Agreement No. CE 35/2006(CE)
Kai Tak Development Engineering Study
cum Design and Construction of Advance Works –
Investigation, Design and Construction
Decommissioning
of the
Other than the North Apron
Environmental Impact Assessment Report
Contents
1.2 Purpose of this EIA Report
1.3 Objectives and Scope of the Schedule 2 EIA Study
1.4 Relevant Approved EIA Reports
List of Drawings
Drawing 1.1 Preliminary Outline Development Plan
1.1 Background of the Project
Project Background
1.1.1 The airport at Kai Tak was relocated to Chek Lap Kok in July 1998. The relocation has offered a good opportunity for major development in the Metro Area.
1.1.2
Completed in September
1991, the Metroplan Selected Strategy proposed a broad land use framework for
redevelopment of the
1.1.3 The South East Kowloon Development (SEKD) Statement Study completed in November 1993 has translated the Metroplan Framework into more specific planning objectives. The Outline Master Development Plan (OMDP) prepared under the study covered a development area of about 580 hectares, with about 300 hectares of reclamation area, to accommodate an overall population of 285,000 persons.
1.1.4 The Feasibility Study for South East Kowloon Development (SEKDFS) completed in December 1997 have fine-tuned the OMDP and identified phased and integrated developments for the early development packages. The feasibility study has recommended a development area of 630 hectares, with a reclamation area of 299 hectares to accommodate a population of 320,000 persons. The scheme was incorporated into the draft Kai Tak (North) and Kai Tak (South) OZPs No. S/K19/1 and S/K21/1 exhibited in September 1998. Strong public objections, mainly on the extent of reclamation were received.
1.1.5 To address these objections, a revised scheme was prepared after a series of public consultation in mid-1999. The Comprehensive Feasibility Study for the Revised Scheme of South East Kowloon Development (SEKDCFS) was commissioned in November 1999 to prepare more detailed proposals for the revised scheme and to examine the overall feasibility. In mid-2000, a Preliminary Layout Plan (PLP) on the revised scheme was promulgated for public consultation. With the community’s general support on the PLP, the SEKDCFS proceeded to the detailed feasibility and preliminary design phase. By mid-2001, the SEKDCFS completed an OMDP and the preliminary design for the whole SEKD.
1.1.6 The draft Kai Tak (North) OZP No.S/K19/2 and draft Kai Tak (South) OZP No.S/K21/2, incorporating relevant proposals of the SEKDCFS and the OMDP, were gazetted in August 2001 providing the statutory planning framework for the area. The extent of reclamation has reduced from 299 hectares to 133 hectares. With a development area of about 461 hectares, the revised scheme is planned to house a population of about 260,000 in 78,000 flats. Apart from a variety of housing, the planned tourism node, cruise terminal, stadium complex and metropolitan park are the key features in SEKD for formation of new tourism, sports and recreation centre in the Metro Area.
1.1.7 On 25 June 2002, the Chief Executive in Council (CE in C) approved the OZPs, which were renumbered as S/K19/3 and S/K21/3 and exhibited for public inspection on 5 July 2002.
1.1.8 The approved OZPs have incorporated a number of reclamation proposals, namely Kowloon Bay Reclamation, Kai Tak Approach Channel (KTCA) Reclamation, Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter (KTTS) and Cha Kwo Ling Reclamation and reclamation for a cruise terminal, with a total reclamation area of about 133 hectares.
1.1.9 According to the Judgment of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) on the draft Wan Chai North OZP handed down on 9 January 2004, the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (PHO) establishes a statutory principle recognizing the harbour as a special asset and a natural heritage of Hong Kong people and prescribing that it is to be protected and preserved. According to the CFA Judgment, the presumption against reclamation under Section.3(1) of the PHO can only be rebutted by establishing an overriding public need for reclamation, i.e. “the overriding and present need test”. In view of the CFA judgment, a comprehensive review of the Kai Tak OZPs is required to ensure the planning framework meeting the statutory requirement.
