Comments on: A nature resort in Singapore - Does it make sense? http://www.starbamboo.com/2007/11/21/a-nature-resort-in-singapore-does-it-make-sense/ Saving the environment with eco-friendly bamboo flooring - in Singapore and around the World. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:22:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Anonymous http://www.starbamboo.com/2007/11/21/a-nature-resort-in-singapore-does-it-make-sense/#comment-1175 Anonymous Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:45:05 +0000 http://www.starbamboo.com/2007/11/21/a-nature-resort-in-singapore-does-it-make-sense/#comment-1175 Hi, A clearer source of info would be the minister's speech transcript. You can access it here: http://app.mti.gov.sg/default.asp?id=148&articleID=11661 Additional info is from personal communications with the members of the parties involved. The freshwater development would be technically a zoo, with man-made exhibits featuring non-native wildlife. It would be built on land that has long been gazetted to the zoo. It is being considered as an expansion plan for the zoo's remaining undeveloped land. Total land area given to the zoo in the 1960s was 90 hectares. Currently, only 28ha (Zoo), 40ha (Night Safari) and approx 3-5ha (Support facilities) have been developed. By mid next year, boats operated by the zoo will begin to ply the Upper Seletar Reservoir, offering rides to visitors. This is supposedly the first phase or a trial for the freshwater development which isn't confirmed yet and may not be built eventually. You are right to say that the spa resort is a pure money spinner. It will be completely profit-driven and run by investors. Ultimately any tourism development in S'pore has the utilitarian aim of increasing tourism receipts. This is the sad truth. All around the world, nature is being exploited for the sake of tourism, and the trend is likely to keep growing. Humans collectively have failed to appreciate the value of nature other than in terms of dollars and cents. Hi,

A clearer source of info would be the minister’s speech transcript. You can access it here: http://app.mti.gov.sg/default.asp?id=148&articleID=11661

Additional info is from personal communications with the members of the parties involved.

The freshwater development would be technically a zoo, with man-made exhibits featuring non-native wildlife. It would be built on land that has long been gazetted to the zoo. It is being considered as an expansion plan for the zoo’s remaining undeveloped land. Total land area given to the zoo in the 1960s was 90 hectares. Currently, only 28ha (Zoo), 40ha (Night Safari) and approx 3-5ha (Support facilities) have been developed.

By mid next year, boats operated by the zoo will begin to ply the Upper Seletar Reservoir, offering rides to visitors. This is supposedly the first phase or a trial for the freshwater development which isn’t confirmed yet and may not be built eventually.

You are right to say that the spa resort is a pure money spinner. It will be completely profit-driven and run by investors.

Ultimately any tourism development in S’pore has the utilitarian aim of increasing tourism receipts. This is the sad truth. All around the world, nature is being exploited for the sake of tourism, and the trend is likely to keep growing. Humans collectively have failed to appreciate the value of nature other than in terms of dollars and cents.

]]> By: Hun Boon http://www.starbamboo.com/2007/11/21/a-nature-resort-in-singapore-does-it-make-sense/#comment-1172 Hun Boon Fri, 23 Nov 2007 01:53:55 +0000 http://www.starbamboo.com/2007/11/21/a-nature-resort-in-singapore-does-it-make-sense/#comment-1172 Hi Anonymous, Thanks for the comment. If your info is accurate, then ST has run a misleading piece. It would be much better if you could quote the source of your info. :) I would support a project of education and conservation value. The Mandai forests might not be in the best shape now, but I've no doubt that if properly cared for, they would be rejuvenated very quickly. My concern for the fresh-water development is that if not done properly, it would destroy the natural beauty of the place. As for the spa resort, it is merely a money-spinner. I fail to see any social benefit in it. Hi Anonymous,

Thanks for the comment. If your info is accurate, then ST has run a misleading piece.

It would be much better if you could quote the source of your info. :)

I would support a project of education and conservation value. The Mandai forests might not be in the best shape now, but I’ve no doubt that if properly cared for, they would be rejuvenated very quickly.

My concern for the fresh-water development is that if not done properly, it would destroy the natural beauty of the place.

As for the spa resort, it is merely a money-spinner. I fail to see any social benefit in it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.starbamboo.com/2007/11/21/a-nature-resort-in-singapore-does-it-make-sense/#comment-1170 Anonymous Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:44:22 +0000 http://www.starbamboo.com/2007/11/21/a-nature-resort-in-singapore-does-it-make-sense/#comment-1170 Hi, chanced upon this site while searching info about the new Mandai cluster. Some corrections: The $70m budget is solely for the Zoo and Night Safari for redevelopment purposes and expansion. The proposed spa/hotel/retreat will be run by a private investor, and STB will be opening tender next year. No budget for that has been set, but land area of 30-hectares has been gazetted. The "freshwater-themed attraction" will be developed by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, parent company of Zoo, Night Safari and BirdPark if feasibility studies are positive. It will be a 10-hectare "3rd Zoo" to compliment the Zoo/Night Safari cluster. The 30ha land parcel chosen has been badly ravaged by military training and has very little conservation value, consisting mostly of scrub forests. The proposal calls for rehabilitation/restoration of the forest, with the resulting structures being low impact/density. Cheers Hi, chanced upon this site while searching info about the new Mandai cluster.

Some corrections:
The $70m budget is solely for the Zoo and Night Safari for redevelopment purposes and expansion.

The proposed spa/hotel/retreat will be run by a private investor, and STB will be opening tender next year. No budget for that has been set, but land area of 30-hectares has been gazetted.

The “freshwater-themed attraction” will be developed by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, parent company of Zoo, Night Safari and BirdPark if feasibility studies are positive. It will be a 10-hectare “3rd Zoo” to compliment the Zoo/Night Safari cluster.

The 30ha land parcel chosen has been badly ravaged by military training and has very little conservation value, consisting mostly of scrub forests. The proposal calls for rehabilitation/restoration of the forest, with the resulting structures being low impact/density.

Cheers

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