This
Section summarises
the environmental outcomes associated with the construction and operation of
the Proposed Beach Development.
Dust generating activities
and gaseous emissions from construction plant for the Proposed Beach
Development may potentially cause air quality impacts to adjacent ASRs. The construction of the Proposed Beach
Development involves site formation, localised widening of
Potential air quality
impacts associated with gaseous emissions of diesel-powered construction
vehicles and equipment are expected to be relatively small as only a small
number of diesel construction vehicles and plant will be operated in the
limited works areas at any one time. The
requirement for all construction plant to use ultra-low-sulphur
diesel (ULSD) will further reduce the potential air quality impacts. The potential cumulative dust
impacts from the contemporary occurrence of the Phase IIC works have been
assessed, the
cumulative dust impacts will expect to be minor.
Construction Phase
Owing to the proximity of the NSRs to the Proposed Beach Development, mitigation measures are
required to be implemented to mitigate the construction noise impacts. Practicable mitigation measures, including
use of quiet construction plant and movable noise barriers, have been
recommended to be implemented for different work stages. With the implementation of mitigation
measures, the mitigated construction noise levels at the representative NSRs are anticipated to comply with the construction noise
criterion of 75 dB(A) throughout the construction period. Construction noise monitoring has been
recommended to ensure compliance with the construction noise criterion. The potential cumulative
noise impacts from the contemporary occurrence of the Phase IIC works have been
considered, and the assessment result indicates that the cumulative
construction noise level at the NSRs complies with
the construction noise criterion of 75 dB(A).
Operational Phase
The predicted
operational noise levels at the representative NSRs
are expected to comply with the daytime criteria based on the assessment using
a set of specified maximum SWLs for the fixed plant
to be installed at the Proposed Beach Development. Attenuation measures, if required, will be
provided to the fixed plant for achieving the guaranteed noise levels during
the detailed design stage, and therefore operational phase noise monitoring is
not required.
Construction Phase
The water quality
modelling works have indicated that for both the dry and wet seasons, no exceedances of the WQO and the evaluation criterion are
predicted to occur during the dredging and sandfilling
operations. The impact assessment has
also shown that other land-based construction works, if properly controlled,
are not expected to cause any adverse impacts to the surrounding waters and the
sensitive receivers. With the
implantation of the proposed mitigation measures and good site management
practices, water quality impacts will be further minimised.
Operational Phase
No operational impacts to water quality are expected to
occur if mitigation measures are fully implemented. Considering that the improvement works, including
the diversion of drains, the provision of groynes and
with DSD’s new sewerage system to be in place, the
beach water quality is expected to be significantly improved. The proposed site is suitable to operate as a
bathing beach with regard to the compliance with the WQO for E. coli and high likelihood of achieving
Beach Grade 2 (Fair) standard during its operation phase. In addition to the improvement works, the
operator will pay best effort to provide the greatest protection for the
bathers. It
is also noted that the Tolo Harbour Sewerage of Unsewered Areas Stage I
Phase IIC (Agreement No. CE 18/94) including Lung Mei area, as part of the
Sewerage Master Plan (SMP) Works, is expected to be gazetted prior to the
operation of the
Proposed Beach Development. This will further improve the water quality in the
Lung Mei region since it is
mandatory for new developments to connect to the public sewer.
CEDD and LCSD will closely
monitor the implementation programme of the village sewerage projects to achieve
the target sewerage connection rate to communal sewers before the beach is put
into operation. In addition to the compliance with water quality standards,
Lung Mei is considered to be the best location for the proposed beach
development in view of the community demand and accessibility.
Construction Phase
A total of approximate 10,500 m3 of marine sediment
will be dredged. About 6,380 m3
of the sediments are uncontaminated and can be disposed of at the open sea
disposal sites and about 2,620 m3 of the Category M sediment (which
passed the biological screening) will be disposed of at dedicated open sea
disposal sites. The remaining 1,500 m3
of the Category M (which failed the biological screening) will have to be
disposed of at the confined marine disposal site at East Sha
Chau. The
final disposal site for the dredging sediments will be determined by the Marine
Fill Committee (MFC) and a dumping licence will be obtained from EPD prior to
the commencement of the dredging works.
About 13,800 m3 of excavated materials will be
generated during construction phase and 8,280 m3 (about 60%) of
which will be reuse on-site. The surplus
excavated soil will be reused in other concurrent construction projects in
The anticipated quantities of demolition waste (470 m3),
construction waste (225 m3), chemical wastes (a few hundred litres,
mainly are used lube oils), sewage (6 m3 per day) and general refuse
(65 kg per day) to be generated during the construction phase of the Project
will be small. With the implementation
of the general good construction site practices, the construction of the
Proposed Beach Development will not cause adverse waste management or
environmental impacts with respect to the criteria specified in the EIAO-TM.
