First Residents’ Network to serve Canberra HDB, private residents
Grassroots organisation in Sembawang ward will serve both public, private estates
The Canberra ward of Sembawang is the first in Singapore to get a Residents' Network (RN), a new grassroots organisation that aims to serve people living in new private estates as well as public housing.
The Canberra SkyLife RN will serve residents of the Parc Life and SkyPark Residences executive condominiums, as well as the Sun Breeze Housing Board development, all of which are located in Sembawang Crescent.
Sembawang GRC MP Lim Wee Kiak announced the RN yesterday during the ninth annual Canberra Day celebrations, a community carnival for local residents.
Currently, HDB estates are served by residents' committees (RCs), which were introduced in 1978, while neighbourhood committees (NCs) were launched in 1998 to serve private estates. There are 654 RCs and 215 NCs islandwide, with both organising community activities to encourage neighbourliness.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong first announced the formation of Residents' Networks last year.
Mr Lee, who is also the chairman of the People's Association, said the change is aimed at making the grassroots network more effective as well as strengthening social cohesion.
Existing RCs and NCs have the option of continuing as they are or rebranding themselves as RNs. Neighbouring RCs and NCs can choose to merge into a single RN.
Dr Lim, vice-chairman of the Sembawang Town Council, described the difference between RCs and NCs as an "artificial barrier" that separates residents.
He noted that HDB and executive condominium residents in the area support the idea of RNs.
"This segregation is not real," he said.
"Residents from all walks of life, regardless of housing type, should have a common platform to interact."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now