Punggol

The Punggol West LRT is located in relatively undeveloped surroundings in 2006. As of 2015, one can no longer view the LRT Station directly from this point of view. The plain area with Matilda House shown here, has been developed into new HDB flats and condominiums.

Located in the vicinity of the Punggol Jetty, Punggol was believed to have existed 200 years ago before Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore. The Punggol area used to be a well-established rural district dotted with farmhouses and farm structures, which were serviced by roads and dirt tracks. It was one of the oldest settlements in Singapore. The original settlers were predominantly Malays. The early Chinese immigrants, who settled in Punggol from the mid 19th century onwards, were engaged in plantation work, mainly rubber. As the population of the Chinese increased, many Chinese villagers were then engaged in poultry, pig or fish farming, as well as farm produce. The last pig farm closed down in 1990. Hydroponic non-pollutive vegetable farms and orchid farms used to flourish along the Cheng Lim Farmways and Buangkok Farmways, along with old kampongs and low-rise residential areas. Most of these farms have given way to the high-rise HDB flats of Sengkang New Town and Punggol New Town.

Historically, Punggol was populated mostly by Teochews and Catholics. However, the original settlers were predominantly Malays. The end of Upper Serangoon Road is known to Teochews as kangkar or "river bank" or "river mouth". Ferries were used on the Serangoon River as transport. An old market was also located here. The Catholic missionaries arrived here 140 years ago and set up churches and schools. A Malay kampong, which has since been cleared, could also be found at Tanjong Punggol. At the end of Punggol Port Road, Indonesian and Malaysian fishermen auctioned their catch at the wholesale fish market.

During the Second World War in 1942, about 400 Chinese civilians were massacred by the Japanese military forces at Punggol Point, the northern tip of the area, in what was to be known as the Punggol Beach Massacre as part of the Sook Ching massacre during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore. Today, that location has been marked as a national heritage site, and a war memorial now exists at the area.

In the 1960s, basic amenities like piped water, electricity, paved roads, and drainage systems were introduced through government and self-help programmes. It was also at this time that television became popular and antennas could be seen installed on many kampong rooftops.

Punggol was also known for its sumptuous seafood and boatels that provided services like docking and renting of boats for boating, water skiing and skindiving lessons. These seafood restaurants and boatels have since been relocated in the mid-1990s to facilitate land reclamation works.[5] Poultry and pig farms were also gradually phased out when redevelopment commenced in the 1970s. The last pig farm closed down in 1990. Land vacated by resettled farmers were then tendered out on short term leases for non-pollutive agricultural activities, which included hydroponic non-pollutive vegetable and orchid farms that used to flourish along the Cheng Lim Farmways and Buangkok Farmways. These farms existed along with old kampongs and low-rise residential areas. Most of these farms have given way to the high-rise HDB flats of Sengkang New Town and Punggol New Town.

Punggol in 2002, with the first phase of the Punggol 21 plan completed

In his National Day Rally speech on 18 August 1996, then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced the Singapore Government's plan to develop Punggol, known as "Punggol 21". Punggol 21 was a new model for housing, which would feature a new concept in housing as a model for new towns in the 21st century. It would have a mix of private houses, executive condominiums,[6] and high-grade HDB flats grouped into smaller, distinctly designed estates. Each estate would contain between 1,200 and 2,800 units, with a common neighbourhood green. Every housing unit would be located within 300 metres of the nearest LRT station. Schools, libraries, and community clubs would be clustered for convenience, and there would be three commercial centres, including shopping centres.[7][8]

A few months after the speech, Punggol 21, which was part of Cheng San Group Representation Constituency then, became an election carrot for the People's Action Party (PAP) to beat a Workers' Party team led by J.B. Jeyaretnam and Tang Liang Hong. At the general election in 1997, the five-man PAP team managed to retain Cheng San GRC with 54.8% of the valid votes.[9]

However, Punggol 21 did not materialise fully as Singapore's economy was affected by the Asian economic crisis in 1997. Although construction began the next year, it was stopped when demand for new flats fell sharply. Plans were again delayed when the construction industry in Singapore experienced financial troubles in 2003. As a result, only some 16,000 flats, out of the 80,000 planned units, have been built as at 2007. There was only one shopping mall in the estate, Punggol Plaza, and there were no recreational facilities like cinemas or swimming pools.[9][10] As of January 2016, a second shopping mall in the estate, Waterway Point, has opened, and recreational facilities have since been planned within the estate.