Operational Phase
During
the operational phase, it is estimated that a maximum of 10 m3 of
sewage and 1,520 kg of general refuse will be produced each day by visitors
during peak season. In view of the small
quantity of sewage and general refuse to be generated and their proper disposal
to foul sewer or transfer station/landfill, no adverse environmental impact
associated with the management of these wastes is anticipated during the
operation of the Proposed Beach Development.
The ecological resources
recorded within the Study Area include secondary woodland, shrubland,
stream, pond, sandy shore with backshore vegetation,
village/modified area, mangrove, sandy shore and artificial/ disturbed
shoreline, as well as subtidal soft and hard bottom
and associated wildlife. Of these
habitats, mangrove has high ecological value, secondary woodland has moderate
to high ecological value and shrubland has moderate
ecological value. The remaining habitats
are of low to low to moderate ecological value.
A total of 3 coral
species (including Oulastrea crispate, Cyphastrea
serailia and
Psammocora superficialis,
which considered as common species in Hong Kong) and 20 terrestrial species of
conservation interest were recorded within the Study Area, including 2 plant
species (Red Azalea and Incense Tree), 4 bird species (Black Kite,
White-bellied Sea Eagle, Osprey and Created Goshawk), 13 uncommon butterfly
species (Brown Pansy, Common Nawab, Danaid Egg-fly, Dark Evening Brown, Great Swift, Indian
Palm Bob, Painted Jezebel, Plain Tiger, Silver Streak Blue, South China Bush
Brown, Tailed Sulphur, White-edged Blue Baron and Yellow Orange Tip) and one
reptile species (Common Rat Snake).
The
Proposed Beach Development will be located mainly in low quality habitats
including village/modified area, sandy shore with backshore vegetation, and
channel. The potential impacts on the natural
habitats are considered to be low. The
corals in the Study Area and area in the vicinity would not subject to any
direct loss (due to construction works) or indirect impact (due to change of
water quality). No adverse residual
impacts are expected after the implementation of the recommended mitigation
measures. The measures include the
adoption of good construction practices and provision of mangrove seedling
planting. These measures will reduce
potential disturbance to the surrounding environment.
Construction Phase
Information from a study
on fishing operations in
Significant construction
phase impacts to fisheries resources and fishing operations are not expected to
occur. Impacts arising from the proposed
dredging or sandfilling works are predicted to be
largely confined to the specific works areas and the predicted elevations in
suspended sediment concentrations at the sensitive receivers are not predicted
to cause exceedances of the assessment
criterion.
Silt curtain will be
provided during the dredging and sandfilling works in
the marine water as precautionary measure.
Adverse impacts to water quality are not predicted. Water quality
monitoring will be conducted at Yim Tin Tsai Fish
Culture Zone during the dredging and sandfilling
works.
Operational Phase
Significant operational
phase impacts to fisheries resources and fishing operations are not expected to
occur. Approximately 4.7 ha of coastal
waters will be restricted for fishing operation during the operation of the
beach. Adverse impacts to fisheries are
not predicted to be significant given the small size of the affected area. Impact from sewage and wastewater discharge
is not anticipated to occur as the sewage and wastewater generated from the
beach building facilities will be discharged into the public sewer. No additional fisheries-specific mitigation
measures are required during operation.
Three Landscape Character
Areas (LCAs) were identified and the residual impacts
on the LCA1 (Foreshore Landscape) will be moderate.
For LCA2 (Inshore Waters Landscape), the residual impact will be slight and for LCA3 (Coastal
Rural/Suburban Landscape) the residual impact will be negligible. Two new LCAs will also be
created ‘Recreational Beach Landscape’ and ‘Coastal Urban Recreational
Landscape’ as a consequence of the project
Of the seven
Landscape Resources (LRs) identified, there will be
no significant residual impacts on any of the LRs
after the implementation of mitigation measures. There will be moderate residual impacts on
Trees/Backshore Shrubland and the Sandy/Rocky Beach LRs. There will be slight
residual impacts on the Water LR and for the Shrubland,
River, Road and Village, the residual impacts will be negligible. One new LR
will also be created ‘Sandy Beach’ as a consequence of the project.
Four visually sensitive
receivers (VSRs) including VSR 1 (Tai Mei Tuk), VSR 2 (Lung Mei Residents), VSR 3 (BBQ site) and VSR
4 (Lo Tsz Tin residents) were identified. The un-mitigated visual impacts for VSR 1
(Tai Mei Tuk), VSR 2 (Lung Mei Residents) and VSR 4
(Lo Tsz Tin residents) in operation stage will be significant.
