Gave a talk at PUB Public Outreach & Engagement Networking Session, held at NEWater Visitor Centre on 2 Nov 2016. My topic was on the Purpose & Strategies for Strategic Community Relations/ Public Engagement Programme.

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TRANSMISSION CABLE TUNNEL
AN OVERVIEWAN OVERVIEWAN OVERVIEWAN OVERVIEW

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Is PR Just aIs PR Just aIs PR Just aIs PR Just a WayangWayangWayangWayang Show?Show?Show?Show?

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CABLE TUNNEL OVERVIEW
• Project Value of S$2 Billion
• Deepest, Tightest and
Longest tunnels in Singapore
• 6 main contracts
• 18 active work sites
• 35 km of tunnel construction
• 60 m deep
• 14 TBMs underground
• 24/7 operations
A national initiative that will provide the long-term solution
for Singapore's future power supply

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CABLE TUNNEL ROUTE
A national initiative that will provide the long-term
solution for Singapore's future power supply

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GEOLOGICAL PROFILE OF NORTH-SOUTH
Key Challenges
• Crossing Faults & Fault Damaged Zones
• Crossing Hot Spring
• Blocky Rock Condition
• High Rock Strength & Abrasiveness
• Crossing Nee Soon Fault & Springleaf MRT Station
(U/C)
• Mining underneath PIE expressway & Whampoa
Canal
• Transition zone of Bukit Timah GRANITE, Jurong
Formation and Old Alluvium
• Clayey Old Alluvium

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GEOLOGICAL PROFILE OF EAST-WEST
Key Challenges
• Shear Zone
• Meta Tuff
• Clayey Old
Alluvium
• High abrasiveness in
Sandy OA
• Crossing NSL &
C920 MRT lines with
thick Kallang
members on top
• Crossing KPE,
CCL, PIE & DTSS,
DTL3 C932A,
DTL3 C933, NEL
and Sungei
Whampoa Canal

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• Safety Pledge
• Buddy System
• MSI Audit
• Unannounced Safety Audit (USA)
• Safety Training for Workers
• Safety @ SPPG
• Enhanced Safety Performance Indicators
• Best Contractor Award Scheme
• Reward for Best Safety Performance
• Project Safety Review (PSR)
• Activity Based Safety Improvement System
(ABSIS)
EVERYBODY PLAYS A PART IN SAFETY
Won the ROSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents) award and Singapore’s Top 50 Engineering Feat in
2016
Safety Initiatives

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Safety Pledge
EVERYBODY PLAYS A PART IN SAFETY

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PROJECT COMMUNCATIONS
PURPOSE & PR STRATEGIES

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PROJECT COMMUNCATIONS
WHY THE NEED FOR IT?

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You Are On Stage WhetherYou Are On Stage WhetherYou Are On Stage WhetherYou Are On Stage Whether
You like It Or NotYou like It Or NotYou like It Or NotYou like It Or Not

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PURPOSE
So that Project Progress goes
unimpeded by PR Issues
EVERYBODY PLAYS A PART IN PUBLIC RELATIONS

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PURPOSE
Prevent & Minimise Negative Feedback

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PURPOSE
Prevent & Minimise Negative Feedback
Manage & Resolve Stakeholders’ Complaints,
Issues & Concerns

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PURPOSE
Prevent & Minimise Negative Feedback
Manage & Resolve Stakeholders’ Complaints,
Issues & Concerns
So that Complaints don’t
escalate!
EVERYBODY PLAYS A PART IN PUBLIC RELATIONS

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STRATEGIES
ANTICIPATE CONCERNS & POTENTIAL PR ISSUES

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STRATEGIES
ANTICIPATE CONCERNS & POTENTIAL PR ISSUES
IMPLEMENT PREVENTIVE MEASURES

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STRATEGIES
ANTICIPATE CONCERNS & POTENTIAL PR ISSUES
IMPLEMENT PREVENTIVE MEASURES
FORM ALLIES: COMMUNITY LEADERS &
INFLUENCERS

