6. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL

6.1 iNTRODUCTION

6.1.1 The EIA has recommended landscape and visual mitigation measures to be undertaken during both the construction and operational phases of the project. This section outlines the monitoring and audit of these measures.

6.2 monitoring Details

6.2.1 The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape mitigation measures should be checked to ensure that they are fully realised and that potential conflicts between the proposed landscape measures and any other project works and operational requirements are resolved at the earliest possible date and without compromise to the intention of the mitigation measures.

Table 6.1 Monitoring Programme

Stage	Monitoring Task	Monitoring Report	Form of Approval	Frequency
Design	Monitoring of design works against the recommendations of the landscape and visual impact assessments within the EIA, should be undertaken during detailed design and tender stages, to ensure that they fulfil the intentions of the mitigation measures. Any changes to the design, including design changes on site should also be checked.	Report by ER confirming that the design conforms to requirements of EP	Approved by Client (TDD/CED/ HyD)	At Completion of Design Stage
Construction	Monitoring of the contractor’s operations during the construction period.	Report on Contractor's compliance, by ET	Counter-signature of report by IEC	Weekly
Establishment Works	Monitoring of the planting works during the 1224-month Establishment period after completion of the construction works.	Report on Contractor's compliance, by ET	Counter-signature of report by IEC	3 months

Design

6.2.2 The mitigation measures proposed within the EIA to mitigate the landscape and visual impacts of the scheme should be embodied into the detailed engineering design and landscape design drawings and contract documents. Designs should be checked to ensure that the measures are fully incorporated and that potential conflicts with civil engineering, geo-technical, structural, lighting, signage, drainage, underground utility and operational requirements are resolved prior to construction.

Construction & Establishment Period

6.2.3 The implementation of landscape construction works and subsequent maintenance operations during the 12 month establishment period must be supervised by qualified Landscape Resident Site Staff (Registered Landscape Architect or Professional Member of the Hong Kong Institute of landscape Architects or equivalent), who would thus either form part of, or report to, the ET.

6.2.4 Measures to mitigate landscape and visual impacts during construction should be checked to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures.

6.2.5 The progress of the engineering works shall be regularly reviewed on site to identify the earliest practical opportunities for the landscape works to be undertaken.

6.1.1

6.3 Baseline Monitoring

6.3.1 A photographic record of the site at the time of the contractor’s possession of the site shall be prepared by the Contractor and approved by the ER. The approved photographic Record shall be submitted to the Project proponent, ET, IEC and EPD for record.

6.4 Event/Action Plan for Landscape and Visual Works

Criteria for Exceedance

6.4.1 Exceedances of the predicted landscape and visual impacts would occur if;

· the landscape and visual mitigation measures prescribed in the EIA are for some reason compromised, either before, during or after they have been implemented on the ground or;

· the engineering design alters to a point where the prescribed landscape and visual mitigation measures no longer are sufficient to mitigate the impacts to the level predicted in the EIA.

6.4.2 Typical causes of exceedances would be:

Construction and Establishment Stage

· Unnecessary damage to existing vegetation, particularly trees;

· Trespass onto adjacent property;

· Soil contamination;

· Uncontrolled site lighting causing glare to surrounding residents;

· Reduction in widths of planned amenity strips;

· Poor co-ordination of laying of underground utilities which thus compromise planned tree planting;

· Substitution of originally specified plant species with different species which do not provide the same structure, screening or softening effect.

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6.4.3 The event action plan processes for dealing with exceedances are described in table 6.2.

Table 6.2 Construction & Establishment Periods

EVENT

ACTION

ACTION LEVEL

IEC

CONTRACTOR

Exceedance on one occasion

· Identify Source

· Inform IEC and ER

· Discuss remedial actions with IEC, ER and Contractor

· Monitor remedial actions until rectification has been completed

· Check report

· Check Contractor's working method

· Discuss with ET and Contractor on possible remedial measures

· Advise ER on effectiveness of proposed remedial measures.

· Check implementation of remedial measures.

