Daily Archives: 13 Mar 2010

Construction companies take steps to reduce noise pollution

Posted on 13 Mar 2010 | Comments Off on Construction companies take steps to reduce noise pollution

There were some 300 reported cases of noise pollution from construction sites last year, nearly double the 160 in 2008.

And some firms have taken steps to reduce the noise.

One way is by using the “Jack-in-Pile” machine, which uses a hydraulic system for piling works to reduce noise. Another is by pre-casting structures like walls and toilets so those don’t have to be built on-site.

From September 2011, construction sites will not be allowed to carry out activities from 10pm the night before a Sunday or Public Holiday to 10am that day.

Tan Soon Hong, deputy project manager, Kajima Overseas Asia said: “Based on our construction site, after 7pm, our noise limitation is 70 decibels. So for those noise works, we will stop noise work before 7pm. After 7pm, we just carry out less noise work, for example, painting and doing some housekeeping.”

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 13 Mar 2010

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Govt to build more Executive Condos if there is demand: Mah Bow Tan

Posted on 13 Mar 2010 | Comments Off on Govt to build more Executive Condos if there is demand: Mah Bow Tan

The government will build more Executive Condominiums (ECs) to meet the housing needs of what is described as the “sandwiched group”.

For this year, ECs will make up 10 per cent of about 12,000 new flats to be built.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said this on Channel NewsAsia’s programme, “Talking Point”. He was responding to a question on prices for the market for ECs, which is regarded as the intermediate market between HDB flats and private apartments.

He said: “The EC market is really a hybrid. It is HDB in the first five years, which will morph into private after ten years. And the reason is we wanted to cater to the so-called sandwiched group – the S$8,000 to S$10,000 group. So that is the reason why the income ceiling for ECs is not S$8,000 but S$10,000.

“And we still give the S$30,000 grant. So if you are a person, couple who are earning say S$9,000, ideally that is the housing type for you. It is well-designed; it is in good location. It is something that would have all the amenities. And at the same time, you still enjoy the grant.

“So that is the reason why we are putting up more ECs on the market. We are catering for 80 per cent of the population, so EC is one housing form that we are watching, and we have recently let out two tenders. And if there is a market and there is a demand, we will let out more.”

This special edition of “Talking Point” can be viewed on Sunday night at 10.15pm on Channel NewsAsia.

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 13 Mar 2010

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