7.                  ECOLOGY

 

7.1       Construction Phase

 

To undertake a one day-time search of the Common Rat Snake within the land based Proposed Beach Development just before the commencement of the construction works.  All recorded Common Rat Snake will be caught by hand and translocated to the shrubland at the north of the Study Area, immediately after the search.  The Common Rat Snake search and translocation works will be undertaken by a qualified ecologist.

 

For the mitigation measures and monitoring requirement to minimise the water quality impact to the marine ecology during the construction phase of the Project, details should be referred to Section 1.5 and Appendix E.

 

Good construction site practices (Appendix E) should be adopted to minimise the potential ecological impacts during the construction phase of the Project.

 

7.2       Operation Phase

Due to the loss of some mangrove plants and seedlings recorded within the Proposed Beach Development, EIA has recommended mangrove seedling planting should be implemented before the operation of the beach.  The mangrove seedling planting location is proposed along the diverted eastern box culvert (Figure 10.19 of EIA Report Section 10) with a total of approximately 382 mangrove seedlings to be provided.  The planting mix is proposed to be at a ratio 1:1:1 for Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicennia marina and Kandelia obovata.  Detailed mangrove planting proposal providing information of planting methodology, recipient site, planting species and mix, implementation programme, post-planting monitoring and personal involved shall be submitted to and approved by EPD and AFCD.  Mangrove seedling planting would be undertaken and supervised by a suitably qualified botanist/ horticulturist.   

After planting, 1 year monitoring will be undertaken to check the performance and health conditions of the planted individuals on a monthly basis.  Remedial actions will be discussed with AFCD in the event of unsuccessful mangrove seedling planting and follow an approved Event and Action Plan as indicated in Table 7.1.