Trade offs:

  • involves making a decision between 2 or more things that cannot be obtained at the same time due to limited resources
  • means that having 1 of one thing would result in having less of another

SocialStudiesExamples Cross Island Line Project

  • SG govt announced plans to build a cross island line (CRL) as SGs 8th MRT line
  • CRL proposed to pass through and run under central catchment nature reserve
  • when completed it will be longest fully underground line and will link major hubs such as Jurong Lake district and Punggol digital district
    • CRL is projected to serve 600 000 commuters per day increasing to over 1 million in longer time
    • CRL will have highest number of interchange stations with almost half the stations on the line linked to existing rail stations

July 2013 nature society Singapore NSS non govt and non profit organization dedicated to the appreciation, conservation, study and enjoyment of SGs natural heritage officially raised its concerns about construction of CRL

  • Presented to SG govt its views on how CRL would affect habitats within central catchment nature reserve
  • NSS then recommended adjusting route to skirt around rather than passing under nature reserve

Direct route better for meeting needs and interests of Singaporeans

  • direct route will lower public transport fares by about 15% on average due to it being shorter and more direct. Also presents reduction in construction costs by about 2 billion for taxpayers

Skirting route better for meeting needs and interests of Singaporeans

  • Loss of flora and soil disturbance due to access roads required for placement of equipment
  • Once surface is broken through soil investigation activities, future erosion risk is very high
  • Risk of contamination of soil and streams of toxic chemicals used during drilling. Should these materials escape into env, they will be severely detrimental to health of the habitat.