However, with the implementation of the mitigation measures, the impact
will be more acceptable resulting in moderate/significant in Operation
Day 1 and moderate in Operation Year 10. For VSR 3 (BBQ Site -
West of the site), the unmitigated visual impacts will be moderate/significant. However,
with the implementation of the mitigation measures, the impact will be reduced
to moderate in Operation Day 1 and slight in Operation Year 10.
In sum, the proposed beach development will inevitably change the
existing waterfront view of the area. However, there will
be no significant residual impacts for any VSRs.
With the adoption of the mitigation measures, the residual impact will be
reduced to a large extent and is considered acceptable.
There will be various
lighting fixtures associated with the project, with the most visible light
source being the carpark lighting. Whilst these
lights will contribute to the general ambient light levels of the area, the
impacts are not expected to be significant.
According to Annex 10
of the Technical Memorandum on the Environmental Impact Assessment Process
(EIAO-TM) the Landscape and Visual Impacts are considered acceptable with
mitigation.
The
environmental impact assessment (covering air quality, noise, waste management,
water quality, ecology, fisheries and landscape and visual) has concluded that
no unacceptable environmental impacts are envisaged due to the construction and
operation of the Proposed Beach Development.
The location of the
Proposed Beach Development is situated at Lung Mei avoiding environmentally and
conservation sensitive areas including mangroves, Ting Kok
SSSI, Coastal Protection Area and Conservation.
The site is also remote from the Fish Culture Zone at Yim Tin Tsai East thereby avoiding potential conflicts with
fishermen. With
incorporation of well designed beach dimension and groyne
structures, there will be no significant problem with cross-shore sediment
movement under storm wave conditions and the annual net sand drift rate is
expected to be low. Therefore the
associated impacts due to the change in sedimentation pattern are not expected.
The
Proposed Beach Development at Lung Mei is currently occupied by low quality
habitats. The potential impacts on the
environments are considered to be low, and no adverse residual impacts are
expected after the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures. In addition to meet the community demand
serving swimmers during the bathing season, the beach at Lung Mei can also
provide all year round recreational ground for non-swimmers, ie playing in the sand, sunbathing and other beach
activities. Consequently, the Proposed
Beach Development at Lung Mei would complement the existing amenity facilities
and further diversify the recreational activities in the Tai Mei Tuk area.
Considering that the proposed improvement works of
this Project, including the diverted drains and the provision of groynes, the beach water quality is expected to be
significantly improved.
Lung Mei is considered to
be the best location for the proposed beach development in view of the
following:
·
Community Demand: There is no beach facility in the east region
of the
In light of the above, the Tai Po District Council (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. 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. Moreover, the beach can serve a recreational function even during non-bathing season, ie playing in the sand, sunbathing and other beach activities.
·
Accessibility: Lung Mei is located next to the existing road (
·
Compliance with Water Quality Standards: The proposed
improvement works of this Project involve the diverted drains and the provision
of groynes.
Based on the results of the Water Quality Impact Assessment (refer to Section 6), these improvement works will
significantly improve the water quality
(ie with most of
the time (over 86%) during bathing beach in operation phase, the weekly beach
gradings of Lung Mei Beach will be of Grade 2 or Grade 3 which LCSD considers to
be acceptable) of the Lung Mei
beach area. The proposed site is hence
considered to be suitable to operate as a bathing beach with regard to the
compliance with the WQO for E. coli.
In addition, it
is noted that the Tolo Harbour Sewerage of Unsewered Areas Stage I Phase IIC
(Agreement No. CE 18/94) including Lung Mei area, as part of the Sewerage Master
Plan (SMP) Works, is expected to be gazetted under Road (Works, Use and
Compensation) Ordinances as applied by Water Pollution Control (Sewerage)
Regulation prior to the operation of the
Proposed Beach
Development. This will further
improve the water quality in the Lung Mei region since it is mandatory for new developments
to connect to the public sewer.
CEDD and LCSD will closely
monitor the
implementation programme of the village sewerage projects to achieve the target
sewerage connection rate to communal sewers before the beach is put into
operation.
Within six weeks after the
completion of the construction of the Proposed Beach Development, E. coli monitoring will be carried out
twice per week at two diverted drains and EPD routine monitoring stations to
examine the correlation of the pollution loading and the beach water quality
(details refer to Section 11.6 and
the EM&A Manual). This information will be reviewed by LCSD to
ensure the beach water quality is suitable for recreational purpose before the
beach is put into operation.
EPD has well established a comprehensive water quality monitoring programme for all gazetted beaches to detect any deterioration of beach water quality, which will also be implemented for this Lung Mei bathing beach. In case the beach water quality at Lung Mei tends to be deteriorated and becomes not desirable for swimming, LCSD will close the beach temporarily until the beach water quality becomes suitable for swimming. EPD will continue monitoring the beach water quality and provide LCSD the monitoring results.