ACRES takes legal action against wildlife centre contractor

CNA - Work has halted at Singapore's first Wildlife Rescue Centre. Managed by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), the centre is now embroiled in an environmental pollution lawsuit.

At the heart of the case is the contractor engaged to construct the wildlife centre. It is alleged that A.N.A Contractor Pte Ltd had dumped woodchips onto the site, leading to the discharge of wastewater into the watercourse linked to Kranji Reservoir.

The discharge originates from a site located at Jalan Lekar – in the North-Western part of Singapore – that is meant to house rescued wildlife.

In its writ of summons to A.N.A Contractor and its director, Mr Tan Boon Kwee, who was the clerk of works for the rescue centre project, ACRES alleged that the toxic discharge is the result of A.N.A burying woodchips on the site.

Subsequent tests by environmental consultants, using boreholes dug up to 13 metres underground, showed that contaminants in the ground water included petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds.

ACRES will be claiming damages and losses as a result of the actions of A.N.A Contractor and its director.

In a statement to Channel NewsAsia, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said its officers found that the discharge contained high organic content. Its investigation also revealed that ACRES' contractor had used woodchips for the earth works at the site.

NEA has initiated prosecution against A.N.A Contractor, under the Environmental Protection and Management Act, for causing discharge of water with high organic content.

Under the Act, the penalties for discharging toxic substances or hazardous substances into inland waters are a fine of up to S$100,000 and a jail term of up to 12 months. NEA said the prosecution action is still pending the court's judgement.

It added that although woodchips do not contain any toxic chemical or hydrocarbon, it can discharge water with high organic content when it decays. But like any decayed or dried wood, when the decay is complete, the woodchips will no longer give rise to any discharge of high organic content waste water.

As for the hydrocarbons found present in the ground water by environmental consultant ENVIRONcorp, NEA said it is not unusual for hydrocarbons to be present in trace levels in the soil.

The agency added that it is monitoring the site and there has been no such further discharge into the watercourse.

Louis Ng, executive director, ACRES, said: "It's been a long and tiring journey for us and we look forward to ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre becoming a landmark facility for the protection of animals. But at the same time, we will work tirelessly to rectify all these problems that have arisen.

"These setbacks have not dampened our spirit, our passion and determination to make a difference, and we will learn from this setback. We'll move forward, we'll stay positive and we'll definitely become stronger."

ACRES is now appealing to other construction companies to help in the excavation and rebuilding works. Notwithstanding the delay, it said it would open the front portion of the centre, which includes the Volunteer House, Education Centre and Administrative Building, on Friday.

The Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre will open soon, following further talks with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority. The opening of the Animal Sanctuary, which needs to be torn down, is delayed for at least another six months.

To date, the work of ACRES has led to the rescue of more than 200 wild animals. ACRES has also conducted more than 280 roadshows and talks in Singapore to create awareness on animal protection issues.