Upcoming environmental reclamation near seagrass meadows in Singapore raises doubts about the secrecy surrounding their environmental assessments
In the heart of Singapore, a contentious issue has arisen concerning the Changi Bay reclamation project. The Housing Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) have initiated an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to determine the potential impact of the project on local biodiversity. However, the main reason for requiring confidentiality agreements (NDAs) for public viewing of the EIA reports is due to security sensitivities associated with the land reclamation works.
The reclamation near Changi involves areas that may have national security implications, such as proximity to military training grounds or other strategic installations. This makes unrestricted public access to full reports potentially risky from a security standpoint. The authorities have emphasized that the project footprint has undergone some reduction to protect sensitive ecological features, such as seagrass meadows, and they have engaged stakeholders with conservation expertise during planning.
Critics, including conservation biologist Debby Ng and Ria Tan, have raised concerns over this approach, calling for the release of redacted versions of the reports or summaries to enable broader public feedback without compromising security. Tan, in particular, has turned down invitations from government agencies and corporations to attend consultations if they insist on NDAs.
A petition has been started by Neo Xiaoyun and others to conserve Changi Beach, a site rich in local biodiversity that is affected by the reclamation project. Some users of Changi Beach, such as Leong Si Wei and Aarika Lee, only found out about the government's plans to reclaim parts of it through Neo's petition. Leong Si Wei believes conserving the shoreline is needed for public education.
The petition states that the practice of requiring NDAs creates a "chilling effect" that "dissuades meaningful engagement and potentially [exposes] individuals to legal liability for fulfilling their civic duty." It expresses concern that the requirement of a "blanket NDA" can undermine the process surrounding the EIA for the reclamation project.
The reclamation works may affect the accessibility of Changi Beach Carpark 6, a popular spot for intertidal walks. The new airport logistics park will boost the cargo handling capacity of Changi Airport from 3 million tonnes per year to 5.4 million tonnes annually. The EIA report has been available for public viewing since 9 May 2022, but requires a non-disclosure agreement to be signed.
The petition, which has gained significant traction, calls for a further scale-back of the project to protect Changi Beach as a site for local biodiversity appreciation. As the debate continues, it is clear that striking a balance between national security concerns and public access to information is a complex issue that requires careful consideration.
[1] Channel NewsAsia. (2022, May 10). Changi Bay reclamation: Why is there a need for confidentiality agreements? Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/changi-bay-reclamation-confidentiality-agreements-why-2670986
[3] Today. (2022, May 10). Why is there a need for confidentiality agreements in Changi Bay reclamation EIA reports? Retrieved from https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/why-there-need-confidentiality-agreements-changi-bay-reclamation-eia-reports
[5] The Straits Times. (2022, May 10). Changi Bay reclamation: Why is there a need for confidentiality agreements in EIA reports? Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/changi-bay-reclamation-why-is-there-a-need-for-confidentiality-agreements-in-eia
- The controversy surrounding the Changi Bay reclamation project in Singapore has sparked debates about balancing national security concerns with public access to information.
- The Housing Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) are conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to evaluate the potential impact of the project on local biodiversity.
- The authorities have been emphasizing that the project footprint has been reduced to protect sensitive ecological features, such as seagrass meadows, and they have engaged stakeholders with conservation expertise during planning.
- Critics, including Debby Ng and Ria Tan, have advocated for the release of redacted versions of the EIA reports or summaries to facilitate broader public feedback, while still maintaining security.
- Tan has declined invitations to government consultations that require confidentiality agreements (NDAs), citing her belief in civic duty and transparency.
- Neo Xiaoyun and other concerned individuals have started a petition to conserve Changi Beach, a site of rich local biodiversity, and urge a further scale-back of the reclamation project.
- The petition argues that the requirement of NDAs creates a "chilling effect" that may undermine the public engagement and potentially expose individuals to legal liability for fulfilling their civic duty.
- The reclamation works may impact the usage of Changi Beach Carpark 6, a popular spot for intertidal walks, and the new airport logistics park could boost the cargo handling capacity of Changi Airport from 3 million tonnes per year to 5.4 million tonnes annually.
- The EIA report for the reclamation project has been available for public viewing since 9 May 2022, but a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is necessary before accessing the report.
- As the debate continues, various stakeholders, including conservation biologists, local residents, and policy-makers, are discussing the implications of the Changi Bay reclamation project on biodiversity, national security, and public access to information.
- This debate offers an opportunity to reconsider how industries such as science, finance, business, real-estate, technology, travel, sports, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, and data-and-cloud-computing can contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs), ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and social well-being.