The Punggol Discovery Cube is a visitor's centre for residents and visitors to learn about Punggol's history.

In his National Day Rally speech on 19 August 2007, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong offered a new vision for Punggol New Town, and introduced the "Punggol 21-plus" plan to re-vitalise the town.[9][11][12][13][14]

Under the new plan, Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon, which flank the town, will be dammed up to create a freshwater lake and serve as a reservoir. A 4.2-kilometre long, 20-30-metre wide man-made waterway will run through the estate, linking both rivers. Work on it will start in 2009, and had been completed on 26 October 2011. When built, there will be recreational facilities like water sports for kayaking and canoeing, gardens and parks with jogging and cycling tracks, rooftop gardens, eateries for al fresco dining and a floating island.[9][10][11][13][15]

The "Punggol 21-plus" project involves 18,000 new HDB and private flats, and about 3,000 new flats will be built in Punggol New Town every year. Punggol New Town is projected to have 96,000 units when fully developed in the long term. Waterfront housing will have stepped courtyards. There will be a promenade on the northern sea front, stretching about 8.7 km. An integrated waterfront commercial and residential development has also been planned at the town centre, which will be built on both banks of the waterway. The site for this project was put up for sale and named Waterway Point with condominium – Watertown.[10][11][15] There will also be other facilities within the town centre, which includes a community club, regional library and hawker centre in the future.[16]

Punggol Central will be converted into a tree-lined boulevard with landscaping. Coney Island, on the other hand, was opened to the public in 2015.[15]

Waterway View is one of the newer waterfront housing estates under the "Punggol 21-plus" project.

Punggol Field East District [Blocks 1XX]

• Blocks 101,101A-D, 102,102A-D, 103,103A-C, 104A-B, 105,105A-D
• Blocks 106,106A-D, 107,107A-D, 108, 109,109A-D, 110,110A-D
• Blocks 111-119,120
• Punggol Edge - Blocks 120,120A-B, 121,121A-C, 122,122A-C
• Blocks 125, 126,126A-D, 127, 128,128A-D
• Blocks 129-138
• Blocks 160,160A-B, 161A-B, 162,162A-B, 163A-B, 164, 165A-B, 166,166A-B
• The Sundial - Blocks 167,167A-D, 168A-B, 169D, 170D
• The Nautilus @ Punggol - Blocks 168C-D, 169,169A-C, 170A-C
• Blocks 171,171A-C, 172,172A-D
• Blocks 173,173A-D, 174,174A-D, 175,175A-D, 176,176A-D
• Blocks 178-193
• The Periwinkle - Blocks 194, 195,195A-E
• Blocks 196,196A-D, 197,197A-B, 198, 199,199A-D

Punggol Field West District [Blocks 2XX]

• Blocks 200, 201,201A-D, 202A-B, 203,203A-B, 204,204A-D, 205A, 206A-B
• Punggol Sails - Blocks 207,207A-D, 208,208A-C
• Punggol Crest - Blocks 209,209A-C, 210,210A-C
• Punggol Ripples - Blocks 211,211A-D
• Punggol Wave - Blocks 212,212A-B,213,213A-C
• Punggol Emerald - Blocks 264,264A, 265,265A-D, 266,266A-D
• Punggol Sapphire - Blocks 267,267A-C, 268,268A-D, 269,269A-C, 270,270A-C
• Punggol Residences - Blocks 271,271A-D, 272,272A-D
• Punggol Regalia - Blocks 273,273A-D, 274,274A-D, 275
• Punggol Arcadia - Blocks 288,288A-D, 289,289A-D
• Punggol Grove - Blocks 292,299