· Notify Contractor

· Ensure remedial measures are properly implemented

· Amend working methods

· Rectify damage and undertake any necessary replacement

Repeated Exceedance

· Identify Source

· Inform IEC and ER

· Increase monitoring frequency

· Discuss remedial actions with IEC, ER and Contractor

· Monitor remedial actions until rectification has been completed

· If exceedance stops, cease additional monitoring

· Check monitoring report

· Check Contractor's working method

· Discuss with ET and Contractor on possible remedial measures

· Advise ER on effectiveness of proposed remedial measures

· Supervise implementation of remedial measures.

· Notify Contractor

· Ensure remedial measures are properly implemented

· Amend working methods

· Rectify damage and undertake any necessary replacement

6.5 Mitigation Measures

6.5.1 The landscape and visual impact assessment of the EIA recommends a series on mitigation measures to ameliorate the landscape and visual impacts of the project. These measures are listed below (the identity numbers cross-refer to the identity numbers in the EIA):

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase

· Regular checks shall be carried out to ensure that the work site boundaries are not transgressed, hoardings are properly maintained and that no damage is being caused to the surrounding areas (CM1). Any irregularities shall be brought to the attention of the appropriate adjacent management and maintenance agencies (e.g. private land owner, or HyD, LCSD, or HKHA etc.). Remedial measures shall be designed and implemented as appropriate.

· Erection of decorative screen hoarding particularly in areas adjacent to existing developments (CM2). (Hoardings next to undeveloped areas / construction sites need not be decorative).

· Storage of materials and plant shall be limited to areas less visible to visually sensitive receivers (CM3).

· Control of night-time lighting to prevent upward glare to visually sensitive receivers. Lighting should be directed to where it is required for security purposes only (or night working if permitted) (CM4).

· Potential conflicts between landscape works and other works shall be avoided. Utilities works in particular shall be checked to ensure that they do not compromise landscape and visual mitigation measures. Where potential conflicts occur, engineering and utility layouts shall wherever possible be redesigned to avoid conflicts (CM5).

· For construction works associated with the deckovers proposed in Assessment 1 - Worst Case Scenario, all impacts on all trees and shrubs shall be minimised For construction works associated with the deckovers proposed in Assessment 1 - Worst Case Scenario, minimise construction impacts on trees and shrubs located along Road D1, and transplant any trees that will be affected by deckovers (CM6).

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase

· Aesthetic design of elevated structures on Roads P2 and D10 with particular regard to form and finishes so as to create as slender and elegant an appearance as possible. ACABAS approval shall be required (OM1).

· Sensitive integration of road embankments with surrounding ground levels (OM2). The engineering and landscape designs should be prepared to create smooth changes in level at edges of embankments, with rounded profiles wherever possible;

· Aesthetic design of all noise barriers and noise enclosures with particular regard to chromatic treatments. ACABAS approval shall be required (OM3);

· Aesthetic design of road lighting with glare control measures (OM4). Light fittings and columns should be of an attractive design suitable to the streetscape setting and the overall style in TKO. The light fittings should be of a type which efficiently projects light onto the intended areas, and does not cause any glare to adjacent residents;

· Sensitive hard and soft landscape design to edge of Area 77 and landfill beneath viaduct (OM5) so as to provide an attractive waterfront edge and promenade walk;

· Sensitive hard landscape design along roadsides, with particular regard to the creation of an attractive and user friendly pedestrian environment (OM6). The preferred width of soft landscape amenity areas should generally be 3m (but can be narrower e.g. at bus bay ingress / egress);

· Tree, shrub and climber planting adjacent to the roads and structures with particular regard to the softening and screening of noise barriers, provision of shade trees along footpaths, and climbing plants against abutment walls and viaduct columns (OM7);

· Tree, planting along roadside amenity strips and central dividers to provide structure planting for the townscape (OM8);

· In Assessment 1 (Worst Case Scenario) the two full deckovers over Road D1 in areas 65 and 67 shall be designed as landscape decks. Structural design of the deck shall allow for adequate soil depth to permit tree planting (1.5m min). The appropriate maintenance agencies shall be involved in the approval of the design of the deckover (refer to Appendix C5).

· Attractive design of pedestrian subways including murals. ACABAS approval shall be required. (OM10)