Punggol New Town

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Punggol New Town
Total area:	9.57 km²
Residential area:	4.74 km²
Dwelling units:	16,017[1]
Projected ultimate:	96,000
Population:	51,700 (31 March 2006)[1]

Punggol - Historical Background

Kampong Punggol, which was located in the vicinity of the Punggol Jetty, was believed to have existed 200 years ago, even before Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore. It was one of the oldest settlements in Singapore. The original settlers were predominantly Malays. Fishing was then the main activity. Villagers also planted fruits and vegetables.

In Malay, Punggol (also spelled Ponggol), means hurling sticks at the branches of fruit trees to bring the fruits down to the ground. It also refers to a place where fruits and forest produce are offered for wholesale.

The early Chinese immigrants, who settled in Punggol from the mid 19th century onwards, were engaged in plantation work (mainly rubber). As more and more Chinese immigrants settled in Punggol, poultry farming and pig rearing activities flourished. Trading on farm produce, fruits and vegetables was carried out in the marketplace at the former eighth milestone of Punggol Road. The Serangoon River mouth became the docking point for fishing boats where fishermen gathered to sell their catch.

In the 1960s, basic amenities like piped water, electricity, paved roads, and drainage systems were introduced through government and self-help programmes. It was also at this time that television became popular and antennas could be seen installed on many kampong rooftops.

Poultry and pig farms were gradually phased out when redevelopment commenced in the 1970s. Land vacated by resettled farmers were then tendered out on short term leases for non-pollutive agricultural activities (eg. vegetable farming). Punggol was also known for its sumptuous seafood and boatels that provided services like docking and renting of boats for boating, water-skiing and skin-diving lessons. These seafood restaurants and boatels have since been relocated to facilitate reclamation works.

Punggol has an e-community at Punggol community forum

[edit] Reference

1. ^ ^{a b} Sarah Ng, Nur Dianah Suhaimi, "Posh Punggol v 'Ulu' Sengkang", The Sunday Times, 26 November 2006

edit	New towns and estates in Singapore
New towns: Ang Mo Kio New Town | Bedok New Town | Bishan New Town | Bukit Batok New Town | Bukit Merah | Bukit Panjang New Town | Choa Chu Kang New Town | Clementi New Town | Geylang | Hougang New Town | Jurong East New Town | Jurong West New Town | Kallang | Pasir Ris New Town | Punggol New Town | Queenstown | Sembawang New Town | Sengkang New Town | Serangoon New Town | Simei New Town | Tampines New Town | Toa Payoh New Town | Woodlands New Town | Yishun New Town
Estates: Bukit Timah | Changi Village | Kembangan | Macpherson | Marine Parade | Potong Pasir | Tiong Bahru