First mega childcare centre opens doors - AsiaOne

Children playing in one of the centre's five "pods", featuring a sand pit which represents "earth", during the official opening yesterday.

Photo: The Straits Times

With 500 places on offer, the new E-Bridge Pre-School in Edgedale Plains in Punggol is five times larger than the average childcare centre in a Housing Board block, and it is already fully subscribed.

The centre, run by EtonHouse International, formally opened its doors yesterday - the first of five mega childcare centres being built by anchor operators to do so.

These operators, which include NTUC My First Skool and PAP Community Foundation, get government grants and priority in securing sites in HDB estates, and are part of efforts to meet the high demand for childcare places. But they cannot charge more than $720 a month for full-day childcare, among other conditions.

 

Acting Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng, who was at yesterday's ceremony, joked about wishing to be four again after touring the facilities.

He also stressed the importance of making available good-quality, affordable childcare under the Anchor Operator scheme. "The early childhood years set the foundations for life," said Mr Ng, who is also an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

"The experiences our children have in early childhood shape their capacity to learn and respond to future challenges."

The new centre is equipped with a specially developed sanitation system and temperature scanners similar to those used at airports. This will help to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases, such as hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which is spread via bodily fluids and is common in pre-schools.

Previously, some parents had raised concerns that such large centres would allow HFMD to spread more easily. Last week, the Health Ministry also sent out a statement saying that it is working with partner agencies to step up HFMD prevention. As of April 28, it said, 36 childcare centres and kindergartens had clusters of prolonged HFMD transmission this year.

Special disinfectant canisters in the new centre's classrooms will keep the air free of contaminants. It is also designed such that various sections can be easily closed off in the event of a disease outbreak.

The new E-Bridge campus, which sits on 5,000 sq m of land, takes in children between two months and six years of age. It currently has around 80 teachers.

The building is divided into five sections, or "pods", which roughly correspond to five different elements - water, earth, fire, wood and metal. For instance, there is a water-play area equipped with taps, buckets and funnels, a sand pit representing "earth", and a mock cooking area associated with "fire".

The corridors between these sections, meanwhile, appeal to the five senses. One is lined with windchimes, while another is stocked with jars of dried spices.

There is also a hedge maze on the rooftop and a herb garden behind the school that is stocked with plants like mint, lemongrass and pandan.

"Older children will be able to grind and touch the spices, for example, while the younger ones can smell them," said Ms Leanne Sunarya, executive director of pedagogy. "We believe that children learn best through play, and all the areas are designed to help them develop a wondering curiosity about the world."

The other centres, located in Yishun, Woodlands, Jurong West and Sengkang, are expected to be ready by the end of this year.

This article was first published on May 8, 2016.

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/first-mega-childcare-centre-opens-doors#sthash.fgxog2Ln.LRBqDvFF.dpuf

Linette Lai

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Source: AsiaOne

Work begins on Punggol bicycle network - AsiaOne

Bicycles parked at Punggol estate.

Photo: Penny Low's Facebook

Construction works to give Punggol its own bicycle network have officially started, following a ground-breaking ceremony held at Punggol Central yesterday.

The estate will have an 8.8km network of intra-town dedicated cycling paths in 2017, the seventh town here to do so.

The off-road cycling paths will make travelling within the estate more convenient by giving residents a seamless cycling route from their homes to train stations, schools and other key amenities. The paths will feature dedicated spaces for pedestrians and cyclists, and dual bicycle racks will also be built.

Other estates that will get bicycle networks of their own in 2017 are Jurong Lake and East Coast. Cycling path networks will also be completed in Yishun, Changi-Simei and Taman Jurong this year.

Earlier in February, the Land Transport Authority completed a 13.3km network of paths in Pasir Ris - the third cycling town here after Tampines and Sembawang.

There are plans to build cycling paths in every housing estate by 2030 to encourage bicycle use for "first and last mile" journeys.

Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Penny Low said: "Residents can use our Punggol Cycle Network as an alternative mode of transport, thereby reducing carbon emissions, improving personal health and enjoying a greener environment." About 300 residents joined her at the event yesterday.

Punggol resident Lynn Ng, 25, said she has noticed quite a number of residents there cycle and felt it was quite dangerous and inconvenient for pedestrians and cyclists to share a lane. "So I do welcome the upgrade," she said.

samboh@sph.com.sg

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/work-begins-punggol-bicycle-network#sthash.0My2bZSg.dpuf

Samantha Boh

Monday, Jun 22, 2015

Source: AsiaOne

Plan to directly link Punggol and Pasir Ris towns - AsiaOne

Apart from the planned new road linking Punggol and Pasir Ris, a temporary slip road that links motorists in Punggol directly to the KPE was opened yesterday. It is an interim measure before a project to expand the KPE/TPE interchange is completed in the third quarter of 2019. Only cars will be allowed on this slip road.

