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Expanding flood defences neither practical nor prudent, says Grace Fu amid S$150 million drainage upgrades

Minister Grace Fu cautioned that continually expanding Singapore’s drainage network is “neither practical nor prudent” due to land and cost constraints. Instead, the government will invest S$150 million in 2025 on targeted drainage upgrades while promoting community and business involvement in flood resilience.

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Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu has emphasised that continually expanding Singapore’s drainage infrastructure is “neither practical nor prudent,” given the nation’s limited land and the significant costs involved. Instead, the government will focus on targeted investments, including S$150 million (US$110.6 million) allocated for drainage upgrades in 2025, and encourage businesses and communities to play an active role in flood resilience.

Speaking in Parliament on 4 February, Ms Fu outlined Singapore’s approach to managing the increasing flood risks posed by climate change, following two monsoon surges in January. The surges brought prolonged rainfall, with Changi recording 255mm of rain during the first surge between 10 and 13 January—well above the average January rainfall of 222.4mm.

Despite these efforts, the heavy rainfall caused a flood along Jalan Seaview in Mountbatten, where water levels rose to 0.3m and remained for three hours, flooding a house’s car porch. This incident, the only significant flood reported during the monsoon surges, highlighted the continued vulnerabilities in some areas.

Challenges of continuous infrastructure expansion

Singapore has spent about S$2.5 billion since 2011 upgrading its drainage system, which has reduced flood-prone areas from 3,200 hectares in the 1970s to less than 25 hectares today. However, Ms Fu said that relying solely on infrastructure expansion is unsustainable.

“Doing so would require significant land and financial resources, which would then not be available for other important uses,” she said. Ms Fu added that localised floods in Singapore typically subside within an hour, making large-scale infrastructure expansions for rare or localised events an inefficient use of resources.

One example of a persistent challenge is Jalan Seaview, where the road elevation is marginally above the high tide level. Although PUB upgraded the roadside drains in 2014 to improve drainage capacity, the area remains prone to flooding during high tides and heavy rains.

To address this, the government is planning the reclamation and development of Long Island, a project intended to protect the East Coast, including Jalan Seaview, from rising sea levels and tidal floods. However, the project will take years to complete, leaving interim risks in vulnerable areas.

Community-driven flood resilience

Rather than expanding the drainage network indefinitely, the government is pursuing a “multi-pronged approach,” Ms Fu said, which includes stricter regulations on developers and active community involvement. PUB’s code of practice mandates that developers implement minimum platform levels, crest levels, and flood protection measures in new developments.

Amendments to the Sewerage and Drainage Act passed in November 2024 further ensure that developers maintain flood protection systems after construction. Ms Fu highlighted that flood resilience must be a shared responsibility between the government, businesses, and the public.

“We need community, we need businesses … to also undertake protection measures to protect themselves, protect their properties and protect their family,” she said.

MP concerns over costs and government support

MP Desmond Choo (PAP-Tampines) asked whether the government expects to invest further as climate-driven floods become more frequent. Ms Fu acknowledged that while more spending may be necessary, it is not always “financially wise” to build infrastructure that protects against rare or extreme weather events. She warned that dedicating too much land and financial resources to flood protection could impact other national priorities.

MP Saktiandi Supaat (PAP-Bishan-Toa Payoh) raised concerns about whether affected residents and businesses would receive financial or logistical support in the event of floods. In response, Ms Fu said that developers are expected to plan for flood protection in their budgets, with the costs reflected in land and development prices. She also assured Parliament that the government would remain in close contact with affected residents and businesses to provide assistance as needed.

“In the most recent monsoon surges, we only had one significant reported flood incident,” she said. “So as and when they are needed, we will offer more help, and we will keep very close contact with the public and businesses.”

Ms Fu highlighted that while expanding drainage infrastructure remains part of the government’s strategy, it is only one aspect of building long-term flood resilience. The next review of Singapore’s drainage infrastructure will take place from 2026 to 2030, but Ms Fu reiterated that proactive community and business participation will be essential.

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