Pulau Serangoon

Coordinates: 1°24′32″N 103°55′21″E / 1.40889°N 103.92250°E / 1.40889; 103.92250

Pulau Serangoon, alternatively known as Coney Island, is a 45-hectare island located off the northeastern coast of Singapore, between Pulau Ubin to its northeast and the mainland to its southwest. As it is located just 100 metres from the mainland at its closest point, it will be reclaimed to build quality waterfront housing ^[1] and linked via a bridge to Punggol. Still, in spite of this small distance, motor launches have to be specially hired to reach the island.

Pulau Serangoon is also a popular place for jet skiing and camping.^[2] However, this has led to the beaches being polluted by litter such as discarded cans, instant noodle packets and bottles.^[3]

The island will open to the public in 2015. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said that under the Master Plan, a part of Coney Island is zoned for residential, sport and recreational use but as the land is not immediately required for development, a part of Coney Island will be kept as an interim park for the time being. The rest of the island is zoned for park use. .^[4]

Etymology

In an 1825 survey of the coastal areas around Singapore by Crawfurd, Forrester, Lt. Jackson and Dr Johnson, Rabbit and Coney (meaning rabbit) islets were mentioned.

An anonymous writer who wrote the Singapore Chronicle article noted on the sighting of the two islets, namely Rabbit and Coney that:

"the whimsical application to these two islets suggests some observations upon the fantastic names which have been given to places in this part of the world; not only by European navigators but by the natives of the country themselves. There is scarcely any sense or meaning in the best of them. Pray, what is the difference between a rabbit and the coney?"

References

Sources

• Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2004), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-364-3