Concurrent with the R&R works, estate-wide landscaping works were done to add greater aesthetic appeal to the general appearance of the town. This year, the market cum food centre at Block 11 was extensively renovated. We also witnessed the completion of R&R works to another cluster of blocks while continuing in our efforts to improve the overall facilities.

1995

What was significant this year was the completion of reroofing works to several blocks of flats with defective and damaged roofs. The other works included the building of more indoor and outdoor sitting corners and the erection of carpark direction signs. We also welcomed residents from the new blocks of flats (Blocks 836-838 & 850-853) at Hougang Central which came under the management of Hougang Town Council.

1996 is a year where many of our plans reached fruition. It ushered in the final phase of the R&R Programme and eventually the successful completion.

The Town Council launched its own independent computerisation system for the daily operation and management of the Town Council in May 1996. This was neccessitated when the cost of the computer services formerly provided by HDB became too exorbitant when the Town Council last renewed its agreememnt with HDB, rendering it no longer cost effective to engage HDB's services.

Also not spared of fee hikes was the provision of essential maintenance services (EMSU) by the HDB. Despite this, HDB terminated its services in June 1996. Undaunted, the Town Council established its own essential maintenance services unit and took on the function of providing the service to residents hence on. All the lifts in Hougang are however still monitored by the HDB, a service for which the Hougang Town Council pays a monthly fee of about $12,000.

Progressive plans to upgrade existing playgrounds was set into motion with the completion of upgrading work to playgrounds at Blk 328 and 321 Hougang Ave 5.

The Town Council was finally also able to put up the direction signboards to the car park entrances in Hougang Constituency after a 2-year long wait for the approval by the HDB which held back its endorsement because of a later submission by the Community Consultative Committee (CCC) for a similar project.