6.1.1
According to the EIA report, the ecological
impacts that could arise from the Project are considered to be minor, provided
that the recommended mitigation measures are correctly implemented. Specific
ecological monitoring programme is not considered necessary but environmental
audit is required to ensure ecological impacts form the construction and
operation of the Project is kept within acceptable level, and the application
and mitigation measures are practical and effective.
6.1.2
The EIA report concluded that the possible
impacts from the Project were mainly associated with impacts on Little Egret during
construction phase, permanent removal of roadside plantation and mortality of
bird due to collision with the proposed permanent noise barrier.
6.2.1
Following EIAO-TM
Annex 16 guidelines, mitigation measures are discussed in this section to
avoid, minimise and compensate for identified ecological impacts.
Avoid
6.2.2
Construction activities should be confined to
developed areas of low ecological value. There should be no direct impact on
other habitats within the Study Area.
Minimise
6.2.3
Noise
mitigation measures, including installation of noise-emitting construction
plant away from egretry, careful scheduling of noisy works with high
disturbance impact to avoid breeding season of ardeid species (i.e. mid March
to August) to prevent impacts on nesting activities of Little Egret, operation of
well-maintained machinery, and use of noise reduction facilities could be
implemented to mitigate noise impacts arised from construction activities such
as road widening and road paving. Temporary noise barrier should
also be used to reduce the level of noise during construction. Noise impact would
be minimised during operation phase as permanent noise barrier has been proposed
to be constructed. These measures could minimise disturbance to habitats within
and adjacent to the proposed Works Area.
6.2.4
In order to minimise the impact of
construction dust to the vegetation and associated wildlife within and around
the proposed Works Area, practical measures such as regular watering, complete
coverage of dusty material storage piles, and the use of minimum practical
height for dropping excavated material should be implemented.
6.2.5
Standard good site practice measures should be
implemented and should include:
§
Placement of equipment in designated Works Areas within the existing
disturbed land.
§
Construction activities should be restricted to the proposed Works Area.
§
The proposed Works Area should be reinstated immediately after
completion of the works.
§
Open burning on proposed works site is illegal, and will be strictly
enforced.
§
Waste skips should be provided to collect general refuse and
construction wastes, which should be disposed regularly and properly off-site.
§
Soil contaminated by fuel
leaked from construction plants should be removed and treated.
6.2.6
Mitigation measures should be implemented to prevent and minimise the
indirect impacts to the nearby Tuen Mun River Channel by controlling
construction site runoff and drainage from the proposed Works Area. Site runoff
could be directed towards regularly cleaned and maintained sand traps, silt
traps and where appropriate, oil/grease separators to minimise risk of
sedimentation and pollution to the river channel. Debris and rubbish generated
on-site should be collected, handled and disposed properly.
6.2.7
In order to prevent and minimise the chance of bird collision during
operation phase, falcon sticker, tinted materials, embedded opaque stripes and
superimposed patterns of thin opaque stripes are methods that could be used
during the design of noise barrier.
Compensate
6.2.8
Compensatory planting is
recommended as the current roadside plantation must be removed to give way to
the works. Species of choice should be composed of similar native species and
the felling and planting ratio should be no less than 1:1 in terms of quality and quantity.