Photo: The Straits Times

Once a new link road is built, motorists can move between the two towns without using TPE

A new road linking Punggol and Pasir Ris will allow residents to travel directly between the two towns, doing away with the need to go onto Tampines Expressway (TPE).

It will link Punggol Central to Pasir Ris Industrial Drive 1, and allow motorists to connect to Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) directly.

The project, whose completion date was not given, was announced yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

"There are quite a number of residents who commute between the two (towns). This will allow residents to travel to the two towns quickly and seamlessly without going onto the TPE," said Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security.

Yesterday, Mr Teo, together with grassroots leaders and MPs of the GRC, officially opened a new 1km temporary slip road that connects motorists in Punggol directly to the KPE.

The slip road, which goes over Sungei Serangoon, is expected to ease peak-hour traffic jams along the expressway entrances at Punggol Road and Punggol Way, which motorists had to use previously to go onto the TPE, so they could link to the KPE.

It is an interim measure before a project to expand the KPE/TPE interchange is completed in the third quarter of 2019. The works will include building a new link road to Punggol Central, three new vehicular bridges and a new flyover across the TPE.

Mr Teo said the new slip road and the future KPE/TPE interchange will benefit not only residents of Punggol, but also those living in Rivervale in Sengkang.

As many residents there use the entrance to the KPE through Buangkok East Drive, the new slip road will help ease traffic there, he said.

To maintain a smooth traffic flow, only cars will be allowed to go onto the new slip road to the KPE, said the Land Transport Authority, and heavy vehicles will continue to use Punggol Road and Punggol Way.

Mr Teo said the new slip road is "one small step" towards bringing better transport to residents.

Public transport was also being improved, with the adding of bus services, including some that take residents directly to the city centre.

Punggol residents welcomed the new slip road, saying it will cut the duration of their commutes.

Mr Ng Joo Hai, 40, a test analyst, said: "It can probably save me about 10 to 15 minutes in the mornings. It's a direct exit to the KPE and will allow me to avoid the heavy traffic in Punggol Road."

adrianl@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 27, 2016. 

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/plan-directly-link-punggol-and-pasir-ris-towns#sthash.dKA0lyA0.dpuf

Source: AsiaOne

10 Things You Didn't Know About Coney Island Singapore - Digital Features | Channel NewsAsia Connect

Fly through of Punggol's Northshore District - Straits Times

Top 3 Reasons Why Punggol Is A Terrific Neighbourhood If You Have Kids - GET.com

Punggol is a young housing estate nestled in the North-Eastern region of Singapore that’s quickly gaining popularity with young couples looking to tie the knot.

Whether you’re intending to start a family in this part of Singapore or considering moving here with your spouse and little ones, GET.com has come up with the top 3 reasons why Punggol is becoming a great neighbourhood for those who have kids.

Top 3 Reasons Why Punggol Is A Great Neighbourhood If You Have Kids

1. My First Skool Is A Life Saver For Parents Whose Kids Need Convenient Childcare

If you’ve heard horror stories from other parents lamenting how inconvenient and time-consuming it is to enroll and send their little ones to childcare centres before they head to work, the new My First Skool childcare centre at Punggol Waterway Point may just be the solution for you and your family.

NTUC’s My First Skool at Punggol Waterway Point is a jumbo childcare centre that can accommodate 375 children as opposed to those set up in HDB void decks that usually admit only about 100 kids.

Two out of the three additional jumbo My First Skool childcare centres scheduled to open by the third quarter of 2016 will be in Edgefield Plains in Punggol and nearby Sengkang. So Sengkang residents have something to look forward to as well!

Here are 4 more childcare options for working parents in Singapore that might be a better alternative to most pre-school options, especially considering how expensive they can be.

Wondering how much the top pre-schools in Singapore cost and if it's really worth it to give your all to get your child into a top school? You'll be shocked to see how much some parents are paying to put their kids in one of the 20 most expensive pre-schools in Singapore.

2. Waterway Point Could Possibly Be Your Kid’s Favourite Mall

Image source: Frasers Centrepoint Malls

Punggol may be a refreshingly new residential estate with a plethora of BTO flats soaring into the skies, but the newly opened Waterway Point will be a huge draw for residents who like to window-shop or have kids to entertain, especially during the school holidays!

The entire level 2 of the mall, affectionately known as the “Family Zone”, is dedicated to the abovementioned childcare facility My First Skool, a throng of enrichment centres, family-friendly establishments, a free indoor Alice in Wonderland-themed playground named Wonderland best suited for toddlers and young children, and a magnificent wet and dry playground named Happy Park slated to open in 2017 that boasts fun, water-play features for the kids to splash in.

Even Times Bookstores here at Waterway Point is kid-centric with a huge nook for the little ones coupled with a free open play area where the little ones can flip through shelves and shelves of picture books and toys, read with their parents or have simply a ball of a time bouncing on adorable cushions. Take your little ones there and imbue in them a love for reading and learning!

