Saturday, September 20, 2014

Forgotten reservoir found by Heritage Board

My Paper, Thursday, September 18, 2014, Page A3, News, Top Stories
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/emnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2014-09-18
Source Website: http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/forgotten-reservoir-found-heritage-board-20140918
By Melody Zaccheus, melodyz@sph.com.sg, mypaper, Published on Sep 18, 2014


OASIS OF CALM
PHOTO: OASIS OF CALM: The reservoir, together with its surrounding mature secondary forest, is worth documenting for a closer look at the biodiversity, says Nature Society's (Singapore) president Shawn Lum.
PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6fqIhMyFdHUyrgnm_OrKrKgcV9MBcwW5iAO2MLlrvQgUm-7ZByebGFzanNqLKWw6TBBS3KNgWUNq5Hr_e-VJFq_NFYcW-lkB9vejV2vPqHbfIHoSqCN1dT9I9Mb3zIPKb3S-YSBHFQI/s1600/Forgotten+reservoir+found+by+Heritage+Board.jpg
My Paper, Thursday, September 18, 2014, Page A3, News, Top Stories


AN ABANDONED reservoir that dates back to 1905 has been uncovered by the National Heritage Board (NHB).

Located off Telok Blangah Road and near Mount Faber, it was part of the Tanjong Pagar Dock but is not demarcated in the modern maps of Singapore.

However, while doing a study on the topographical changes in Singapore over the past 100 years, a team from the board discovered the reservoir, nestled in a densely-forested area.

"We were poring over old maps of the area and saw a body of water marked out on them," said John Kwok, 36, assistant director of research at NHB.

Following the discovery in February, Dr Kwok and four researchers spent another four months going through old maps and documents to piece together the story of the forgotten reservoir, which is about one-third of the size of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Based on a 1924 map by the former Singapore Harbour Board, the researchers found it was one of three small reservoirs that used to be in the area.

It most likely served residents of a nearby settlement.

Later, it was used as a swimming pool, based on pre-war and post-war maps. Remnants of a diving board and a bathing area still stand today.

The place, which used to be referred to as Keppel Hill reservoir, made the news in 1936 and 1948 when two soldiers and a boy drowned in two separate incidents after taking a dip.

An oasis of calm amid one of the world's busiest ports, a busy bus interchange and dense residential estates, the site still has a functioning water filtration system which uses different rock types to remove sediment. There are a total of six filter beds. It also has a dam on its southern end.

The board said the land the reservoir sits on is zoned as park land.

Singapore has 17 reservoirs which are managed by the PUB.

Meanwhile, the NHB said the discovery is historically significant because of the building materials and methods used.

The bricks used to build the reservoir showed that the body of water was constantly in use, said Alvin Tan, 42, its group director of policy. Some were handmade and date back to the colonial period.

Mr Tan advised people to be careful about exploring the place as the terrain is slippery and overgrown with heavy foliage. He said guided tours may be organised if there is demand.

Nature Society's (Singapore) president Shawn Lum said the reservoir, together with its surrounding mature secondary forest, is worth documenting for a closer look at the biodiversity.

"It's a nice, isolated habitat with a lot of vegetation and sufficient shade - pre-requisites for small wildlife such as birds, frogs and aquatic insects to thrive."
By Melody Zaccheus, melodyz@sph.com.sg, mypaper, Published on Sep 18, 2014


Park Bo Young  (박보영) at Red Carpet of 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards (청룡상)
PHOTO: 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards (청룡상) 2013 - Park Bo Young  (박보영) - (1)
Park Bo Young  (박보영) at Red Carpet of 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards (청룡상)
Posted by StaRiX on November 24, 2013
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2013/12/34th-blue-dragon-film-awards-2013-park.html


Park Bo Young  (박보영) at Red Carpet of 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards (청룡상)
PHOTO: 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards (청룡상) 2013 - Park Bo Young (박보영) - (2)
Park Bo Young  (박보영) at Red Carpet of 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards (청룡상)
Posted by StaRiX on November 24, 2013
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2013/12/34th-blue-dragon-film-awards-2013-park_1.html

 
 Park Bo Young  (박보영) at Red Carpet of 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards (청룡상) - (3)
PHOTO: 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards (청룡상) 2013 - Park Bo Young (박보영) - (3)
Park Bo Young  (박보영) at Red Carpet of 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards (청룡상)
Posted by StaRiX on November 24, 2013
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2013/12/34th-blue-dragon-film-awards-2013-park_2.html


Shabet (달샤벳, 李苏滨) at the 2013 Style Icon Awards (SIA)
PHOTO: 2013 Style Icon Awards (SIA) - Shabet (달샤벳, 李苏滨) glamorous red carpet entrance - (1)
http://www.veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2014/09/2013-style-icon-awards-sia-shabet.html


Bukit Timah Nature Reserve - South View Challenge
PHOTO: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve - Main Road to Summit
http://www.veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2014/06/bukit-timah-nature-reserve.html
 



Reference
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,