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PM opens Our Tampines Hub

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Residents can now use rooftop pools and other facilities at Singapore's first integrated lifestyle hub

Life just got a whole lot easier for Tampines residents with the completion and grand opening of Our Tampines Hub yesterday.

Previously, community activities were held at temporary spaces like the plot of land next to Tampines MRT station or the open space behind the station.

Now, residents have a 5,000-seat stadium with a high-quality synthetic football pitch, called the Town Square, at the hub.

"You can go shopping - there are all kinds of services and retail outlets. And you can just drop by Our Tampines Hub on your way home and get everything you need here," said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was the guest of honour at the launch.

The hub is Singapore's first integrated lifestyle hub and was born out of the ideas of thousands of residents, he noted.

"From the idea to the realisation, residents have been involved in the process and consulted because we wanted to build a hub by the residents for the residents," he said.

This was a case of the Government trying out new things and improving as it went along, Mr Lee said, adding: "We will continue to learn and to improve."

The first of the integrated community hub's facilities opened in November last year, and more were gradually opened over the past eight months.

It is very precious and we must protect it, uphold it, strengthen it. Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong on Singapore’s racial harmony

The latest facilities to open include the Town Square and the Festive Arts Theatre, which can seat 400 for movie screenings and live performances.

The five-storey Tampines Regional Library reopened its doors last week after moving to the hub.

RECREATION PARK

Residents can use the hub's six rooftop swimming pools, the largest children's playground in Tampines as well as a sports and recreation park with four tennis courts, two futsal courts and one hockey court.

They can also use the services of 12 government agencies at the 24-hour Public Service Centre.

The number of cases the centre typically handles has almost doubled, from 5,744 transactions a month when it opened last November to 9,691 in June.

About 100,000 people visited the hub yesterday, where there were several grand opening day activities such as community performances.

Mr Lee said it was good to see so many Tampines residents of different races and backgrounds celebrating together.

On Singapore's multi-racial and harmonious society, he said: "It is very precious, and we must protect it, uphold it, strengthen it. So that we understand one another, give and take and compromise with one another, and remember always that we are one people, one nation, one Singapore."

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, a Tampines GRC MP, told reporters that 15,000 residents had given their suggestions for the hub, which has 2,000 volunteers running various programmes.

"We will continue to engage residents closely so we can continue to plan meaningful activities for everyone," he added.

Lee Hsien LoongTampinesSingapore