Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, St Wilfred Sport Centre to close; sites may be used for public housing
Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, St Wilfred Sport Centre to close; sites may be used for public housing
SINGAPORE - The Kallang Basin Swimming Complex and St Wilfred Sport Centre will close in the second half of 2025 when their leases expire, Sport Singapore (SportSG), the Housing Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said in a joint media statement on June 13.
The swimming complex at 21 Geylang Bahru Lane will close on Sept 1, and the St Wilfred facility in Whampoa will shutter on Oct 1.
The Kallang Basin venue also houses a gym, while the other has a tennis and squash centre and a football field.
The national agencies are studying plans to redevelop both sites for public housing, said the statement.
'This is part of our ongoing efforts to address the strong and broad-based demand for housing in recent years,' said the agencies.
'As part of our long-term planning efforts, the Government will also continue to develop and enhance sports infrastructure, working closely with the community to meet Singapore's evolving lifestyle and recreational needs.'
After the closures of both facilities, residents in Whampoa and Geylang Bahru can visit alternative options such as a new sports facility in Kolam Ayer and another venue in Whampoa which is due to be completed by end-2025.
They can also visit the ActiveSG swimming complexes in Serangoon, Geylang East and Jalan Besar, squash and tennis courts at Kallang ActiveSG Squash Centre, Burghley ActiveSG Squash and Tennis Centre, and Kallang Tennis Centre. Under the Dual-Use Scheme, the indoor sport hall and field at Bendemeer Primary School and the football field at Bendemeer Secondary School are also available.
As part of the Government's Sports Facilities Master Plan, SportSG continues to 'develop and rejuvenate infrastructure to meet Singapore's diverse and evolving sporting needs, interests and aspirations', said the statement. It also noted that the number of ActiveSG facilities across Singapore has increased by 30 per cent since 2013, with more in the pipeline, including the Farrer Park Town Play Field and Punggol Regional Sport Centre.
ERA Singapore's key executive officer Eugene Lim said that 'it makes sense for the sites to make way for better land use, especially given that they are located quite near to the city centre'.
He added: 'The Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, built in the 1980s, is relatively dated compared to many of the newer sports complexes developed in recent years. This is the same for the St Wilfred Sport Centre.'
Mr Lim also noted that Geylang Bahru is in need of rejuvenation as many of the blocks there were built in the 1970s. Future housing in the area is expected to be sought after since it will be within walking distance of Geylang Bahru MRT station and the Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre, he added.
He said: 'Due to the proximity to town, the (Build-To-Order projects) are likely to be Plus flats. The nearby sites have a plot ratio of 2.8, and assuming a similar plot ratio, we may see some high-rise BTO flats potentially up to 36 storeys. The new development may feature a mix of two- to four-room HDB flats, catering to a range of household profiles.'
The St Wilfred facility in Whampoa will shutter on Oct 1.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Mr Lim also pointed out that St Wilfred Sport Centre is similar as it is located near St George's Road where many of the HDB flats were built in the 1980s. Adding that it is located near the city centre and is a 10-minute walk to Boon Keng MRT station, he said the site's 'proximity and accessibility to amenities' will also potentially place the new housing in the Plus category.
Prime and Plus flats, which are located closer to amenities such as MRT stations, come with stricter resale conditions such as a 10-year minimum occupation period and a subsidy clawback.
Mr Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property search portal Mogul.sg, noted that 'it makes sense for both (facilities) to close' as there are other existing and upcoming sports facilities for residents.
On the possible redevelopment in Kallang Basin, he said: 'It gives a chance for the Government to reinvent and develop the whole area with a mixture of HDB flats and private homes. That whole area is rather aged and it is possible now to really intensify the land use there.'
As for St Wilfred, he added that the area can also be redeveloped to ensure it is better utilised.
Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
WP chairwoman Sylvia Lim to publish memoir with Epigram Books in 2027
The agreement between Ms Lim and the home-grown publisher was signed in recent weeks. SINGAPORE – Workers' Party chairwoman and MP for Aljunied GRC Sylvia Lim will publish her memoirs with Epigram Books, expected to hit major bookstores in the second half of 2027. The agreement between Ms Lim and the home-grown publisher – an imprint of the newly formed non-profit Epigram Literary Foundation – was signed in recent weeks. A book title is as yet not forthcoming, with writing still in its preliminary stages. But the surprise memoir is expected to offer a rare glimpse into the mind of one of Singapore's pioneer women in opposition politics – a police inspector and lawyer turned self-professed proud 'Mama Bear' heading a slate of WP female candidates at the recent general election. On her decision to ink the deal, Ms Lim said: 'There has been interest from several quarters about the paths I have walked and the places I have been, as well as the people who made me whole. 'As I turn 60 this year, it feels right to start to reflect on my experiences of life, vocation and love which, hopefully, will be meaningful not just now, but also for posterity.' The 14-year MP has struck a more mellow note of late, brandishing her PAssion Silver Concession Card at a WP rally in April to cheers – 'The last time I stood on this stage, I still had black hair.' To a question on WP's party leadership succession during a press conference in the same month, she had said: 'I would say that when the time comes for me, personally, to step down as chairperson, I won't be sorry.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 2 workers stranded on gondola dangling outside Raffles City Tower rescued by SCDF Asia Japan PM Ishiba vows to take responsibility for election loss, to stay in office to deal with US tariff talks Business $1.1 billion allocated to three fund managers to boost Singapore stock market: MAS Singapore Proof & Company Spirits closes Singapore distribution business Life Travel Journal: Safari tourism with a side of moral crisis Singapore Mandai Wildlife Group group CEO Mike Barclay to retire; Bennett Neo named as successor Singapore Jail, caning for man who held metal rod to cashier's neck in failed robbery attempt Singapore Fresh charge for woman who harassed nurse during pandemic, created ruckus at lion dance competition Mr Edmund Wee, founder of Epigram Books, said he also specifically requested that Ms Lim include her relationship with former national footballer Quah Kim Song , whom she had dated for 12 years before their church wedding in January 2025. The publisher got in touch with Ms Lim through a mutual friend and had tried cajoling her for the project as early as 2021 during the coronavirus lockdown period, with satisfaction delayed till now. Mr Wee said: 'Sylvia Lim's achievements and life should be an inspiration to Singaporeans, especially to all the young women out there.' Few senior leaders from WP, Singapore's most successful opposition party post-independence, have put their thoughts to the page. Former secretary-general of WP J.B Jeyaretnam hawked his own books on the streets after being declared bankrupt and losing his seat, including The Hatchet Man Of Singapore, published in 2003. The most recent and probably most well-known is WP member and former Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong's Journey In Blue: A Peek Into The Workers' Party Of Singapore (2020). Among other revelations, it disclosed that former WP chief Low Thia Khiang had begun planning to step down as early as 2016 following an intra-party leadership challenge, rather than in 2020 after a fall at home as commonly assumed. Ms Lim was a law lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic specialising in civil and criminal procedures when she was elected WP's first woman chairperson in 2003 and led a team to become the 'best losers' in the contest for Aljunied GRC in 2006. After a stint as NCMP from 2006 to 2011, she was part of the team that won Aljunied GRC for WP in 2011. She will begin her fourth term when Parliament reconvenes on Sept 5.
New Paper
a day ago
- New Paper
BTO Telegram groups connect thousands in new kampung spirit
Mr Thomson Lim designed the interiors of his two-room flexi Build-To-Order (BTO) flat in Tengah's Garden Vale project, and would periodically share pictures of the carpentry in the estate's chat group on Telegram. When the renovations were done in June 2024, other residents were curious about how his flat looked, so he hosted an open house for around 20 neighbours. The 50-year-old had met his fellow Tengah residents through Telegram and was keen to share his experience with them, so they could make decisions about their own renovations. "I enjoy bonding with the residents from our chats... I believe sharing is always a good thing to do in life," said Mr Lim, who works at a fast-food chain. He has since become close friends with the neighbours he met on Telegram, going for meals and exercising with them. They even volunteer together at the Tengah Community Club, helping out at events such as family day, award ceremonies and workshops. Mr Lim and his Tengah buddies are among an estimated tens of thousands of Singaporeans who are members of resident-run Telegram groups for