Construction of Cycle
Tracks and the
Associated Supporting
Facilities
From Sha Po Tsuen to Shek Sheung
River
Environmental Impact Assessment
Executive Summary
In association with
ADI Limited
Oikos Consulting Limited
Hong Kong Institute of Archaeology
1.1
Background
1.1.1
This Project is known as “Construction of Cycle Tracks and
the Associated Supporting Facilities from Sha Po Tsuen to Shek Sheung
River”.
1.1.2
The Project involves
construction of a cycle track to connect the existing cycle track networks at
Yuen Long and Sheung Shui, together with supporting facilities.
1.1.3
The Project falls under DP
items P.1 and Q.1 of Part I, Schedule 2 of the EIAO.
1.1.4
An Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken to provide information on the nature and
extent of environmental impacts arising from the construction and operation of
the Project and to contribute to decisions on the overall environmental
acceptability of the Project.
1.1.5
The EIA provided a detailed
assessment of the potential environmental impacts associated with the
construction and operation of the Project, including air quality, noise, water
quality, waste management, land contamination, ecology, fisheries, cultural
heritage, landscape and visual resources, and recommendations for mitigation
measures to comply with environmental legislations and standards. This
Executive Summary provides a summary of the key findings of the EIA study.
1.2.1
The proposed cycle track
alignment is shown on Figure 1-1 and comprises the following major works
elements:
1.
Construction of a new cycle
track section (with footpath) linking up local cycle track networks in Yuen Long and Sheung Shui.
2.
Construction of the associated
supporting facilities which include 5 Resting Stations - R5, R6, R7, R8, and
R9, and 1 Information Kiosk
integrated into R9. Also, one small seating area consisting of two benches at Mai Po
Village.
3.
The associated streetscape,
landscape, utilities diversions, traffic aids installation, street lighting,
water, sewerage and drainage works, and footpath;
4.
Provision of environmental
mitigation measures.
1.2.2
Based on the preliminary
programme, the construction is scheduled to commence in mid 2009 for completion
by early 2012.
2.1.1
The potential environmental
impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project are
summarised in the following sections.
2.2.1
Fugitive dust emissions from
site clearance, excavation and material stockpiling /handling are the major
sources of air pollution during the construction phase of the Project. Through proper implementation of dust control
measures as required under the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust)
Regulation, construction dust can be controlled at source to acceptable
levels. Hence, no unacceptable impacts
are anticipated.
2.2.2
During the operational phase,
the project itself is not a source of air pollution. No adverse air quality impacts are expected
to occur at the Information Kiosk and Resting Stations which are air sensitive
receivers. Thus, no mitigation measures
are required.
2.3.1
The use of powered mechanical
equipment (PME) for various
construction activities will be the primary noise source during the
construction phase of the Project. In
the absence of any control measures, construction noise levels exceeding the
EIAO-TM noise assessment criteria would be expected at a number of noise
sensitive receivers (NSRs) due to their close proximity to the works areas.
2.3.2
With the adoption of combined
use of quiet plants, movable noise barrier / enclosure and careful management
of works, the noise standards at all NSRs could be met.
2.3.3
Monitoring of the construction
noise is recommended to ensure proper implementation of the mitigation
measures, and to minimize the noise level as far as practicable.
2.3.4
No operational noise impact is
expected to arise from the Project. No
specific noise mitigation measures are required.
2.4.1
The Project will be land-based
only with minor excavation and re-surfacing works. Water quality impacts from the construction
works can be controlled to acceptable levels by implementing the recommended
mitigation measures. No adverse water
quality impacts are anticipated. Site
inspections shall be undertaken routinely to inspect the works areas in order
to ensure the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented.
2.4.2
No adverse water quality
impacts are expected during the operation phase of the Project.
2.5.1
Wastes generated by the
construction activities will include construction and demolition (C&D)
materials from the construction works, general refuse from the workforce and
chemical waste from any maintenance of construction plant and equipment. Provided that the waste management practices
are strictly followed, no adverse impacts to the environment associated with
waste generated by the construction phase of the Project are anticipated.
2.5.2
Recommendations have been
provided during operation of the Project.
These include waste collection facilities (e.g. litter bins) to be
included in the design of the supporting facilities, and at regular intervals
along the route, and with regular collection and disposal of litter from these
facilities. No adverse waste management
issues are expected to arise during the operation phase of the Project.