1.1.10 On 13 January 2004, the Government agreed to commission Consultants to undertake a Comprehensive Planning and Engineering Review of SEKD. The Comprehensive Review is broadly divided into two parts. Part 1 of the Review is a Planning Review. It started with “no reclamation” as the planning basis to formulate Preliminary Outline Development Plan (PODP). Part II is an Engineering Review to undertake detailed engineering feasibility studies and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study, including Schedule 3 EIA Study, to confirm the feasibility of the PODP, as well as to produce a Recommended Outline Development Plan.
1.1.11 In July 2004, Planning Department commissioned the Kai Tak Planning Review (KTPR) as Part 1 of the Comprehensive Review. The KTPR include 3 stages of public participation. Stage 1 was to engage the public in determining vision and key issues. Stage 2 was to engage the public on the Outline Concept Plans (OCPs). Stage 3 was to engage the public on the draft PODP.
1.1.12 Three OCPs were formulated for the Stage 2 public participation namely “City in the Park”, “Kai Tak Glamour” and “Sports by the Harbour” for public participation between November 2005 and January 2006 before preparation of a draft PODP. The community and stakeholder groups were consulted on the draft PODP in Stage 3 during June to August 2006.
1.1.13 On the basis of “no reclamation”, the PODP proposes residential developments for about 86,000 persons. A copy of the PODP is shown in Drawing 1.1. The PODP proposes to create a new urban node at Kai Tak, supported by a belt of office developments, several residential neighbourhoods and a variety of government, institution or community (GIC) facilities, a stadium complex fronting Victoria Harbour, a cruise terminal and a tourism node at the end of the former Kai Tak Airport runway and a Metro Park in the northern section of the runway and surrounding the KTAC.
EIA Study Briefs
1.1.14 The feasibility study of the Kai Tak Development (KTD) falls within item 1 under Schedule 3 of the EIAO and include various Schedule 2 Designated Projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) which require Environmental Permits (EPs).
1.1.15 One of the Schedule 2 Designated Projects is the “Decommissioning of the Former Kai Tak Airport Other than the North Apron”. The objectives of the Project are to:
(i)
demolish remaining
existing structures / buildings and remove abandoned facilities of the former
(ii) identify and clean up contaminated areas associated with the previous airport operation within the Project boundary identified during the EIA; and
(iii) implement appropriate mitigation measures as recommended in the EIA to ensure the site would be safe and free of hazards for the planned future use.
1.1.16 The EIA Study Brief No. ESB-152/2006 for the feasibility study of the Kai Tak Development Project was issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) under Section 5(7) of EIAO in August 2006. EIA Study Brief No. ESB-160/2006 for the above Schedule 2 Designated Project was issued under EIAO in December 2006.
1.1.17 Within the scope of the Schedule 3 EIA study for the feasibility study of the KTD, any individual project(s) that fall under Schedule 2 of the EIAO will also be identified in the Schedule 3 EIA Report.
1.2 Purpose of this EIA Report
1.2.1 The purpose of this EIA report is to provide an environmental impact assessment of the Schedule 2 Designated Project “Decommissioning of the Former Kai Tak Airport Other than the North Apron” based on the requirements in the EIA Study Brief No. ESB -160/2006.
1.2.2 As per the requirement in Section 3.4.1 of the EIA Study Brief, this EIA has been conducted using the best and latest information available during the course of the EIA.