BTO estates here. There are no official numbers of BTO Telegram groups, but they can be easily found by searching on Telegram or BTOHQ, a community-run website sharing information on local properties. The size of each of these groups can range from a few hundred to thousands. Such groups started to gain popularity over the last few years when demand for BTO flats surged in 2020. Around the same time, Telegram also gained traction here as a messaging platform. While residents of BTO projects also form chat groups on WhatsApp, another popular messaging platform, such groups have proliferated on Telegram, likely because it allows up to 20,000 members, compared with WhatsApp's 2,000 members. Telegram's large group size limit allows a chat group to be created for an entire BTO estate, rather than just for one block or specific resident interest groups. Members can also chat in different channels created within the group. WhatsApp also allows members to chat under different topics. While Mr Lim's Telegram group has 1,300 members, he does not know all of them personally. He got to know the residents who reached out to him individually on Telegram and sometimes even meets up with them. These groups serve as hubs for information and commonly start as a way for residents to get information on their BTO projects and seek advice on everything from BTO queue numbers to various Housing Board policies and schemes, to estate amenities. After residents move in, many groups evolve to become avenues through which residents socialise, trade items and share updates on estate developments. Such groups are usually created by one or more residents before the BTO's balloting stage, and are open to members of the public. Residents can also volunteer to run smaller BTO project groups from the larger estate group. At Punggol's Northshore Residences, one resident said he set up the BTO estate's Telegram group as an information hub for his neighbours about a year before they collected their keys in 2020. The 39-year-old project manager, who wanted to be known only as Jerry, said residents would join the group to be "in the know" as there would be discussions about project milestones. Some residents, such as Mr Yong Ming Rong, 35, have found such groups useful for getting advice on home furnishings. The private tutor, who lives at Northshore Residences, had initially sent a message to neighbours in his BTO Telegram group to give away some coffee powder. He later told another resident in the group that he was considering getting solar film to cover his windows, and the resident invited him to her home so he could see what solar film on windows looks like. "It helps to build a bit of a kampung spirit knowing there are people who can answer each other's questions," Mr Yong said. Tengah, a relatively new HDB town with 18 BTO projects, has a number of Telegram groups, including one with around 10,000 members. The group that Mr Lim runs allows members to chat across 17 different channels on topics such as childcare, gardening, group buys and home-based food businesses. Through Telegram, another Tengah resident, Mr Chris Loh, met others in the estate who, like him, love gardening. The 44-year-old senior operations executive said some residents would occasionally reach out to him through the app for help to propagate and pot their plants. "When you like something or there is a common topic, you want to share. For example, sometimes when you work from home, people ask if you want to eat lunch together," he added. Freelance photographer Chan Kai Lun created an estate health and fitness Telegram group where Tengah residents organise activities such as group runs. "Without this space to voice out and share, most people would remain isolated, only (saying) 'hi-bye' with the next-door neighbour. But I have made many good friends in Tengah through Telegram. It makes a real difference," said the 42-year-old. Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram allows its users to maintain privacy as phone numbers are not needed to create accounts. Dr Vincent Chua, an associate professor in sociology and anthropology at NUS, said Telegram groups are a way for people to balance maintaining privacy with being sociable. Mr Thomson Lim (right) and his Tengah buddies are among an estimated tens of thousands of Singaporeans who are members of resident-run Telegram groups for BTO estates here. ST PHOTO: LUTHER LAU Pointing to how these neighbourhood online groups tend to focus on exchanging information over relationship-building, he said it is one way the kampung spirit among residents has evolved - it has become "quieter but still present" through the way residents show support for one another online. Dr Chua added that building strong ties is still possible when online interactions are paired with or lead to offline interactions. "They nourish each other. Support online translates offline. Over time, they blend and human relationships become friendships." Tengah resident Cyrus Xu, a 32-year-old additive manufacturing engineer, linked up with his future neighbours on Telegram in 2022, even before choosing his unit. He collected his keys in March 2025 and still keeps in touch with them. "We get to know what our neighbours are up to if they are keen to share, and can ask for help at our fingertips," said Mr Xu. "I have got to know many neighbours from all the blocks."
