Source : Straits Times - 18 Apr 2009
TIME is running out for four of Singapore’s oldest public swimming pools, unless private sports-related investors step in to give them a new lease of life.
If there are no takers, the four pools at Bukit Merah, Yan Kit, Pandan Gardens and Jurong Town will be returned to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) for redevelopment.
The four had been under-utilised and have been closed for more than five years now. Yan Kit, one of the oldest pools, was opened in 1952.
But the high costs of converting the pools into facilities for other sports - which can range from $900,000 to $4 million - is likely to curtail interest from both the private sector and national sports associations.
The Singapore Sports Council (SSC), which manages the pools, is holding a final public tender exercise for them by the end of this month. It has been trying to lease the sites out without success.
Previous tender exercises had attracted bids to convert the pools into prawn- and crab-fishing grounds, but these were rejected as they did not fulfil the SSC’s criteria of sports and recreation usage.
A fifth public pool at River Valley, also closed owing to under-utilisation, is not up for tender because it is being considered under the Government masterplan for Fort Canning Park.
Many of the disused pools sit on prime land, and there were calls by the public for them to be redeveloped, partly because they were potential breeding grounds for mosquitos.
In 2005, the Singapore Ice Skating Association (Sisa) had expressed interest in one of the facilities. But its plans to turn the Bukit Merah pool into an ice-skating rink fell through when its partner from the private sector pulled out at the last minute.
Refurbishing the entire complex for ice skating would have cost a staggering $4million.
Said Sisa president Sonja Chong: ‘We looked at doing it up ourselves but, as a small sports association, we just didn’t have the means.’
The Singapore Ice Hockey Association (Siha) also considered converting a swimming pool into an ice-skating rink. But, again, the high costs were a deterrent.
‘We looked seriously at Bukit Merah, but we felt that the initial investment would be too high,’ said Siha president James Kodrowski.
He added that the location was also less than ideal, saying it was sited in an ageing neighbourhood with limited public transport options.
But not everyone has said no to former public swimming pools. Three other pools which were closed - Boon Lay, Farrer Park and Paya Lebar - have been leased out to sports organisations.
The pool at Boon Lay, for instance, has been covered over and turned into a hockey pitch. Hockey One, the company that runs the facility, spent nearly $900,000 to do that when it took over in 2006.
It now rents the pitch out to schools and individuals, for both hockey and futsal.
According to Hockey One proprietor Veer Singh, business is ‘not too bad’ and it has just renewed the lease for another three years.
In the case of Paya Lebar, it was used by the Triathlon Association of Singapore (TAS) between 2003 and 2007.
When the lease expired and the site was returned to the SLA, the TAS moved to its present home at the Delta Sports Complex.
But Farrer Park is still a hotbed of sports activity. The pool is run by the APS Swim School, founded by national swimming head coach Ang Peng Siong.
Ang, who has since left the school to concentrate on his national duties, spent between $60,000 and $80,000 to clean up and renovate the facility when he took over in 2004.
The school spends about $15,000 a month in rental and maintenance fees.
Said Ang: ‘It’s expensive, but Farrer Park has a lot of sporting history. By having the school here, we can salvage a little bit of that.’
Unwanted pools
~ Yan Kit: Singapore’s second-oldest public swimming pool was opened in 1952, and shut its doors in 2001.
~ Bukit Merah: Closed in 2003. The ice skating and ice hockey associations were interested in converting the pool into an ice-skating rink, but changed their minds owing to the high costs.
~ Pandan Gardens: Closed in 2003.
~ Jurong Town: Closed in 2003.
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