Matilda District [Blocks 2XX]

• Matilda Portico - Blocks 217,217A-D, 218, 219
• Matilda Edge - Blocks 220,220A-C, 221,221A-B, 222,222A, 223,223A, 224,224A-C
• The Verandah @ Matilda - Blocks 226,266A-D, 227A-B
• Matilda Sundeck - Blocks 228,228A-B, 229A-B
• Matilda Court - Blocks 231,231A-B, 232,232A-C, 233,233A-D, 234,234A-B
• Punggol Opal - Blocks 256,256A-D, 257
• Punggol Topaz - Blocks 258,258A-C, 259,259A-C, 260,260A-C, 261,261A-C

Waterway West District [Blocks 3XX]

• Waterway Terraces I - Blocks 308,308A-C, 309A-B
• Waterway Terraces II - Blocks 310,310A-C, 311A-B
• Punggol ParcVista - Blocks 312,312A-C, 313,313A-C
• Waterway Cascadia - Blocks 314,314A-B, 315,315A-B, 316,316A-D
• Punggol BayView - Blocks 321,321A, 322,322A-D, 323A-D, 334,334A, 325,325A-B
• Punggol Vue - Blocks 326,326A-D, 327,327A-C

Northshore District [Blocks 4XX]

• Northshore Edge - Blocks 401,401A-B, 402,402A-B
• Northshore Residences I - Blocks 405,405A-B, 406,406A-C, 407A
• Northshore Residences II - Blocks 407B-C, 408,408A-C, 409,409A-D
• Northshore Trio - Blocks 410,410A, 411,411A-B
• Waterfront I @ Northshore - Blocks 413,413A-C, 415,415A-D, 416, 417
• Waterfront II @ Northshore - Blocks 418, 419,419A-D, 420,420A-D
• Northshore StraitsView - Blocks 421,421A-C, 422,422A-B
• Northshore Cove - Blocks 423,423A-C, 425,425-B

Punggol Point District [Blocks 4XX]

• Punggol Point Woods - Blocks 430, 431,431A-C, 432,432A-B, 433,433A-B
• Punggol Point Crown - Blocks 435,435A-B, 436,436A-B, 437,437A-B, 438,438A-C
• Punggol Point Cove (Phase 2) - Blocks 441, 442,442A-B, 443A-B, 445,445A-B
• Punggol Point Cove (Phase 1) - Blocks 446,446A-B, 447,447A, 448,448A-C

Punggol Central District [Blocks 3XX & 6XX]

• Coralinus - Blocks 301,301A-D, 302,302A-D, 303,303A-D, 304
• Treelodge @ Punggol - Blocks 305,305A-D, 306,306A-D
• Punggol Vista - Blocks 601,601A-D, 602,602C
• Punggol Lodge - Blocks 603,603A-C, 604,604A-C
• Damai Grove - Blocks 612,612A-D, 613,613A-D
• Punggol Spring - Blocks 614,614A-B, 615,615A-C
• Punggol Breeze - Blocks 616,616A-B, 617A-D, 618A-D, 619A-D
• Punggol Spectra - Blocks 621,621A-B, 622,622A-D, 623,623A-C, 624,624A-C
• Edgedale Green - Blocks 632,632A-C, 633,633A-B, 635,635A-C, 636A-B
• The Meadows - Blocks 637,637A-D, 638,638A-C, 639, 640A-B, 641,641A-C, 642, 642A-D
• Eastdale - Blocks 643-652

Waterway East District [Blocks 6XX]

