3.1.1.1
The EIA report has
recommended that EM&A for landscape and visual resources is undertaken
during the design, construction and operational phases of the project. This is particularly important at detail
design stage since some residual landscape and visual impacts were considered
to remain Significant and the adverse
effects were considered too excessive to be able to mitigate fully at
construction. The further design, implementation and maintenance of landscape
mitigation measures needs to be checked to ensure that they are fully realised
and that potential conflicts between the proposed landscape measures and any
other project works and operational requirements are resolved at the earliest
possible date and without compromise to the intention of the mitigation
measures. In addition, implementation of the mitigation measures recommended by
the EIA report will be monitored through the site audit programme.
3.2
Audit Requirements
3.2.1.1
The design,
implementation and maintenance of mitigation measures should be checked
regularly to ensure that they are fully realised and compliant with the
intended aims of the measures. Any
potential conflicts among the proposed mitigation measures, the project works,
and operational requirements should also be identified and resolved early.
3.3
Construction and
Operational Phase Audit
3.3.1.1 A specialist landscape contractor should be employed by the Project Proponent prior to the undertaking of the main contract in order to facilitate the advance preparation and relocation of mature trees in conflict with the proposed works. A lead in time of up to 18 months may be necessary in this advance works period in order to prepare trees suitably for transplantation.
3.3.1.2
A specialist landscape
sub-contractor should be employed by the works contractor for the
implementation of further soft landscape works and subsequent maintenance
operations during the establishment period.
The planting should commence during the construction contract and extend
throughout the Contractor’s one-year maintenance period, which will be within
the first operational year of the project.
The intention is to provide at least 24 months establishment period for
the majority of the planting works.
3.3.1.3
All measures undertaken by the
advance works specialist contractor as well as those by the works contractor
and the specialist landscape sub-contractor during the construction phase and
first year of the operational phase shall be audited by a Registered Landscape
Architect, as a member of the Environmental Team (ET), on a regular basis to
ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures. Site inspections should be undertaken once
every two weeks throughout the construction period and once every two months
during the operational phase. The broad
scope of the audit is detailed below but should also be undertaken with
reference to the more specific checklist provided in Table 3.1.
Operational phase auditing will be restricted to the last 12 months of the
establishment of the landscape works and thus only the items below concerning
this period are relevant to the operational phase.
·
the extent of the agreed works
areas should be regularly checked during the construction phase. Any trespass
by the contractor outside the limit of the works, including any damage to
existing trees and woodland shall be prohibited;
·
the progress of the engineering
works should be regularly reviewed on site to identify the earliest practical
opportunities for the landscape works to be undertaken;
·
all existing trees and vegetation
within the study area which are not directly affected by the works are retained
and protected;
·
the methods of protecting
existing vegetation proposed by the contractor are acceptable and enforced;
·
the preparation, lifting
transport and re-planting operations for any transplanted trees;
· all landscape works are carried out in accordance with the specifications;
·
the planting of new trees,
shrubs, groundcover, climbers, ferns, grasses and other plants, together with
the replanting of any transplanted trees are carried out properly and during
the appropriate season; and
· all necessary horticultural operations and replacement planting are undertaken at the earliest possible opportunity throughout the Establishment Period, to ensure the healthy establishment and growth of both transplanted trees and all newly established plants.
