LARGE pieces of land like Pulau Tekong and Jalan Ulu Sembawang are off limits to the public now because they are used for military training.

But they are also lush with flora and fauna, and a Government- appointed group looking into Singapore's green areas wants them opened up on selected days.

 The 18-member group, headed by the Singapore International Foundation's executive director, Dr Tan Chi Chiu, examined the proposals in the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the National Parks Board's (NParks) Parks and Waterbodies Plan, a blueprint to guide the development of nature areas over the next decade.

It also looked at ideas proposed for Singapore's rustic coastal areas, such as Pulau Ubin, Changi Village and Pasir Ris.

The group - which included representatives from green groups, professional bodies and grassroots groups - released its findings yesterday after a series of discussions, site visits and dialogues with stakeholders. The report contained a slew of ideas to improve both plans and rejected only three of 64 proposals.

Among the ideas is to open up military land.

The group has initiated discussions with the Defence Ministry (Mindef).

Dr Tan said that while Mindef has not committed itself to the suggestion, dialogue is ongoing between the ministry and the URA.

He said: 'It's not very different from opening up the Istana during public holidays. It will give Singaporeans a chance to access these areas, which are rich in nature.'

Other suggestions his group offered included having NParks take charge of Pulau Ubin, a rustic island which is also home to Singapore's last kampung.

The idea is to ensure there is proper coordination for conservation and the restoration of the built and natural elements there.

Currently, agencies such as the Singapore Land Authority and NParks manage different aspects of the island.

The group also modified some of URA's proposals after taking into account concerns from conservationists. For example, it wants the proposed trail at the Kranji Marshes to be shortened, so that people walking on it will not disturb the birds there.

But it stopped short of granting the Nature Society's request to reinstate eight green areas gazetted in the 1993 Singapore Green Plan, but which were left out of these latest plans.

Dr Tan said: 'We felt that these places were not part of the plan because there are no plans to muck around with them at least until 2015.'

There were also three aspects of the plan which the group rejected outright.

It does not want a scenic drive or eco lodges to be built at Chestnut Drive, a quiet area near Upper Bukit Timah which has lush vegetation.

The group felt that these would spoil the area's natural beauty.

It also rejected the idea to extend Lorong Belukong at Changi Village right up to the edge of a creek, saying that the waterfront area should be kept for pedestrians, not vehicles.

Both URA and NParks are studying the group's report, and will put up a draft of the Master Plan in February.

For a copy of the group's recommendations, log on to www.ura.gov.sg