The ex-Provisional Regional Council
(ex-PRC) considered that one swimming pool complex in Tai Po was insufficient and
hence suggested developing a bathing beach at Lung Mei, Tai Po. Therefore, in May 1998 the ex-PRC’s Culture, Recreation and
Sports Committee endorsed the implementation of a feasibility study
commissioned by the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD), which commenced in late 1999 and completed in
mid-2001, concluded that it was technically feasible to construct a bathing
beach at Lung Mei.
Moreover, the Tai Po District Council
(TPDC) also considered that the existing swimming facilities at the Tai Po
Swimming Pool Complex were insufficient to meet the local demand. Moreover,
there is no beach facility in the east region of the
In light of the above, the TPDC strongly
requested the development of a bathing beach at Lung Mei and members of the
TPDC urged for early implementation of the Project. In a Legislative Council
case conference on 20 April 2004, Members requested the Government to accord
priority to this Assignment. The Recreation, Sports and Cultural Affairs
Committee of Tai Po District Council (TPDC) was consulted on 14 July 2004,
where members supported the project scope and urged for early implementation of
the project (the Proposed Beach Development). This project was one of the 25
projects identified for priority implementation in the Chief Executive’s 2005
Policy Address and has the support of Home Affairs Bureau. It is considered
that this Proposed Beach Development at Lung Mei will meet the increasing
demand for swimming facilities. The beach can also serve a recreational
function even during non-bathing season, ie playing in the sand, sunbathing and
other beach activities.
Lung Mei is adjacent to a prominent leisure
area, Tai Mei Tuk, with well-established facilities for holiday-makers and
water-based recreation activities, which has attracted many visitors, in
particular during public holidays. It is anticipated that the proposed bathing
beach would complement the facilities already provided in the Tai Mei Tuk area.
The Port Works Division (PWD) of Civil
Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) is the project vote
controller. CEDD is also
responsible for the overall planning, design and civil engineering construction
of the Project. However, Architectural Services Department is responsible for
design and construction of the beach building, car park and landscaping works.
On 26 May 2006, CEDD appointed Halcrow China Limited (Halcrow), under Agreement
No. CE 59/2005 (EP), to provide professional services in respect of
“Development of a Bathing Beach at Lung Mei, Tai Po – Environmental, Drainage
and Traffic Impact Assessments – Investigation” (hereafter called “the
Assignment”). Halcrow has appointed their sub-consultant, Environmental
Resources Management (ERM) to provide the environmental services in respect of
the Assignment.
1.2
Objectives and Scope of
the EIA
This Project is a designated project
according to Items C.2 and C.12 of Part I, Schedule 2 of the Environmental
Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) as
reclamation works of the Project is more than 1 ha in size and its boundary as
well as the dredging operation of the Project are less than 500m from the
nearest boundary of an existing Site of Special Scientific Interest, Coastal
Protection Area and Conservation Area and therefore, an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA Study) is required under the EIAO. The construction
and operation of this Project will therefore require an Environmental
Permit.
The main objective
of this EIA Study is to provide information on the nature and extent of
environmental impacts arising from the construction and operation of the
development of a bathing beach at Lung Mei, Tai Po and all related activities
taking place concurrently.
The specific objectives for the EIA Study are set out in the EIA Study
Brief (ESB138/2005), including construction phase air quality, noise, water
quality, waste management, ecology, fisheries, landscape and visual impacts.
The EIA Study was conducted in accordance
with the guideline on assessment methodologies provided in the Technical
Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM). The general
approach for the assessment included:
· Description
of the baseline environmental conditions for the impact assessment;
· Identification
of potential impacts;
· Evaluation
of potential impacts; and
· Recommendation
of mitigation measures and environmental and monitoring programme.
The assessments in this EIA Study are
conducted using well-proven and internationally accepted methods based on the
worst-case conditions associated with the construction and operation of the
Project.