• Waterway Sunrise II - Blocks 653,653A-D, 654,654A-D
• Waterway Sunrise I - Blocks 655,655A-C, 656,656A-C, 657,657A-B
• Waterway Sunray - Blocks 658,658A-C, 659,659A-D
• Waterway Sundew - Blocks 660,660A, 661,661A-D, 662A-C
• Waterway Sunbeam - Blocks 663,663A-C, 664,664A-B
• Waterway Woodcress - Blocks 665,665A-C, 666,666A-B, 667,667A-B
• Waterway Ridges - Blocks 668,668A-B, 669,669A-C, 670,670A-D
• Waterway Banks - Blocks 671,671A-B, 672,672A-D, 673,673A-C, 674
• Waterway Brooks - Blocks 675, 676A-D, 677,677A-D, 678,678A-C, 679,679A-D
• Waterway View - Blocks 682,682A-C, 683,683A-C, 684,684A-D

Canal District [U/P]

Crescent District [U/P]

Punggol Interchange

Urban development into the area has been accelerated with the introduction of better transportational options. The Tampines Expressway (TPE) links Punggol New Town up with Singapore's expressway network. The Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway, which provides a direct route to the city area via TPE, was fully opened in September 2008.[18] New roads were also built to ease traffic congestion on Punggol Road.[19]

In terms of public transport, the opening of the North-East line on 20 June 2003,[20][21] the Punggol LRT line (East) on 29 January 2005,[22] and the Punggol Temporary Bus Interchange adjacent to the Punggol MRT/LRT station on 30 November 2003,[23] The S$1.9-million temporary Punggol Bus Interchange, which took 10 months to construct, was opened on 30 November 2003 by Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Teo Chee Hean[24] while the West Punggol LRT line was opened, with the last 3 stations (Nibong, Sumang and Soo Teck) currently in operation, on 29 June 2014. As of April, Sam Kee has also opened up, allowing residents to go to the new Punggol SAFRA Club.[25] This is a large improvement over what was once only a single bus route, SBS Transit (now operated by Go-Ahead Singapore)'s Service 82, which used to serve the area along Punggol Road. In 2017, it was announced that an additional station on the North East line, Punggol Coast, would commence operations in 2023, serving commuters in Punggol North.[26]

Punggol Plaza

Punggol Plaza in January 2006

Strategically located near Coral Edge LRT station, Punggol Plaza is the first shopping mall in Punggol New Town. Opened in September 2004, it offers residents the convenience of fulfilling all their marketing needs at one place, with an NTUC FairPrice supermarket located on the third floor of the plaza and a food court operated by Koufu on the ground floor. Free shuttle services between Punggol Plaza and Sengkang New Town have been provided since September 2004.[27]

Waterway Point

Waterway Point at night in 2016

Located beside the Punggol Waterway and Punggol MRT/LRT station, Waterway Point is the largest mall located in Punggol New Town. It is integrated with a town square and a visitors' centre which provides an avenue for residents and the public to learn more about the heritage of Punggol through exhibitions and civic and community events and also features the first underground and largest suburban cineplex in Singapore.[28] The mall had a soft launch on 18 January 2016,[29] and was officially opened on 19 April that year.[30]

Oasis Terraces

Oasis Terraces as seen from Punggol Waterway in 2018.

Oasis Terraces was announced in October 2015 by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) as part of two new neighbourhood centres in Punggol next to Oasis LRT station, the other one being Northshore Plaza.[31] Oasis Terraces also houses the Punggol Polyclinic which opened on 24 November 2017, offering outpatient medical care, X-ray, physiotherapy, podiatry services and women health services such as screening for cervical and breast cancer.[32]

Punggol Town Square, located in the town centre of Punggol

Punggol Waterway Park

Punggol Waterway Park is a riverine park located along the Punggol Waterway. Opened on 23 October 2011, the park is designed with four themes to cater to residents of all ages. It also provides residents opportunities for leisure activities such as jogging and cycling which can be carried out along the promenade at both sides of the waterway.

