Factors for establishing Community Clubs with mass/multi facilities

*329. Ms Valerie Lee: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what factors are considered when it comes to establishing Community Clubs (CCs) with mass facilities; and (b) whether there are any plans to establish new CCs with multi-facilities.

Response:

1. Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: Mr Speaker, I am answering in my capacity as the Minister charged with the responsibility for the People’s Association. The People’s Association (PA)’s mission is to foster social cohesion and connect the government to people. It does this through a wide range of programmes, some of which take place at shared community spaces, such as our Community Clubs (CCs), for residents to bond and connect.

2. The PA plans for each CC to serve approximately 15,000 households or 50,000 residents, as an approximate guide.  Factors such as population profile and growth, geographical and other site considerations, availability of alternative facilities as well as long-term community needs will be taken into account when considering the size and scale of a CC and where it should be located. 

3. Barring new towns and divisions under development, PA endeavours to ensure that every resident has access to a community club within a reasonable radius, whether it is standalone CCs, co-located CCs, Integrated Community Hubs, or void-deck community centres. On occasion, when there are divisions without a CC, such as when the division is comprised of a new town or estate, PA will set up other community facilities such as the Residents' Network (RN) Centres located at the local precinct level to provide immediate community touchpoints for residents.  

4. Upcoming developments have been previously publicly announced to the media include Bukit Timah Integrated Development, Heart of Yew Tee, and Tampines Boulevard Community Club.