SINGAPORE: Consultants who are engaged to assess the environmental impact associated with developmental works on a good area’s biodiversity is going to be centrally managed simply by the National Recreational areas Board (NParks) through 2023, instead of the developers.
Launching this on Saturday (Aug 27), Minister for Nationwide Development Desmond Shelter said authorities may pilot this approach along with new Housing and Development Board (HDB) and JTC growth projects that require a good environmental impact assessment (EIA).
“This move will certainly further strengthen the particular EIA framework by enhancing standards over the industry and consolidating information on Singapore’s biodiversity, ” said NParks in a media launch.
Under the current EIA framework, suggested development projects which are close to sensitive character areas, marine or even coastal areas, and have potential transboundary influence undergo an in-depth consultation process.
During this process, technical agencies determine if an EIA is required.
An EIA typically consists of a baseline study, assessment of environment impact and the development of mitigating steps, as well as an environmental management and checking plan.
Developers are required to consult the kind of technical agencies for the scope of the EIA and engage a consultant to carry out studies.
They must furthermore share the record with relevant organizations and the public.
Going forward, NParks mentioned it will engage EIA consultants through a centralised demand aggregate tender.
It will also control consultants directly on account of the agencies.
“This will enable NParks to work a lot more closely with the experts to standardise survey methodologies and create industry best practice guidelines, ” stated the agency.
It added that will information from various EIAs will be combined in a centralised biodiversity database to help long-term monitoring and research.
The move will reduce the time needed for creating agencies to call for tenders, and consultants preparing bids for each project, said NParks.
“This will certainly translate to potential time and cost savings by minimising duplicative work, ” this added.
The brand new approach to managing experts follows discussions last year on how professionals will strengthen the EIA framework , after forest places in Kranji were mistakenly cleared before the conclusion of the environmental study.
Mr Lee stated authorities will decide later whether to introduce the new strategy involving NParks to any or all government projects.
“We remain devoted to safeguarding our natural heritage and changing Singapore into a City in Nature, inch he said inside a Facebook post on Saturday.