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STRATEGIES
ANTICIPATE CONCERNS & POTENTIAL PR ISSUES
IMPLEMENT PREVENTIVE MEASURES
PROMPT RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK
FORM ALLIES: COMMUNITY LEADERS &
INFLUENCERS

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STRATEGIES
ANTICIPATE CONCERNS & POTENTIAL PR ISSUES
IMPLEMENT PREVENTIVE MEASURES
PROMPT RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK
FORM ALLIES: COMMUNITY LEADERS &
INFLUENCERS
AMICABLE RESOLUTIONS OF COMPLAINTS

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STAKEHOLDERS’ PROFILING
Stakeholders’ Concerns

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STAKEHOLDERS’ PROFILING
Stakeholders’ Concerns
How Can We Prevent / Address these?

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STAKEHOLDERS’ PROFILING
Stakeholders’ Concerns
How Can We Prevent / Address these?
Safety, Noise, Dust, Vibrations,
Mozzies & Pests, Damages to my
Property… Who Do I Call?

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SOME REAL EXAMPLES
CASE STUDIES…

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ROAD SAFETY
WORKING NEAR SCHOOLS

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PUBLIC SAFETY: TOP PRIORITY!
Dismissal time at Hong Wen School

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May Road
Safety first, from the outset
ASSESSING THE SITUATION
The original situation at the May Road site:
Dismissal time at Hong
Wen School

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Geylang Bahru Lane
Safety first, from the outset
ASSESSING THE SITUATION
The original situation at the Kallang site:

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Safety first, from the outset
MEASURES WE TOOK
A traffic marshal was positioned at
the road crossing at Hong Wen
School during school
commencement and dismissal to
control traffic.
Water barricades were deployed along
May Road to prevent jaywalking
around the site.

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Traffic marshals were stationed at the intersection of May Road and
Towner Road to stop incoming heavy vehicle traffic. Vehicle
commanders would board the heavy vehicles and guide the drivers to
drive slowly.
Safety first, from the outset
MEASURES WE TOOK

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Safety is Our Way of Life
• Safety is our highest priority.
• We spare no effort in ensuring the safety of the public, our
staff and contractors
• We are prepared to go above and beyond industry
standards to ensure safety

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Stakeholders engaged
May Road Kallang
• Hong Wen School
• Whampoa McNair Residents’ Committee
• St George’s West Residents’ Committee
• Whampoa Citizens’ Consultative
Committee
• Residents living near the site
• Kallang Bahru Residents’ Committee
• Kolam Ayer Citizens’ Consultative
Committee
• Saint Joseph’s Institution Junior
• Kallang Basin Swimming Complex
• Residents living near the site
Engaging our stakeholders
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY
The safety measures were formulated in consultation with stakeholders at
both sites.

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Engaging our stakeholders
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY
The safety measures were formulated in consultation with stakeholders at
both sites.
Briefing to Adivisers of GROs and Grassroots Leaders

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PUBLIC SAFETY: TOP PRIORITY!

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Safety – an ongoing and evolving process
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
OLD ACCESS
NEW ACCESS

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NEW ACCESS
OLD ACCESS
Safety – an ongoing and evolving process
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

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Working in partnership with the community
REGULAR AND ONGOING ENGAGEMENT – ENSURING THE COMMUNITY
HAD A VOICE
Before the start of
construction
Provided basic
information
about the
projects and
offered a point
of contact.
Ongoing
Door-to-door
engagement
with
stakeholders to
share project
updates and
details.
Briefing at RC
level to provide
updates, and
address
residents’
queries and
concerns.
Reach out to Citizens’
Consultative
Committees and
increased community
engagement before
any major
construction activity.
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ROCK BLASTING WORKS
WORKING NEAR RESIDENTIAL
ESTATES

