While air and water contamination regularly fill media headlines, there is another kind that is affecting cities around the world: noise pollution. As an industrialised, urbanised and economically successful state, Singapore is no exception.
(The main cause of noise pollution in Singapore is MRT trains. Image courtesy of Calvin Teo.)
The main culprit is noise from MRT lines that lie close to residences. Developments within the transportation system have focused on putting more trains on the ground, and many residents resent growing noise levels.
In many ways, Singapore is a victim of its own success – the sheer number of skyscrapers means more sound is reflected off them. The taller a building is, the louder a noise will be, as sound travels upwards. Up until roughly 15 storeys, noise levels increase level by level. To combat this, noise barriers can be erected (there is already one built in Jurong). Countries such as Japan, Germany and Australia have installed many in their cities.
While authorities have built walls (such as that in Toa Payoh Lorong 1, shielding it from the Pan-Island Expressway), planted trees and used porous asphalt to dampen vehicle noise, these measure are not always effective for multi-storey buildings. Residents can elect to install double-glazed windows. Although they effectively dampen noise, they only work when closed, and can be costly for people who, as a consequence, need to turn on air-conditioners or fans.
As the country’s population has steadily risen over the years, commuter numbers have similarly increased, leading the SMRT to increase the frequency of their services on the North-South and East-West lines. While this has alleviated commuter crowding, it has also been a source of annoyance for those living near train lines, who have to suffer the near-ceaseless noise emanating from the tracks. And the older the tracks, the greater the noise.
To calm the growing dissatisfaction, the Government recently announced plans to measure sound levels along the 65km of elevated MRT tracks. There will also be a study by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA), which will examine both road and rail locations around the city in order to recommend solutions. This study is slated to conclude at the start of 2012.
In the meantime, the number of vehicles zipping along Singapore streets will doubtlessly increase – in 2000, there were 692,807 vehicles on the roads. Last month, there were 951,307, an increase of 37%. This increase is likely to raise the noise levels in residential areas, as larger numbers of people drive to and from work.
Currently, NEA regulations limit train noise to 67 decibels over a one-hour period – that’s about the level you’d expect to find in a supermarket. This is the same limit for roads and expressways. Some people disagree with this, arguing that when trains pass by, the noise level can spike, even though the one-hour average does not exceed 67 decibels. These spikes can be particularly disturbing at night, when residents are sleeping and the accompanying white noise is lower.
As Singapore grows, however, it becomes more and more difficult to effectively limit noise pollution. Noise barriers can help, but a certain amount of noise is always to be expected, particularly near MRT line areas.
Those looking for a property loan would be well advised to check out the rates offered by DBS Bank and United Overseas Bank (UOB). The two giants are leading the way in loan interest rates, with a 0.2% rate currently used by both banks. Both banks are looking to maintain a competitive advantage in an increasingly underwhelming market. The Straits Times reported how the use of the Singapore interbank lending rate (Sibor) and the swap offer rate (SOR) has allowed both DBS and UOB to set the bench mark for the lending market. The Sibor indicates the rate at which banks lend to each other, which in turn follows the rise and fall of interest rates. The Association of banks in Singapore dictates the SOR rate, with the amount being a combination of the Sibor rate and the lending costs incurred by the bank.
(Buyers take heed: interest rates for property loans are dipping.)
Singaporeans may now be questioning why current rates are currently so good. Often banks use these low rates during a promotional period in order to maintain a particular level of business. In addition the Sibor and SOR rates commonly factor in the banks’ own profit margin. With these factors in mind it is thought that the objective when implementing rates such as these is to attract short-term property investors to the market in order to generate sufficient activity for long-term sustainability.
Providing further support to the reasons why banks are charging such low rates, Dr Chua Hak Bin, economist at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, suggested that the market for mortgage loans had dipped and as a result banks are looking to incentivise customers into entering the market. With SOR packages in particular, lenders can use extremely competitive rates to nurture investors into the market. Another important point to factor into the equation was that certain governmental cooling measures may instigate a change in market behaviour. As a result banks may be looking to protect themselves by using greater promotional techniques to maintain customer activity.
In contrast to this argument Mr Tan Kok Keong, head of research and consultancy at Orange Tee suggests banks are most likely not to enter a price dominant market (for interest rates), as there are a limited number of banks that can compete at the low interest level. Mr Tan extended further by claiming certain cooling measures (due to be introduced) will affect the level at which banks will operate on low lending rate packages such as the 16% stamp duty which will affect property sellers. A daily breakdown of Sibor and SOR rates at siborratesingapore.com seems to back up the move by DBS and UOB.
