PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PARKS AND TREES ACT

A. INTRODUCTION

1. NParks would like to invite interested parties to provide their feedback on the proposed amendments to Parks and Trees Act (PTA), as described in the draft Bill at Annex A.

B. BACKGROUND 

2. The PTA regulates the planting, maintenance and conservation of plants within national parks, nature reserves, tree conservation areas, heritage road green buffers, public parks and other specified areas. 

3. As Singapore continues to evolve into a City in a Garden, there is a need to update the PTA in order to enhance and update NParks’ functions, terms and enforcement provisions and to validate its actions to carry out its work more effectively. The Parks and Trees Regulations will also be subsequently updated to address changing operational requirements.

C. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 

4. Key features of the proposed amendments to the PTA are highlighted below. 

Inclusion of Marine Areas as a public park

5. The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park was established as a safe haven for varied and ecologically sensitive flora and fauna which thrive in its waters. The inclusion of marine parks in the PTA ensures protection over the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park and other designated marine areas. 

Inclusion of non-NParks managed land as public parks and delegation of powers

6. The draft Bill brings designated lands that are not currently managed by NParks under the PTA’s jurisdiction for enforcement purposes.  This will help to foster a greater sense of ownership and to afford protection to these designated lands managed by entities other than NParks. 

7. To further improve enforcement efforts, the draft Bill empowers NParks to delegate selected powers of the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation to licensed security officers and auxiliary police officers as well as selected employees of parks managed by entities other than NParks. Training programmes will be implemented to ensure that these persons have the necessary proficiency and capabilities to enforce the delegated powers. 

Power to enter premises and issue maintenance notices to tree owners to maintain dangerous trees

8. Currently, NParks has existing powers to take action when a tree, on any premises, is deemed to pose an immediate threat to life or property. However, if the tree does not constitute an imminent risk, NParks is unable to intervene. The draft Bill enhances public safety by allowing NParks officers to enter into any premises to ascertain the condition of trees located within and to issue maintenance notices to the occupier, if required.

Transfer of technical specifications to the Parks and Trees Regulations

9. Technical specifications from the Parks and Trees Act will be transferred to the Regulations to provide NParks with more flexibility to respond to future innovations in greenery design. These technical specifications include the prescription of dimensions of planting areas within developments and green verges.

D. INVITATION FOR FEEDBACK

10. The consultation period for public feedback is from 22 July 2016 to 10 August 2016.  

11. Feedback may be sent in electronic or hardcopy to the address below: 

Legal Services and Prosecution Branch 

National Parks Board 
Headquarters, 1 Cluny Road, 
Singapore 259569 
Fax: 6472 3033 
Email: nparks_legal_services@nparks.gov.sg
Subject: “Consultation on proposed amendments to the Parks and Trees Act” 

12. We regret that we will not be able to individually acknowledge or address every comment we receive. However, a summary of key comments and responses received will be consolidated and published on the REACH website following the close of the consultation exercise. We will not disclose the identity of person(s) providing the feedback, to maintain the confidentiality of feedback received.