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
New home owners find kampung spirit on BTO Telegram groups
Tengah residents (from left) Thomson Lim, Chris Loh and Audrey Leong at Tengah's Garden Vines playground. The trio had met through their BTO's Telegram group. SINGAPORE – Mr Thomson Lim designed the interiors of his two-room flexi Build-To-Order (BTO) flat in Tengah's Garden Vale project, and would periodically share pictures of the carpentry in the estate's chat group on Telegram. When the renovations were done in June 2024, other residents were curious about how his flat looked, so he hosted an open house for around 20 neighbours. The 50-year-old had met his fellow Tengah residents through Telegram and was keen to share his experience with them, so they could make decisions about their own renovations. 'I enjoy bonding with the residents from our chats... I believe sharing is always a good thing to do in life,' said Mr Lim, who works at a fast-food chain. He has since become close friends with the neighbours he met on Telegram, going for meals and exercising with them. They even volunteer together at the Tengah Community Club, helping out at events such as family day, award ceremonies and workshops. Mr Lim and his Tengah buddies are among an estimated tens of thousands of Singaporeans who are members of resident-run Telegram groups for BTO estates here. There are no official numbers of BTO Telegram groups, but they can be easily found by searching on Telegram or BTOHQ, a community-run website sharing information on local properties. The size of each of these groups can range from a few hundred to thousands. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Such groups started to gain popularity over the last few years when demand for BTO flats surged in 2020. Around the same time, Telegram also gained traction here as a messaging platform. While residents of BTO projects also form chat groups on WhatsApp, another popular messaging platform, such groups have proliferated on Telegram, likely because it allows up to 20,000 members, compared with WhatsApp's 2,000 members. Telegram's large group size limit allows a chat group to be created for an entire BTO estate, rather than just for one block or specific resident interest groups. Members can also chat in different channels created within the group. WhatsApp also allows members to chat under different topics. While Mr Lim's Telegram group has 1,300 members, he does not know all of them personally. He got to know the residents who reached out to him individually on Telegram and sometimes even meets up with them. These groups serve as hubs for information and commonly start as a way for residents to get information on their BTO projects and seek advice on everything from BTO queue numbers to various Housing Board policies and schemes, to estate amenities. After residents move in, many groups evolve to become avenues through which residents socialise, trade items and share updates on estate developments. Such groups are usually created by one or more residents before the BTO's balloting stage, and are open to members of the public. Residents can also volunteer to run smaller BTO project groups from the larger estate group. At Punggol's Northshore Residences, one resident said he set up the BTO estate's Telegram group as an information hub for his neighbours about a year before they collected their keys in 2020. The 39-year-old project manager, who wanted to be known only as Jerry, said residents would join the group to be 'in the know' as there would be discussions about project milestones. Some residents, such as Mr Yong Ming Rong, 35, have found such groups useful for getting advice on home furnishings. The private tutor, who lives at Northshore Residences, had initially sent a message to neighbours in his BTO Telegram group to give away some coffee powder. He later told another resident in the group that he was considering getting solar film to cover his windows, and the resident invited him to her home so he could see what solar film on windows looks like. 'It helps to build a bit of a kampung spirit knowing there are people who can answer each other's questions,' Mr Yong said. Tengah, a relatively new HDB town with 18 BTO projects, has a number of Telegram groups, including one with around 10,000 members. The group that Mr Lim runs allows members to chat across 17 different channels on topics such as childcare, gardening, group buys and home-based food businesses. Through Telegram, another Tengah resident, Mr Chris Loh, met others in the estate who, like him, love gardening. The 44-year-old senior operations executive said some residents would occasionally reach out to him through the app for help to propagate and pot their plants. 'When you like something or there is a common topic, you want to share. For example, sometimes when you work from home, people ask if you want to eat lunch together,' he added. Freelance photographer Chan Kai Lun created an estate health and fitness Telegram group where Tengah residents organise activities such as group runs. 'Without this space to voice out and share, most people would remain isolated, only (saying) 'hi-bye' with the next-door neighbour. But I have made many good friends in Tengah through Telegram. It makes a real difference,' said the 42-year-old. Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram allows its users to maintain privacy as phone numbers are not needed to create accounts. Dr Vincent Chua, an associate professor in sociology and anthropology at NUS, said Telegram groups are a way for people to balance maintaining privacy with being sociable. Mr Thomson Lim (right) and his Tengah buddies are among an estimated tens of thousands of Singaporeans who are members of resident-run Telegram groups for BTO estates here. ST PHOTO: LUTHER LAU Pointing to how these neighbourhood online groups tend to focus on exchanging information over relationship-building, he said it is one way the kampung spirit among residents has evolved – it has become 'quieter but still present' through the way residents show support for one another online. Dr Chua added that building strong ties is still possible when online interactions are paired with or lead to offline interactions. 'They nourish each other. Support online translates offline. Over time, they blend and human relationships become friendships.' Tengah resident Cyrus Xu, a 32-year-old additive manufacturing engineer, linked up with his future neighbours on Telegram in 2022, even before choosing his unit. He collected his keys in March 2025 and still keeps in touch with them. 'We get to know what our neighbours are up to if they are keen to share, and can ask for help at our fingertips,' said Mr Xu. 'I have got to know many neighbours from all the blocks.'