A few examples of these rates kicking in include the Far East Organization project Woodhaven, launched last month in Woodlands. DBS is offering an SOR plus zero packages applicable to the loan period until the property's completion, before the zero-rating rises. UOB have consequently finished the SOR Sibor zero packages, with the last project The Boutiq in Killiney Road, incorporating a SOR plus zero package.
For buyers, the market is seemingly on its way to dipping slightly. Property struggles in the US and Europe continue to affect growth and trends worldwide and as a result Asia Pacific may see more fluctuations in lending rates for the remaining two quarters of the year.
The Ministry of National Development (MND) and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) are working together to review long-standing policies on pet ownership and stray animal management. This announcement trails MND minister Khaw Boon Wan’s blog post, which called for the AVA to look into its practice of culling stray felines and urged for a “compassionate and mature approach” in tackling the issue.
(By reviewing pet ownership policies, authorities hope to reduce the number of stray animals in Singapore.)
Currently, HDB rules disallow residents to keep cats, while only one dog of an approved small breed is allowed for each unit. Brigadier-General (NS) and Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin, who has been assigned by Khaw to work on the matter with AVA, animal welfare groups and residents on this matter, revealed to The Straits Times that the driving force behind this review was the surge in pet ownership over the years. For instance, the number of dog licenses increased from 56,000 in 2008 to 59,000 in 2010. Cats do not need to be licensed.
Tan explained, “So, I think it is important to now start focusing on going into a lot more details about the policies involved,” adding, “I think it is important for us to find out how to create a common space for people. It is not really about animals per se; it is really about the common space, the living environment that our people live in.”
His comments were made in reference to constant tensions between pet owners and those who do not like animals. In fact last year, AVA received 3,500 complaints on stray cats and 2,900 complaints on stray dogs. As such, the review will involve feedback from residents, town councils as well as animal welfare groups.
From this month, AVA will also launch the Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme – a pilot collaboration between AVA, participating town councils and the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) – to provide an alternative solution to culling. The programme will be carried out in the Sembawang-Nee Soon, Tampines, Ang Mo Kio and Marine Parade town councils. To encourage pet keepers to sterilise their cats, AVA will subsidise half the sterilisation costs (up to $30 for male cats, $60 for females) and $20 to microchip the animal. CWS will further subsidise $10 for each cat. SPCA will subsidise 50% of sterilisation costs in the MacPherson division of Marine Parade.
Previously, AVA, various town councils and animal welfare groups put a Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme together. However, negligible results – there was no reduction in the number of strays or complaints from the general public – caused the scheme to be terminated in 2003.
Not surprisingly, animal welfare groups in Singapore more than welcome the policy review. “We have always believed that sterilisation was the more humane and effective approach to significantly reducing the stray cat population. Culling over decades has proven ineffective,” commented Ms Deirdre Moss, outgoing executive director of SPCA.
How will the review affect those living in HDBs? Should the sterilisation programme be a success, changes could be made to the pet ownership policy for HDB residents. Likewise, the culling policy could be replaced by a license-and-sterilisation one. Over time, as pet ownership numbers increase, HDB residents can expect a significant dip in the number of strays, and consequently, stray-related nuisances such as scavenging and dirtying of the environment.
The Ministry of National Development (MND) and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) are working together to review long-standing policies on pet ownership and stray animal management. This announcement trails MND minister Khaw Boon Wan’s blog post, which called for the AVA to look into its practice of culling stray felines and urged for a “compassionate and mature approach” in tackling the issue.
(By reviewing pet ownership policies, authorities hope to reduce the number of stray animals in Singapore.)
Currently, HDB rules disallow residents to keep cats, while only one dog of an approved small breed is allowed for each unit. Brigadier-General (NS) and Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin, who has been assigned by Khaw to work on the matter with AVA, animal welfare groups and residents on this matter, revealed to The Straits Times that the driving force behind this review was the surge in pet ownership over the years. For instance, the number of dog licenses increased from 56,000 in 2008 to 59,000 in 2010. Cats do not need to be licensed.
Tan explained, “So, I think it is important to now start focusing on going into a lot more details about the policies involved,” adding, “I think it is important for us to find out how to create a common space for people. It is not really about animals per se; it is really about the common space, the living environment that our people live in.”
