14/08/2025
Keppel Island to Build Private Residences and Floating Walkway — Environmental Impact Assessment: Minimal Effect on Corals and Ecology
Keppel Island plans to develop a private residential project, remove existing berths, and build a floating walkway open to the public for enjoying coastal views. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) has found that the project will have minimal impact on surrounding corals and the ecological environment, but the developer must take measures to prevent construction material leakage and noise pollution.
Covering an area of about five hectares, Keppel Island is located between mainland Singapore and Sentosa Island, and is currently mainly used as a marina. According to the development plan, Keppel Land will construct the Keppel Bay Plot 6 private residential project on the island, comprising 86 units. The existing berths on the island’s southeast will be removed, and a pile deck will be added.
A Keppel spokesperson said that engineering consultants had previously proposed land reclamation as a worst-case backup plan. However, after discussions with the relevant authorities, it was decided to use a pile deck instead, with one of the main considerations being the reduction of environmental impact. Compared with land reclamation, a pile deck is supported by piles driven into the seabed, with construction work being more localized.
Floating Walkway in the South of Keppel Island Designed for Accessibility. In addition, a floating walkway will be built in the southern coastal area of Keppel Island and opened to the public. The EIA states that the walkway will be five metres wide, but its length has yet to be determined. The entire walkway will be designed to be barrier-free so that people with mobility challenges can move through it without hindrance.
Keppel Island is close to Mount Faber Park and the upcoming Keppel Club Park, which will be connected by the Coastal Trail and Labrador Nature Park. In the future, visitors will be able to walk or drive across the 250-metre Keppel Bay Bridge to reach the island and enjoy coastal views from the walkway.
Surrounding Keppel Island is a rich coral reef ecosystem and diverse marine life, which will undoubtedly attract nature lovers and divers. Sim Sin Min, Executive Director of Cuddlefish Divers, said that since 2021, her team has been diving in the area weekly to observe the corals, and has also recorded sightings of seahorses, giant barracudas, and giant groupers. “The marine biodiversity here can match, if not surpass, that of Singapore’s southern waters. The coral clusters around the existing berths are especially beautiful.”
Construction Expected to Start in the Second Half of 2025. The marine works will last about nine months, while the building construction will take about 3 years.
The EIA found that the building works will have minimal impact on the surrounding corals and ecology, but leakage of construction materials, erosion, and sedimentation could cause moderate negative effects. Underwater noise during construction could also affect marine animals. As such, the developer is required to implement an environmental management and monitoring plan to prevent material leakage and noise during the works.
In response, the Keppel spokesperson said the company will take measures such as installing silt curtains to protect the corals.
Sim noted that after the project is completed, it is expected that more people will visit Keppel Island, and the resulting issues will also need attention. “This could lead to plastic and other waste entering the waterways… and the lighting on the walkway could affect nocturnal animals such as octopuses and lobsters.”
Construction starts 2H 2025.
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