On 20/06/2013,
you requested for the version in force on 20/06/2013
incorporating all amendments published on or before 20/06/2013.
The closest version currently available is that of 02/01/2011.
13.
—(1) If, after consulting the Board, it appears to the Minister expedient in the interests of amenity to make provision for the conservation of trees in any geographical area of Singapore, the Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, designate any geographical area in Singapore (outside a national park or nature reserve) as a tree conservation area.
(2) A copy of any map of a tree conservation area published in the Gazette, being a copy purporting to be certified by the Commissioner as being a true copy of the map so published, shall be admissible in any legal proceedings and shall be evidence of the matters contained in the map.
[Parks and Trees 1996 Ed., s. 5 (1)]
14.
—(1) Subject to subsection (6), no person shall, except with the approval of the Commissioner under section 20 and in accordance with the terms and conditions of such approval, cut any tree with a girth exceeding one metre growing on —
(a)
any tree conservation area; or
(b)
any vacant land (whether within or outside a tree conservation area).
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or damages any tree referred to in that subsection shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000.
(3) In determining the amount of fine to be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under subsection (2), the court shall, in particular, have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued or appears likely to accrue to him in consequence of the offence.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the girth of a tree shall be measured half a metre from the ground.
(5) Where in any proceedings for an offence under this section, a question arises as to whether the girth of a tree measured half a metre from the ground exceeds or does not exceed one metre, a certificate purporting to be signed by the Commissioner or an authorised officer certifying the girth of the tree shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of the matters stated therein and of the signature of the Commissioner or authorised officer, as the case may be.
(6) No approval referred to in subsection (1) shall be required where the condition of the tree constitutes an immediate threat to life or property.
[Parks and Trees 1996 Ed., s. 5 (2) to (4)]
15.
—(1) If it appears to the Commissioner necessary to make provision for the maintenance or conservation of any tree with a girth exceeding one metre growing —
(a)
within any tree conservation area; or
(b)
on any vacant land (whether within or outside a tree conservation area),
or a group of such trees, the Commissioner may serve a tree conservation notice with respect to such tree or group of trees addressed to —
(i)
the occupier of the premises or land on which the tree or group of trees is growing; or
(ii)
any person carrying out or intending to carry out any building works, whether on the premises or within its vicinity which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, causes or is likely to cause damage to the tree or group of trees.
(2) A tree conservation notice under subsection (1) may, in particular, require the occupier or person referred to in that subsection —
(a)
to cease or refrain from, either wholly or to the extent specified in the tree conservation notice, any activity on the premises concerned;
(b)
to alter, demolish or remove any property or material from the premises concerned, or any sign, structure or building he has erected or caused to be erected thereon; or
(c)
to take such other measures as the Commissioner reasonably considers necessary to maintain or conserve the tree or group of trees concerned.
(3) Every tree conservation notice under subsection (1) shall specify —
(a)
the tree or group of trees covered by the notice, by reference to the type, species, size, location and such other particulars of the tree or group of trees;
(b)
the date on which it is to take effect; and
(c)
the period (which shall run from the date the tree conservation notice takes effect) within which any step required by the notice shall be taken.
(4) The Commissioner may, at any time, revoke any tree conservation notice made under this section.
[Parks and Trees 1996 Ed., s. 6]