His comments were made in reference to constant tensions between pet owners and those who do not like animals. In fact last year, AVA received 3,500 complaints on stray cats and 2,900 complaints on stray dogs. As such, the review will involve feedback from residents, town councils as well as animal welfare groups.
From this month, AVA will also launch the Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme – a pilot collaboration between AVA, participating town councils and the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) – to provide an alternative solution to culling. The programme will be carried out in the Sembawang-Nee Soon, Tampines, Ang Mo Kio and Marine Parade town councils. To encourage pet keepers to sterilise their cats, AVA will subsidise half the sterilisation costs (up to $30 for male cats, $60 for females) and $20 to microchip the animal. CWS will further subsidise $10 for each cat. SPCA will subsidise 50% of sterilisation costs in the MacPherson division of Marine Parade.
Previously, AVA, various town councils and animal welfare groups put a Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme together. However, negligible results – there was no reduction in the number of strays or complaints from the general public – caused the scheme to be terminated in 2003.
Not surprisingly, animal welfare groups in Singapore more than welcome the policy review. “We have always believed that sterilisation was the more humane and effective approach to significantly reducing the stray cat population. Culling over decades has proven ineffective,” commented Ms Deirdre Moss, outgoing executive director of SPCA.
How will the review affect those living in HDBs? Should the sterilisation programme be a success, changes could be made to the pet ownership policy for HDB residents. Likewise, the culling policy could be replaced by a license-and-sterilisation one. Over time, as pet ownership numbers increase, HDB residents can expect a significant dip in the number of strays, and consequently, stray-related nuisances such as scavenging and dirtying of the environment.
Dengue fever, a disease spread by a virus in mosquitoes, is familiar to many in Singapore who have been afflicted by it or had their families infected. Once bitten by a carrier mosquito, a patient experiences symptoms of a strong headache, aches in the muscles and joints, rashes and even mild bleeding of the gums. Of late, the number of dengue infections has seen a sharp spike in Singapore.
(There has been a sharp spike in dengue infections of late. Image courtesy of JJ Harrison.)
With more cases coming in, the National Environment Agency (NEA) is taking all steps it can to prevent new infections. As strong breeding by the mosquito population could see hundreds of cases sprout across the island, the NEA is tasking more than 1,000 officers each day to reconnoitre insect-prone areas and wipe them out.
In 2005, the last time a serious dengue outbreak occurred in Singapore, more than 700 cases occurred a week. Overall, 14,209 people became infected and 25 patients died. While the current number of cases is not yet that high, it is climbing, with 211 cases last week. So far in 2011 three people (one of whom had previous medical problems) have died from dengue, and 800 people have been treated in hospitals.
Four factors are adding to fears of the possibility of an outbreak. The first is the cyclical nature of the disease, which holds that dengue epidemics can come in cycles of between five and seven years. The last epidemic in 2005 puts Singapore in between those two figures. The second factor is that mosquitoes mature faster in the warm months of the year, allowing the dengue virus within the mosquitoes to replicate faster.
Furthermore, the dengue virus comes in many strains. The predominant strain also comes in cycles that usually last three, with the latest strain being Den-2, which has circulated for the last four years. A change to any of the other three strains of dengue could strongly harm those who only have immunity from this recent strain and not, for example, Den-3, of which there was a rash of cases in Marsiling in June. Patients who are infected with the disease more than once are particularly at risk for health problems, says Associate Professor Leo Yee Sin, who is in charge of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. A recurrence of the disease for these people has noticeable risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever. This dangerous complication can cause liver damage, brain damage, seizures and shock.
The fourth danger factor for Singapore is that due to its lower rate of cases than its regional neighbours, the island’s immunity is much lower. Because of all these dangers, not only is the NEA is sending teams to already-struck areas, it is also adopting a proactive approach and visiting zones that show no signs of dengue yet in an effort to stop an outbreak from occurring before it has a chance to take root.
Mosquitoes commonly breed where still water collects: drains, buckets, flowerpots – anywhere that can accommodate a teaspoon of water – are sufficient for new mosquitoes to hatch.
Currently, strongly affected areas include Paya Lebar Crescent, Lorong Ah Soo, Woodlands, Geylang, Ang Mo Kio, Hougang and Joo Chiat. Jalan Kelichap and Upper Paya Lebar Road have been especially hit, with 28 people currently infected. As with many diseases, children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to being weakened by infection.
