The residents living in Terrasse Condo in Hougang, discovered a group of at least 6 people inside their compound fishing at a pond on 16 June.
Someone said that the public could come and catch fish for free
According to a resident named Lin, who spoke to Shin Min Daily News, the group arrived at the development around noon, equipped with fishing gear. Their fishing activity lasted for about two hours, prompted by an online post made by another condo resident stating that the public was welcome to catch fish for free due to an alleged pond clearance by the condominium management.
Upon being alerted by concerned residents, security guards promptly intervened to halt the unauthorized fishing operation.
Residents expressed their disagreement with the removal of the fish. Lin emphasized that the community had been feeding the pond’s fish for many years, emphasizing that no one had the authority to permit public access for fishing purposes within the condominium premises.
Lin further remarked that the lack of notification from the management about the pond clearance was a concern, as allowing unrestricted entry to the condo could potentially jeopardize the environment and safety of the residents.
Another female resident supported the presence of the fish, highlighting their aesthetic value and their contribution to controlling the mosquito population by consuming their eggs.
Condo responds
The condominium management, represented by manager Chen, responded to the incident by stating that the company had not authorized anyone to share information online regarding the alleged pond clearance.
Chen asserted that the management had never allowed public access for fishing within the development. Initially, the pond was solely intended as a viewing pond and did not house any fish until residents introduced ornamental fish, including koi and turtles.
Currently, the condominium management has decided against removing the fish from the pond. However, residents are prohibited from releasing additional fish into the pond.
Chen clarified that investigations into the resident responsible for sharing the information online are ongoing and declined to provide further details at this time.