NTUC members, the workers of Singapore, will soon have a chance to enjoy classy hotel-style rooms for the best staycation, a world-class water park with more thrilling rides for better fun times, and state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities for deeper and better engagements with members.
These are just some of the new and exciting facilities members can expect at Downtown East in five years’ time.
NTUC Club, which manages Downtown East, unveiled the $200 million makeover plan at a media briefing on 19 July 2012.
Its Chief Executive Officer Yeo Khee Leng said that although NTUC Club started out to provide recreation facilities like clubhouses, it has since evolved to focus on the engagement of union members.
Explaining the decision for the revamp, he said: “We are especially close to our union members through our very close engagement and communications, we can certainly see their needs and their aspirations are changing.
“Furthermore, the Labour Movement is targeting to have one million members by 2015, and of course, more beyond that. So, we also want to ensure that we can continue to deliver sustainable fun with a leisure destination that remains affordable yet meeting and exceeding their expectations.”
In giving an overview of the changes, NTUC Club’s Chief Operating Officer Lim Eng Lee recalled that Labour Movement leaders wanted lower-income workers to have a country club “to call their own”, and this resulted in NTUC Pasir Ris Resort, the precursor to Downtown East.
This philosophy has, to a certain extent, become “the guiding principle of today’s Club” as it “provides some of these facilities, including golf courses”.
Mr Lim noted that with NTUC’s membership numbers heading towards the one million mark, the profile of members will constantly be changing, with PMEs (Professionals, Managers and Executives) making up the majority. These PMEs have, in fact, articulated their desire for better facilities.
The revamp will take place in two phases, so that Downtown East can continue to operate. Phase One, which is expected to take until 2015, will involve the building of the new Costa Sands Resort and the expansion of Wild Wild Wet while Phase Two will add the new MUCE facilities and the Main Festive Street for retail, dining and entertainment to the new landscape.
At A Glance
Bigger Costa Sands Resort: A sprawling 3.8 ha resort that exploits the natural beauty of the Pasir Ris landscape. Boasting 400 different room types, it will house a six-storey main resort block with hotel-style rooms as well as clusters of chalets featuring one-bedroom and two-bedroom duplexes with choices of park, mangrove or beach views.
More exciting Wild Wild Wet: The water park will double its size to four ha to accommodate six new rides including one that is slated to open later this year. It will also include a viewing gallery that provides an unobstructed view of the new Wild Wild Wet as well as a dining deck.
Better facilities for Membership and Union Community Engagement (MUCE): A new meeting and conference facility to include a multi-purpose hall to host up to 3,000 people, six function rooms and a 1,000-seater amphitheatre.
Newer, fresher retail, dining and entertainment areas: A new Main Festive Street to link the entrance of Wild Wild Wet to the new MUCE facilities and existing multi-story carpark. Existing shop spaces will also get a facelift.
Refreshed E!Hub façade and bigger multi-storey carpark.
