West Region, Singapore

The West Region (Malay: Wilayah Barat, Chinese: 西區) of Singapore is one of the five regions in the city-state. The region is the largest in terms of land area and is the third most populous region after the North-East Region and Central Region. Jurong East is the regional centre of the region, with plans of developing the Jurong Lake District into a second CBD area.[2] Jurong West is the most populous town in the region, with a population of 262,730 residents.[1] Comprising 25,500 hectares of land area,[3] it includes twelve planning areas and is home to about 922,540 residents.

West Region
Location of West Region
Coordinates: 1°19′43.98″N 103°44′23.81″E / 1.3288833°N 103.7399472°E / 1.3288833; 103.7399472
Country Singapore
Planning areas
CDC
Regional centreJurong East
Largest PAJurong West
Government
 • MayorsNorth West CDC

South West CDC

Area
 • Total
201.3 km2 (77.7 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
922,540
 • Density4,600/km2 (12,000/sq mi)

Geography

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With a total land area of 201.3 km2 (77.7 sq mi), the region is situated on the western corner of Singapore Island, bordering the North Region to the north and east, Central Region to the south-east and the Straits of Johor to the west. The region is largely made up of residential towns and established industrial estates. Located at the southernmost part of the region, far away from the main residential and commercial areas, Jurong Island and Tuas house a majority of Singapore's heavy industries.

Government

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The region is locally governed by two different Community Development Councils, namely the North West CDC and South West CDC, and is divided into 12 planning areas.

Planning Areas

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Planning
Area
Area (km2') Population Density (/km2')
Boon Lay 8.23 1000 3.6
Bukit Batok 11.13 139,270 12,513
Bukit Panjang 8.99 139,030 15,466.7
Choa Chu Kang 6.11 174,330 28,513.2
Clementi 9.49 91,630 9,650.3
Jurong East 17.83 84,980 4,766.9
Jurong West 14.69 272,660 18,563.5
Pioneer 12.1 100 8.3
Tengah 7.4 10 1.4
Tuas 30.04 70 2.3
Western Islands 39.47 0 0
Western Water Catchment 69.46 900 13

Other major areas

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Economy

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The West Region is home to a majority of Singapore's heavy industries, mainly the petrochemical industry, with international oil and gas and chemicals companies, such as LANXESS, Afton Chemical, BASF, BP, Celanese, Evonik, ExxonMobil, DuPont, Mitsui Chemicals, Chevron Oronite, Shell, Singapore Petroleum Company and Sumitomo Chemical operating facilities on Jurong Island and Pulau Bukom. The area makes up about 5% of Singapore's GDP and top three export refining centres in the world, with the world's seventh largest oil refinery.[4]

A second Central Business District is also planned to be developed in the Jurong Lake District, with the Kuala Lumpur–Singapore High Speed Rail terminus supposed to be located there, before the project was cancelled.[5][6]

 
Panoramic view of West Region, Singapore, from the look-out tower on Jurong Hill. Jurong Industrial Estate lies in the foreground.

Education

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Residents of the area have access to different educational facilities ranging from preschools to primary and secondary schools, as these are located around the different towns in the West region. The area is also home to various tertiary institutions, such as APSN Delta Senior School, ITE College West, Jurong Junior College, Millennia Institute, Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, NUS High School of Math and Science, Pioneer Junior College, River Valley High School, Singapore University of Social Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Centre, and Grace Orchard School (a special needs school).

References

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  1. ^ a b c City Population - statistics, maps and charts | SINGAPORE: Regions
  2. ^ "Making Jurong district a viable second CBD". The Straits Times. July 13, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  3. ^ "Residential Statistics - URA". Urban Redevelopment Authority. 2008.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Top 10 large oil refineries". Hydrocarbons Technology. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  5. ^ "Jurong Lake District to be second CBD, call for plans issued". Channel News Asia. July 12, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  6. ^ Auto, Hermes (2021-01-01). "KL-Singapore High Speed Rail terminated after both countries fail to reach agreement on M'sia's proposed changes | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
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