S1E2: Visit to East Coast: How reclamation will shape up against rising sea levels

While the future Long Island will guard against sea level rise,
the trade-offs to marine life and the East Coast’s character must
be addressed, stakeholders say.


Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a 4-part
environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits
the ground with experts. The next episode drops in August.


By end-century, Singapore’s mean sea level is expected to rise by
up to 1.15m. Now a top attraction in the area, East Coast Park
would be a place to avoid if nothing is done. 


Frequent floods are likely to put the beach underwater in the
future, as climate change continues to exacerbate rising sea
levels. And if exceptionally high tides or storm surges were to
hit, seawater levels could rise up to 5m, breaking through the
coast. The entire park, East Coast Parkway, vehicles and void
decks at housing estates like Marine Parade in the vicinity could
be submerged in water. 


To prevent this reality, there are plans to have a defence
offshore. That is Long Island, twice the size of Marina Bay
reclaimed off the east coast, with a reservoir in between.


As the June 14 oil spill has shown, human activity - if not
managed properly - can threaten coastal and marine habitats,
including the biodiversity-rich Southern Islands. 


In this second episode of Green Trails, our team heads to East
Coast Park and a lesser known habitat near Marina Barrage -
important to threatened species and likely to be threatened by
reclamation - to find answers. 


At the heart of East Coast Park, ST journalist Shabana Begum
meets with representatives from the Urban Redevelopment Authority
(URA) and National Water Agency PUB - Mr Lee Wai Kin and Mr Thoo
Jung Chee. Both agencies are spearheading the Long Island
project.


At the little-known Marina East Drive habitat, Shabana uncovers
the wildlife there when she takes a walk with Mr Lester Tan, who
chairs Nature Society (Singapore)’s Marine Conservation Group.


In the evening, Shabana returns to East Coast Park to speak with
Mr Maximus Tan, 22 and Mr Crispus Tan, 27. These youths - who
will live to see Long Island taking shape in the next few decades
- voice their aspirations for Long Island. 


Highlights (click/tap above):


2:43 What will happen to East Coast if nothing is done to protect
the shoreline? 


4:00 How will Long Island defend Singapore from rising sea
levels?


11:07 How will the authorities minimise the impact of reclamation
on marine life? 


16:13 What are the lesser-known biodiversity havens of the East
Coast?


22:04 Lester on whether marine life along East Coast will
eventually return post-reclamation


26:22 Reactions from Crispus and Maximus on East Coast's changing
landscape


32:53 Crispus and Maximus on life on Long Island, their hopes and
ideas


Read about Singapore's Long Island plan: https://str.sg/ixC7


More on the mega project here: https://str.sg/6zoP


Listen to other Green Trails episodes: 


Ep 1: Visit to Sungei Buloh: How Singapore can better host
migratory birds - https://str.sg/BrqS


Ep 3: Visit to Windsor Nature Park: Can insects in SG's backyard
be foraged
https://omny.fm/shows/green-pulse-1/visit-to-windsor-nature-park-how-big-of-a-role-can


Host: Shabana Begum (nshab@sph.com.sg)


Trail producers: Lynda Hong, Hadyu Rahim, Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh


Edited by: Hadyu Rahim


Executive Producers: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) & Audrey
Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg)


Follow Shabana on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/FEid


Read her articles: https://str.sg/5EGd


Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode
drops:


Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf


Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY


Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag


Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg


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Follow more ST podcast channels:


All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7


ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts


The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa


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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB


Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX


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