2.6.1
The potential land
contamination impacts in the Study Area have been examined. Based on the findings from the desktop
studies and site inspection, six potential areas have been proposed for further
site investigation prior to commencement of Project works. Based on the available information, the
potential of land contamination impact is considered surmountable.
2.6.2
It is recommended that land
contamination assessment be conducted at the identified areas prior to the
commencement of site clearance / construction works. During the
construction phase, mitigation measures should be implemented in order to
minimize the potential health impact on the construction workers.
2.7.1
Potential impacts of the
proposed cycle track and its associated supporting facilities on the ecology
and fisheries within the Study Area has been addressed.
2.7.3
A permanent loss of 6.57 ha of
developed area and wasteland, along with 0.18 ha nullahs, 0.07 ha of seasonal
marsh at Hip Shing Wai, and 1.13 ha plantation (of which approximately 0.78 ha
consists of mitigation planting along the Sheung Yue and Shek Sheung
River) was predicted due
to construction of the cycle track. Compensation
planting and transplantation will be implemented where appropriate, in
particular along the Sheung Yue River
and Shek Sheung River
to restore its original mitigation function.
2.7.4
Generally the habitats that
will be lost as a result of the cycle track are of low ecological value for the
length of the route as it follows existing roads, drainage channels and
occasionally footpaths through developed areas of the North West New
Territories.
2.7.5
With the implementation of
appropriate mitigation measures, in particular to timing issues during the
construction phase close to sensitive receivers, and adoption of good work
practices, it is considered that this Project can be completed with minimal
impacts to the local ecology along the route of the cycle track.
2.7.6
There will be no loss of
fishponds. For those construction works
in proximity to fishponds, good site practice following appropriate guidelines
and mitigation measures should be employed by the construction workers. No negative impacts to any fishponds or
fisheries operations either in the construction or operational phases of this
Project are envisaged.
2.8.1
The assessment area has been
determined to contain no archaeological sites or areas of archaeological
potential. The impact assessment showed that there would be no adverse
impacts to any of the recorded built heritage features or declared
monuments. Therefore, no specific
mitigation measures would be required.
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that care should be taken
during the construction stage to report any signs of possible discovery of artefacts.
2.9.1
A landscape and visual impact
assessment has been carried out. A
preliminary tree survey was undertaken, and the existing Landscape Resources
(LRs), Landscape Character Areas (LCAs), and Visual Amenity and Visually
Sensitive Receivers (VSR) have
been identified and assessed against the proposed cycle track.
2.9.2
Based on preliminary tree
survey, approximately 1,626 trees will be affected by the construction of the
cycle tracks Project. None of these are
Leisure and Cultural Services Department Champion Trees or Registered Old and
Valuable Trees. There are no rare
species or endangered species but common species. All the trees with high amenity value which
are unavoidably affected by the works will be transplanted where possible. Detailed tree preservation, transplanting and
felling including compensatory planting proposals will be submitted to relevant
government departments for approval in accordance with ETWB TCW No. 3/2006.
2.9.3
Planting proposal will be fully
implemented. The planting proposal would
benefit the existing landscape context that is largely composed of major road
and highways, settlements and open storages.
The quality of majority LCA within the Study Area would be benefitted by
the improvement of roadside areas with new planting proposals associated with
the proposed works, making existing infrastructure and riverside corridors
better integrated with the rural landscape context.
2.9.4
The visual quality of majority
visual sensitive receivers (VSRs) living in village settlements within the
Study Area largely remains unchanged or eventually benefitted by integrating
the design of the cycle track with existing road, footpath and built
structures, additional screen planting at the interface between village
settlements and infrastructure and applying an environmental responsive design
of associated facilities. Visual impacts
on the visual quality of travelling VSRs along the riverbank of Kam Tin River, Ngau Tam Mei Drainage Channel, Sheung Yue River, Shek
Sheung River
would be mitigated to slight adverse regarding their proximity location to the
proposed works.
3.1.1
An environmental monitoring and
audit programme will be implemented for the Project during the construction
phase, to check effectiveness of the recommended mitigation measures and
compliance with relevant statutory criteria.
4.1.1
The findings of this EIA have
provided information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising
from the construction and operation of Cycle Tracks and the Associated
Supporting Facilities from Sha Po Tsuen to Shek Sheung
River. The EIA Study has predicted that the Project,
after the adoption of appropriate mitigation measures, would comply with all
environmental legislation and standards, with no adverse residual
impacts. An environmental monitoring and audit programme has been
recommended to monitor the implementation of the mitigation measures and to
ensure compliance with environmental standards.