SAFRA Punggol Clubhouse

Located near Punggol Waterway Park beside Sam Kee LRT station on the Punggol LRT West Loop, the SAFRA Punggol Clubhouse is a five-storey recreational facility. Announced to be built in June 2014, the clubhouse caters to mainly NS men and their families features an indoor water playground and a large eco-themed childcare centre. Completed in 2016, the clubhouse houses 10 F&B outlets such as themed restaurants, alfresco dining and quick-service outlets. Its other amenities includes a gym, bowling alley and a karaoke outlet. Punggol Safra was officially opened on 24 April 2016.[33]

Punggol Regional Sports Centre

Punggol Regional Sports Centre was announced in 2018. It was mentioned in Vision 2030 and will open in 2021.

Punggol Town Hub

Punggol Town Hub was announced in 2018 that it will be an integrated community facility like Our Tampines Hub. The Punggol Town Hub is expected to be completed in 2021. It includes a Punggol Regional Library, a Community Club and a new hawker centre.[34]

Masjid Al Islah

Masjid Al Islah is located within the densely populated Punggol New Town at 30 Punggol Field. The mosque serves the Muslim community in Punggol.

Church of the Transfiguration

The Church of the Transfiguration is the latest Catholic church to be built in Singapore and will serve an estimated 15,000 Catholics and is expected to be one of the largest parishes in Singapore.

Fo Guang Shan (Singapore)

Fo Guang Shan (Singapore) is located at Punggol Place and opened on October 2007. The Temple building comprises the main shrine hall, a visitor centre, a dining room, a hall for sutra manuscripts, a columbarium, multi-purpose classrooms, a teahouse, an open-air terrace, car park and other modern facilities.[35]

Punggol Joint Temple

Punggol Joint Temple is a combined temple built in 2007 and is located along Tebing Lane. The temple complex houses three constituent temples, which are Sheng Jia Temple, Tian Jun Temple and Tian Ci Gong (Society of Love & Compassion). Sheng Jia Temple's main deity is the Monkey God and has a long history of more than 40 years. All of their temple workers work voluntarily and on a free-will basis.[36][37]

There are currently eleven primary schools and three secondary schools in Punggol New Town.

Primary schools

• Edgefield Primary School[38] (育德小学) originally opened in January 2001 but could not attract enough students to make even one class. It opened in January 2002.
• Greendale Primary School[39] (绿苑小学),[40] was one of the six new primary schools built in new housing estates and towns so as to cater to smaller class size.
• Mee Toh School[41][42] (弥陀学校) moved from Race Course Road to Punggol New Town in January 2006.
• Northshore Primary School (Opening in 2020)[43]
• Horizon Primary School opened in 2010.
• Oasis Primary School opened in 2016 along with Punggol Cove and Waterway Primary Schools.
• Punggol Cove Primary School opened in 2016 along with Oasis and Waterway Primary Schools.
• Punggol Green Primary School opened in 2013 to serve the Punggol West community. It is located at 98 Punggol Walk, next to Punggol Sapphire and Punggol Ripples.[44]
• Punggol View Primary School, opened in 2013, operates as a single-session school so as to commit more space and time for holistic education.
• Waterway Primary School opened in 2016 along with Oasis and Punggol Cove Primary Schools.
• Valour Primary School (Opening in 2020)[45]

Secondary schools

• Greendale Secondary School opened in January 2006.[46]
• Punggol Secondary School, opened in 2000[47]
• Edgefield Secondary School, opened in 2011
• Yusof Ishak Secondary School (currently located at Bukit Batok until 2020)

Tertiary institutions

• Singapore Institute of Technology (under development). On 23 August 2015, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced in his National Day Rally that SIT will have a new centralised campus in Punggol. The University will be integrated with a creative industry cluster to be built by JTC Corporation, and into Punggol Downtown and the Housing Board's upcoming Northshore district.[48][49][50]

International schools

• Global Indian International School

• Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003). Toponymics – A Study of Singapore Street Names. Singapore: Eastern Universities Press. ISBN 981-210-205-1.
• Tommy Koh, et al. (eds.) (2006). Singapore: The Encyclopedia. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet in association with the National Heritage Board. ISBN 981-4155-63-2.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
• "Transcript of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally English Speech on 19 August 2007 at NUS University Cultural Centre". Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. 19 August 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2007.