Through a series of past upgrading programmes and improvement works, residents in Jurong Central have enjoyed a quality living environment. In the next five-year masterplan that spans 2021 to 2025, they can look forward to new, exciting facilities in the precinct.
Living closer to nature has now become a reality after the first phase of Jurong Lake Gardens West (beside Taman Jurong) was completed on 27 April 2019. Over the next few years, residents will also be able to enjoy a nature walk when Jurong Lake Gardens East and Jurong Lake Gardens Central are progressively opened to the public from 2021 onwards.
Come 2026, getting around the western part of Singapore will become more seamless when the Jurong Region Line (JRL) is scheduled for completion. Under the JRL, the new Toh Guan Station will be constructed to facilitate travel between Bukit Batok East and Yuhua, while those travelling between Bukit Batok and Yuhua can look to the new Bukit Batok West MRT Station.
In addition, the new integrated transport hub in Jurong East would also form part of commercial and transportation development surrounding Jurong East MRT Station. Cycling enthusiasts will also be thrilled to learn about the expanded cycling network, which includes proposed cycling paths along Jurong Town Hall Road as well as Jurong Canal Drive.
As part of the Jurong-Clementi Town Council’s (JRTC) sustainability drive, it has partnered the Housing & Development Board (HDB) to install solar panels at 40 HDB blocks in Jurong Central to harness solar energy. Cash for Trash stations have also been set up at Blocks 484 and 486 Jurong West Street 41 to encourage the reuse and recycling of old items.
The JRTC is also the first Town Council to install digital noticeboards in the lifts, lift lobbies and high human traffic areas. This follows the digitalisation roadmap initiative by the Town Council that will benefit the residents with a more timely update of information as well as minimise paper wastage.
All the eligible lifts under the Lift Enhancement Programme (LEP), that are 18 years and younger, will be equipped protective devices to prevent unintended movement, over-speeding of the lifts and light curtain sensors for lift doors. These works will be carried out over a span of eight years and are scheduled to be completed by 2027.
To improve security for the residents, the Town Council has also installed CCTV inside all the lift cars, in addition to launching the Polcam – an initiative with the Singapore Police Force to better monitor the safety of the residents.
In line with the JRTC’s continuous efforts to rejuvenate the estates, 8,218 units have completed the Interim Upgrading Programme or Neighourhood Renewal Programme (NRP). The NRP for Blocks 432 to 440 Jurong West Avenue 1/Street 42 was completed recently. Additionally, the Home Improvement Programme was also launched to take care of internal refurbishment of the HDB flats – 100 per cent of the eligible flats have either been completed or on-going. Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme was also introduced to make the HDB flats more elderly-friendly with such features as handrails and modified doorways and stairs for wheelchair access.
Repairs and re-decoration (R&R) programme is another component of the cyclical estate rejuvenation exercise. The completed blocks under this initiative include Blks 401 to 408, Blks 329 to 341; Blks 484 to 491. The upcoming areas for the R&R programme include Blks 423 to 431; Blks 432 to 440; Blks 311 to 316; Blks 329 to 341; and Blks 401 to 422.
To boost the vibrancy and competitiveness of HDB shops, several refurbishment projects under Remaking Our Heartland also took place.
Following a major fire at Block 493 Jurong West Street 41 Wet Market and coffee shop back in 2016, a new two-storey commercial block – Jurong Central Plaza – was built by the HDB to allow stallholders to carry on with their business. Senior daycare facilities and fitness activities such as towel exercise and Yogalates classes are also available at the newly built facility.
Other completed works carried out by the Town Council include new pavilions and barbecue corners near Block 408 Jurong West Street 42. A new covered walkway has also been built connecting Blocks 474 to 476 Jurong West Street 41.
To allow children of all abilities to interact and play together, an inclusive playground was built at Block 337 Jurong East Avenue 1. It comprises easy-access stairs and a high-backed special-needs swing that comes with a strong UV-resistant seat and safety harness belts.
Community gardening has also taken off in Jurong Central, and the neighbourhood now houses nine community gardens. Notably, a sky garden where local greens are grown in a roof garden was developed by the Jurong Central Zone D Residents’ Committee.
As part of its sustainability drive, JRTC has become the first Town Council to adopt LED and have achieved significant energy savings sicne 2010. It has replaced all the LED lights with more energy-efficinet LED lights in 2019. The Town Council has also worked with HDB to install solar panels in 40 blocks of HDB flats in Jurong Central to harness solar energy.
To lend a helping hand to the needy in the community, several social service projects – including Project Love and the Jurong Central Student Assistance Scheme Program – have been launched. Those who need targeted specialised social services can also visit the Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre (Jurong) and Lakeside Family Services.
For more details of the Jurong-Clementi Town Council Five-year Master Plan, please click here.
