SINGAPORE — Several postings of an unsightly view at the newest BTO project, Rivervale Shores, have been circulating on social media lately. Some residents have complained about the accumulation of trash and have even alleged the presence of rodents in the neighbourhood. This issue also grabbed the attention of Ling Wei Hong from the People’s Action Party during his recent weekly visit to the area.
Ling shared several photos on social media on the morning of Aug 16, stating, “Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Some of the trash has been lingering for weeks. The situation is dire in the car parks, and upstairs in the common areas, there are piles of rubbish. Residents have even spotted rats and other pests. This escalating issue is posing a threat to the environment and public health.”
Several residents also seek Ling’s assistance in relaying their concerns to the Workers’ Party and the Sengkang Town Council on their behalf. These residents allege that their attempts to arrange meetings with the Sengkang Town Council to discuss the estate management at Rivervale Shores have not been fruitful.
On the same day, in the evening, Sengkang GRC member of parliament, Louis Chua, took to his Facebook page to respond to the matter. He reassured residents that he and his team are actively taking measures to address the problem of indiscriminate littering and illegal dumping of bulky refuse in the Rivervale Shores estate.
“Additional manpower and resources have been engaged by SKTC to address this. Conservancy contractors continue to go about their daily cleaning regime but are also focused on clearing debris left by various parties – including wooden pallets and heavy-duty renovation debris, which are cleared using skip tanks. Meanwhile, our public waste collector, Sembwaste, continues to collect general waste on a daily basis at bin centres,” shared MP Chua.
Chua mentioned that they had anticipated these issues due to the high volume of new residents moving in and their prior experience with other BTO projects. Additionally, he emphasised that the Sengkang Town Council will work closely with their partners such as HDB to manage the new estate.
“Take the management of the carparks for example, which is looked after by HDB. SKTC continues to partner with HDB on the maintenance and upkeep of the area, similar to other areas which are still under construction and may not be easily accessible by the SKTC’s contractors. Still, the teams on the ground continue to be working closely and supporting each other. We will continue to work diligently with all teams on the ground to create a better resolution for residents, and we ask for their patience and understanding,” added the Workers’ Party member of parliament.
The Sengkang GRC MP also reminded the residents and the contractors to be mindful of the estate and the community and to play a positive role in the upkeep of their new estate.
“Ultimately, what matters most is civic mindedness. HDB, when issuing renovation permits, also issues accompanying advisories to residents and their contractors for the proper disposal of debris or waste. I hope more residents will pay heed to this advice…” expressed MP Chua.