Cleaning up lapses: Private estate residents look out for issues as part of NEA programme

SINGAPORE: Concerned that fallen leaves clogging public drains outside her Siglap landed home would trigger a flood, Madam Koh Swee Keow alerted a National Environment Agency (NEA) representative who oversees the estate.

Three years later, she continued to look out for issues – and her role became more official. 

Mdm Koh, who has been living in Siglap for about 30 years, joined NEA’s community auditor programme when it launched in 2020.

The initiative enlists the help of residents across 53 private estates in the country. They help NEA spot check cleaning routes that the agency oversees, including pavements, drains, roads and bus stops.

These residents also keep an eye out for dengue clusters, rat burrows, flood prone areas and littering hotspots.

When NEA asked her whether she wanted to be part of the programme, Mdm Koh said: “My thought was: ‘I'm already doing what this programme wanted the volunteers to do, so why not?’”

"You know Singapore is so clean and green. I just want to play a part. Just to contribute to it, for what I've enjoyed all these years,” she added. 

Her son’s brush with dengue in 2021, which left him hospitalised, also strengthened her resolve to do more to take care of the environment around her. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes that breed in stagnant water.

SAVING NEA MAN-HOURS

Mdm Koh, who is semi-retired and works in the education sector, is among 86 community auditors - more than four times the 20 resident volunteers that NEA had three years ago.

Together, these volunteers save NEA over 3,000 man-hours a year, with each of them devoting three hours a month to make their rounds.

Community auditors learn the cleaning schedules of service providers and look out for cleaning lapses and hotspots within the estates, said NEA executive manager Khairul Khalif.

“The community auditors help NEA to look out for the service providers' performance, and also some problematic areas within the estate,” he said.

“Having these community auditors enables NEA to focus on other critical operations outside the estates, as we have them as our eyes on the ground.”

The community auditors have so far given 400 pieces of feedback, which NEA has been able to work on quickly, added Mr Khairul.

Unlike public housing estates where town councils help to keep tabs on cleanliness, private neighbourhoods do not have government oversight.

EXPANDING THE PROGRAMME

NEA said it is looking to expand the programme to even more private estates islandwide - there are more than 200 in total. Interested residents will undergo onboarding sessions with NEA and training sessions on how to perform the audits.

However, recruitment is dependent on how public-spirited residents are. 

Mdm Koh urged more to join the programme, saying it does not take up a lot of time and increases people’s awareness of their surroundings.

“You will not only help out as an individual, you will somehow influence your family and friends, and so there is this ripple effect,” she added.