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| Artist impression of proposed floating pontoon. |
From the NParks website
Enhancement Works for Sisters’ Islands Marine Park
New conservation, research, outreach and educational plans for the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park were previously announced in 2016, following a one year-feasibility study conducted for the area. The feasibility study explored sustainable ways to conserve the habitats in the Marine Park, while providing a range of outreach and educational activities for the public.
The feasibility study report determined that proposed enhancement works can be undertaken with minimal environmental impacts, and provided recommendations and guidance for the detailed design. The design features were subsequently planned with sensitivity to the surrounding environment as the overarching objective. The plans also includes numerous restoration initiatives for the terrestrial vegetation and marine habitats which will have long term environmental benefits.
As part of the plans, Big Sister’s Island will be sensitively enhanced to serve as a platform for conservation, outreach and education for visitors. Plans include the establishment of a boardwalk, intertidal pools as well as forest trails for the public to have more close-up encounters with marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Small Sister’s Island will serve as a dedicated site for marine conservation research; marine species recovery; and habitat enhancement programmes.
More information on the enhancement plans can be found here (pdf).
(Extracts from the pdf)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report
In 2018, NParks commissioned a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to evaluate and mitigate against anticipated impacts of the proposed plans, and to prepare the scope for the Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan (EMMP) during the works.
The EIA included multiple baseline surveys of the existing ecosystems and physical parameters at the Sisters’ Islands. The report provides an assessment of the possible environmental impact during the enhancement works and proposed mitigating measures to ensure that all impacts are reduced to no greater than “slight impact”. An EMMP was also developed as part of the EIA which will be implemented during the period where works are carried out to ensure that the proposed mitigations are effective.
Since the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park was first announced, NParks recognised the importance of involving the wider marine interest group community in all major plans for the Marine Park. Thus, as part of the planning process for the enhancement works, various marine stakeholder groups were engaged since early 2015, and subsequently through Friends of Marine Park after its formation. Many of their suggestions and recommendations have been incorporated into the designs and programmes for the project. NParks adopted a more precautionary approach when planning for this offshore-based development, starting with a feasibility study, followed by a two-stage tender process which include a more stringent tender bidding criteria and detailed design process. This ensures that the best possible partners were appointed to design the project.
The EIA report will be available for public viewing for four weeks with effect from 24 February 2020, to 23 March 2020. Please email marinepark@nparks.gov.sg to arrange for a viewing from Monday to Friday, between 9am-12pm and 2pm-5pm.
The viewing will be conducted at NParks HQ, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569. Do note that a minimum three days advance notice for viewing is required.
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