(Picture above: Prawn fishing at Marina Country Club and the pier with the Punggol dam in the background. Another draw is the historical World War II site at Punggol End where many were killed by Japanese invaders. — ST PHOTOS: AZIZ HUSSIN, LIM SIN THAI)
Just six or seven years ago, many residents complained that Punggol was like the Sembawang of the north-east: “ulu” (remote), unglamorous and quiet with few residents. These days, Punggol is shaping up to be a leisure destination and has seen its population double from about 42,000 in 2007 to at least 83,300 living in flats as of last year.
Not bad for a former farming area also known for fishing and fruit trees – Punggol was, after all, most likely named after a Malay word that means “hurling sticks at the branches of fruit trees to bring them down to the ground”.
Its transformation had quickened after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the “Punggol 21-plus” masterplan to make it one of the first waterfront public housing projects in his 2007 National Day Rally speech.
Punggol would have features such as facilities for water sports, gardens and parks with jogging tracks, and eateries for al fresco dining, Mr Lee had said.
Many leisure amenities capitalising on Punggol’s natural charms have since sprung up.
– read full article
at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/environment/story/ulu-place-now-leisure-haven-20140421#6
