth of personal items when the flood waters came on Saturday. “I’m not comfortable living here. My family is traumatised. My maid almost drowned in this whole thing,” he said. Domestic helper Lalaine Suratos, 30, awoke that morning to find the basement filled with ankle-high water, which rose to her chest and kept rising. “I had to jump onto a chair to stay above the water,” she said. If not for Mr Volschenk, who pulled her to safety, the maid would have drowned in the rising waters. The 30-year-old Filipina was warded at Tan Tock Seng Hospital after she complained of stomach cramps. She has since recovered.
The flood was the second in a month at the development. In the first, the waters rose to around knee height and Mr Faiek Peck is fed up with the landlord. He said: “If the owner isn’t prepared to do anything, we can’t risk going through this again.” He

But not all residents want out. Swiss national Frank Hemm would like to remain if the drainage issues are resolved, as his daughter attends a school in the vicinity. When contacted yesterday about the tenants’ concerns, a spokesman for the property’s management said it had “given enough help” to the residents.As it began to rain yesterday, the residents’ jitters were evident. Mr Volschenk put aside his cleaning at home and tended to the development’s underground drain, which was starting to fill up with rainwater. After 10 minutes of trying, the water pump finally kicked into life. Mr Volschenk said: “I’m just frustrated because between PUB and the management of Gentle Reflections, nobody seems to be committed to solving the obvious problem that we have over here”.

— Three days after their basements were flooded, residents of this Bukit Timah development still do not have electricity supply to their homes.has lost a Honda Stream and close to $15,000 worth of personal items. Leong Wee Keat

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Marina Barrage not the cause of floods: PUB

SINGAPORE

PUB’s director of Catchment and Waterways Tan Nguan Sen said if the water level in the reservoir exceeded its upper limit, water will be drained out, either by opening the flood gates, or by pumping the water out. Data shows that at 5.30am that Saturday, the flood gates were activated. By then, it had been raining for an hour. On the other side of the Barrage, the tide was also falling, and by 6am, the tide had fallen to below the water level in the reservoir. This allowed all eight gates to be opened fully so that the excess storm water could flow out. Mr Tan added that the Barrage helped prevent severe flooding in the immediate downtown areas, though not in places that are further upstream, such as Orchard Road.— Recent flash floods have prompted MPs and some Singaporeans to ask if the Marina Barrage was doing its job. And the PUB’s reply is yes. At a media briefing yesterday, the national water agency said data showed that during the two-hour storm on Saturday morning, the water level at the Barrage was within its capacity limits. The range is determined by several factors, including sea levels during low and high tides.

Hoe Yeen Nie