1.3 Objectives and Scope of the Schedule 2 EIA Study
1.3.1 According to the EIA Study Brief (No.ESB-160/2006), the scope of this Schedule 2 EIA study shall cover the Project described in Section 1.1.15 above. The EIA Study shall also address the key issues described below, together with any other key issues identified during the course of the EIA Study:
l the extent of residual land and groundwater contamination associated with the previous operation of the former Kai Tak Airport including at least the jet fuel storage area near ex-Government Flying Service (ex-GFS) Building, dangerous good stores at the former fire stations, any underground fuel pipeline for fuel transfer and aircraft fuelling, and any past aircraft accidents within the Project boundary with a view to recommend soil and groundwater remediation measures if necessary;
l the potential release of dust and gaseous emissions through decommissioning, demolition and soil and groundwater remediation works and impact to nearby sensitive receivers including the occupants of the ex-GFS Building (if it is not decommissioned during the project duration);
l the potential release of contaminants through contaminated groundwater treatment and disposal, surface runoff, groundwater seepage and effluent generated during the Project and the water quality impact caused by the removal of the off-shore disused fuel dolphin and the associated connecting abandoned fuel pipeline;
l the waste management (including handling, storage, collection, transport, treatment and final disposal) of building debris generated from the decommissioning and demolition works, contaminated soil and various types of chemical wastes / hazardous materials to be cleaned up and generated from decontamination and site clearance;
l the potential noise impact from the Project;
l the potential marine ecology impact arising from the removal of the off-shore disused fuel dolphin and the associated connecting fuel pipeline;
l the potential cultural and heritage impacts on the heritage items including two windpoles, airport pier, runway, seawall, fire stations B & C and the adjacent pole within the Project boundary; and
l the potential cumulative environmental impacts of the Project, through interaction or in combination with other existing, committed and planned developments in the vicinity of the Project if any. Consideration shall be given on the likely concurrent projects in the vicinity such as dredging for the cruise terminal at Kai Tak and potential submarine gas mains diversion for the Kai Tak Development.
1.3.2 The EIA Study Brief, in accordance with the Technical Memorandum on EIAO (EIAO-TM), stated the objectives for this Schedule 2 EIA study as follows:
l to describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements and environmental benefits for carrying out the Project;
l to identify and describe elements of the community and environment likely to be affected by the Project and / or likely to cause adverse impacts to the Project, including both the natural and man-made environment;
l to identify and quantify emission sources and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
l to identify any negative impact on the marine ecology and to propose measures to avoid or mitigate these impacts;
l to identify any negative impacts on sites of cultural heritage and to propose measures to avoid or mitigate these impacts;
l to investigate the feasibility, practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed impact avoidance or mitigation measures;
l to identify, predict and evaluate the residual environmental impacts (i.e. after practicable avoidance or mitigation measures) and the cumulative effects expected to arise from the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
l to identify, assess and specify methods, measures and standards to be included in the Project which are necessary to mitigate these environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to the acceptable levels;
l to investigate the extent of the secondary environmental impacts that may arise from the proposed mitigation measures and to identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA study, as well as provision of any necessary modification; and
l to design and specify environmental monitoring and audit requirements to ensure effective implementation of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.
1.4 Relevant Approved EIA Reports
1.4.1 This EIA Study has made reference to previously approved EIA studies which are relevant to the Project. These EIA studies have been reviewed and findings have been incorporated where appropriate in this EIA Report. The relevant EIA reports include:
(i)
Comprehensive
Feasibility Study for the Revised Scheme of South
(ii) Kai Tak Airport North Apron Decommissioning EIA Report (EIAO Register No.AEIAR-002/1998, approved with conditions on 4 September 1998).
1.5 Structure of the Report
1.5.1 This EIA Report comprises the following sections:
l Section 1 presents an introduction of this EIA Study.
l Section 2 presents a description of the Project, including the project background and construction activities.
l Section 3 identifies and assesses issues arising from areas of potential land contamination.
l Section 4 identifies and assesses potential impacts associated with waste generation during decommissioning and demolition works and describes measures for storage and handling of waste material.
l Section 5 identifies and assesses potential water quality impacts associated with the Project.
l Section 6 identifies and assesses potential air quality impacts arising from the construction stage of the Project.
l Section 7 identifies and assesses potential airborne noise impacts arising from the construction of the Project.
l Section 8 identifies and assesses potential impacts on cultural heritage arising from the Project.
l Section 9 identifies and assesses potential impacts on marine ecology arising from the Project.
l Section 10 highlights the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) requirements for the Project. The scope and approach are presented in detail in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
l Section 11 summarizes the environmental impacts associated with the Project.
l Section 12 presents the Implementation Schedules of the various environmental measures recommended in this EIA Study.
l Section 13 concludes the findings and environmental outcomes of this EIA Study.