3. SAFRA Punggol Features An Indoor Water Playground

SAFRA Punggol is a new facility located just six minutes away from Punggol MRT on foot that will serve approximately 80,000 NSmen and their families residing in the North-Eastern region of Singapore from 24 April 2016 onwards.

Besides the super fun indoor water playground called Splash @ Kidz Amaze, SAFRA Punggol also boasts a kiosk for visitors to rent bicycles and rollerblades; NurtureStars’ biggest preschool; enrichment centres that focus on areas such as music, dance, gymnastics and language catering to children between the ages of 3 to 16; karaoke, bowling and a multitude of food and beverage outlets.

Honestly, I don’t suppose any kid wouldn’t fancy the idea of having fun splashing around in an indoor water playground. Getting the little ones out to play is far better than having them glue their eyes to non-stop cartoon sessions on Youtube.

The tricky thing could be dragging the parents out instead.

Want to find more things to see and do in the north and the east of Singapore? Take a look at these 10 fun places to visit in north Singapore and these 10 fun places to visit in east Singapore.

Being a new parent brings on a whole new set of responsibilities and expenses, to make life easier for you, we at GET.com have put together 4 money-saving tips for parents with young kids in Singapore.

If you're looking for other neighbourhoods to live in, take a look at our district property guides to see the amenities and property prices that each place has to offer. Here you can find out more about Marina Bay and Chinatown properties, Tanjong Pagar properties, Tiong Bahru properties, Telok Blangah and Sentosa Cove properties, Pasir Panjang and Clementi properties, and properties in High Street and Beach Road.

Denise Bay

updated Apr 19, 2016

Denise Bay is a staff writer at GET.com, a lifestyle and personal finance website. Email: denise.bay@get.com.

Source: GET.com

Where are the TOP 5 Most Popular Rentals? - SRX

According to SRX Property Price Index, rental prices for Private Non-Landed Residential decreased by 1.0% in March 2016 compared to February 2016. This means rents are down 15.9 % since the peak in January 20-13.

In terms of Private Non-Landed Residential rental volume, an estimated 4,331 Private Non-Landed Residential units were rented in March 2016. Year-on-year, rental volume in March 2016 was 9.3% higher than the 3,961 units rented in March 2015.


What are the TOP 5 Most Popular Private Non-Landed Residential Rentals (March 2016)

District 9 (Orchard, Cairnhill, River Valley) - 410 units

District 15 (Katong, Joo Chiat, Amber Road) - 400 units 

District 10 (Bukit Timah, Holland Rd, Tanglin) - 336 units 

District 19 (Serangoon, Hougang, Punggol) - 272 units

District 14 (Geylang, Eunos)- 248 units

Source: SRX (19 Apr 2016)

Transfer of flat ownership no longer allowed except in special cases: HDB - AsiaOne

This article was originally on GET.com at: Transfer Of HDB Flat Ownership No Longer Allowed Except For Special Cases

Since April 1, 2016, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in Singapore has implemented restrictions when it comes to transferring flat ownership among spouses and family members.

Only those in special cases like an event of an owner's death, marriage, divorce, financial hardship, renounced citizenship, and medical reasons will be allowed to make a change in flat ownership.

For example, couples who have agreed to transfer ownership to either person in the case of a divorce will be able to do so.

Others who do not fall into any of these categories would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Before this restriction was put in place, HDB flat owners would make use of the transfer of ownership to dodge the Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) when they purchase a second residential property.

This used to be a common practice among Singaporeans who wish to own more than one property, where couples would give up their place as a co-owner and only become an official occupant.

However, even after the transfer of ownership, the sole owner of the house will have to ensure that he or she has sufficient funds to service the home loan, including paying back the previous co-owner's Central Provident Fund (CPF) mortgage contributions as well as a transfer fee. Plus, just making one person the sole owner of the property could potentially cause tension within the household when the couple decides to sell off the house in the future.

While it seems convenient to put such a measure in place to address the dodging of the ABSD, the HDB has made it clear that this is not the case and that the new regulation is a result of a standard policy review.

This new policy can also be seen to help prevent home buyers from facing financial strain and exercise prudence when buying another property, especially since not everyone can afford a $1.5 million condo.

Keen to find a property?

Even though it might cost a little more to buy another property because of this regulatory policy, perhaps the drop in resale prices of completed condos might slightly make up for the cost of the ABSD.

Interested to get a home loan? Comparing the different loans couldn't get any easier with a home loan comparison site like GET.com.

Refinancing your home loans could also be an option. If you're interested, don't forget to check out these 4 things you can consider when comparing home loans.

Other Articles You May Like From GET.com

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

Fizah Hatman

GET.com

Source: AsiaOne

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