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Dear Alan,
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION OF EAST-WEST TRANSMISSION CABLE TUNNEL – CONTRACT EW 1 (FROM
AYER RAJAH TO HOLLAND ROAD)
NORTH BUONA VISTA SHAFT CONTROLLED BLASTING WORKS
The round dot represent the shaft location at
North Buona Vista Shaft
Mr Alan Lam
Constituency Director
Buona Vista Constituency Office
Blk 36, Holland Drive
#01-01 Singapore 270036
We would like to inform you that our main contractor
M/s Obayashi Corporation (Contract EW1) has
excavated to a depth of about 40m for the North
Buona Vista shaft, and will begin the next phase of
shaft excavation works – controlled blasting of the
underlying rock layers within the shaft and mucking
out the rock and soil from end-June 14 to end-Dec 14.
These two steps will be repeated until we arrive at a
depth of about 70m.
During the controlled blasting works, sirens will be
sounded as part of the safety procedures. You are
likely to hear a "thundering" sound and you may feel a
little vibration arising from the blasting works.
However, each blast will only last a few seconds.
There will only be one blasting operation per day
between 4 to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday. All safety and
environmental mitigating measures will be put in
place for the controlled blasting works.

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During the controlled blasting works, the following safety and
environmental mitigating measures will be in place:
EW 1 (Obayashi) Ms Wenny Ng, Public Relations Officer at 9723 6249
You are most welcome to contact me at:
Tel: 6378 8252 / Mobile: 8123 5322
Email: cabletunnel@singaporepower.com.sg, or
Visit our microsite: http: //cabletunnel.singaporepower.com.sg for more information.
Yours faithfully,
Please help us share this information with your colleagues at the Constituency Office, as well as all visitors to the
Community Club, so that they would not be alarmed by the sirens which are part of the safety procedures for carrying
out the controlled blasting works and by the few seconds of “thundering” sound after the controlled blasting has
been initiated.
We thank you for your understanding, patience and support for our project. We will continue to keep you informed
about the status of the project. If you have questions concerning the controlled blasting works, please call the
following public relations officer:
• One blasting operation per day between 4 to 8 pm
• Controlled blasting with a blast duration of only 2 to 5 seconds
• 2 Sirens will be sounded:
1st siren: 30secs long siren to alert and warn site staff to clear the shaft
area
Controlled blasting will be initiated after all workers have cleared the
shaft area
2nd siren: to inform site staff that they can get back to their work
• Customized rubber mats and steel plates will be placed at the bottom
and opening of the shaft respectively to prevent rocks and debris from
leaving the shaft and reduce the noise and vibration levels arising from
the controlled blasting
Michael Aaron Yap
Assistant Director, Project Communications
Cable Tunnels
Special Projects Division
Blast protection system

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Briefing to CEO & Staff of Tanglin Trust School
on Rock Blasting Works
Briefing to Sisters of Franciscan Missionary of
Mary
Controlled Rock Blasting Works

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NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
INTRODUCING THE FUTURE
EQUIPMENT/VENTILATION
BUILDING

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Engage Grassroots Leaders
Briefing to Constituency Leaders and stakeholders
Briefing to Constituency Leaders and
stakeholders
Briefing to RC members @ Geylang Bahru

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Engage Stakeholders Directly
Site visit by CHIJ Katong Convent SchoolSite visit by Students from Tanglin Trust
School
Participated @ TTS Summer Fete Festivity Door-to-door visits

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Engage Stakeholders Directly

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Engage Stakeholders Directly

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IN SUMMARY
STAKEHOLDERS DON’T LIKE SURPRISES!

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STAKEHOLDERS DON’T LIKE SURPRISES!
LEND THEM YOUR EARS & DEMONSTRATE YOUR
CONCERNS
IN SUMMARY

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STAKEHOLDERS DON’T LIKE SURPRISES!
LEND THEM YOUR EARS & DEMONSTRATE YOUR
CONCERNS
THEY MAY NOT BE TOTALLY SATISFIED WITH THE WAY
THINGS ARE, BUT DON’T EVER LET THEM BE
DISSATISFIED WITH HOW THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED!
IN SUMMARY

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PARTING WORDS
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you
said, people will forget what you did, but people
will never forget how you made them feel,”
Maya Angelou, Author of
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

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