Table 3.1: Construction/Operational
Phase Audit Checklist
|
Area of Works |
Items to be Monitored |
|
Advance planting |
monitoring of implementation and maintenance of planting,
and against possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution, surface
erosion, etc. |
|
Protection of all trees and woodland
blocks to be retained |
identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation to be
retained, erection of physical protection (e.g. fencing), monitoring against
possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution, surface erosion, etc. |
|
Clearance of existing vegetation |
identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation to be
cleared, checking of extent of works to minimise damage, monitoring of
adjacent areas against possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution,
surface erosion, etc. |
|
Transplanting of trees |
identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation to be
transplanted, monitoring of extent of pruning / lifting works to minimise
damage, timing of operations, implementation of all stages of preparatory and
translocation works, and maintenance of transplanted vegetation, etc. |
|
Plant supply |
monitoring of operations relating to the supply of specialist
plant material (including the collecting, germination and growth of plants
from seed) to ensure that plants will be available in time to be used within
the construction works. |
|
Soiling, planting, etc. |
monitoring of implementation and maintenance of soiling and
planting works and against possible incursion, physical damage, fire,
pollution, surface erosion, etc. |
|
Decorative treatment of site hoarding |
implementation and maintenance, to ensure compliance with agreed
designs and check that it matches the surrounding environment and does not
cause visual intrusion. |
|
Architectural
treatment of structures, retaining walls, elevated road structures and other
engineering works. |
implementation and
maintenance of mitigation measures, to ensure compliance with agreed designs. |
|
Establishment
Works |
monitoring of implementation
of maintenance operations during Establishment Period |
3.3.1.4
In the
event of non-compliance the responsibilities of the relevant parties is
detailed in the Event /Action plan provided on Table 3.2.
Table 3.2: Event
/ Action Plan for Construction/Operational Phase
|
Action Level |
ET |
IEC |
ER |
Contractor |
|
Non-conformity
on one occasion |
1. Identify Source 2. Inform the IEC and the ER 3. Discuss remedial actions with the IEC, the
ER and the Contractor 4. Monitor remedial actions until
rectification has been completed |
1. Check report 2. Check the Contractor's working method 3. Discuss with the ET and the Contractor on
possible remedial measures 4. Advise the ER on effectiveness of proposed remedial
measures. 5. Check implementation of remedial measures. |
1. Notify Contractor 2. Ensure remedial measures are properly
implemented |
1. Amend working methods 2. Rectify damage and undertake any necessary
replacement |
|
Repeated
Non-conformity |
1. Identify Source 2. Inform the IEC and the ER 3. Increase monitoring frequency 4. Discuss remedial actions with the IEC, the
ER and the Contractor 5. Monitor remedial actions until
rectification has been completed 6. If exceedance stops, cease additional
monitoring |
1. Check monitoring report 2. Check the Contractor's working method 3. Discuss with the ET and the Contractor on
possible remedial measures 4. Advise the ER on effectiveness of proposed
remedial measures 5. Supervise implementation of remedial
measures. |
1. Notify the Contractor 2. Ensure remedial measures are properly
implemented |
1. Amend working methods 2. Rectify damage and undertake any necessary
replacement |
Note:
ET – Environmental Team
IEC – Independent
Environmental Checker
ER – Engineer’s
Representative
3.4
Mitigation Measures
3.4.1.1
The Landscape and Visual Assessment of the EIA report
recommended a series of mitigation measures to ameliorate the landscape and
visual impacts of the project. These measures are summarised in Table 3.3.
Table 3.3: Recommended Construction and Operational
Phase Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures
|
ID No. |
Type |
Landscape / Visual
Mitigation Measure |
Funding / Implement-ation |
Management
/ Maintenance |
|
|
Construction Phase |
|||||
|
CM1 |
Site Practice – Landscape |
Reuse of
Existing Topsoil Existing
topsoil shall be re-used for new planting areas within the project. Potential
topsoil resources are located at:- a) Gascoigne Road Rest Garden, b) slopes above
Chatham Road North, c) roadside planters in Whampoa Garden. The construction
program shall consider using the soil removed from one phase for backfilling
another. Suitable storage ground, gathering ground and mixing ground shall be
set up as necessary. |
MTR Corporation |
MTR Corporation / LandsD, LCSD / HyD |
|
|
CM2 |
Design /
Planning – Landscape |
Tree Transplantation Transplantation
is proposed for a number of trees generally able to provide high amenity value
and which are likely to survive the transplantation process. All
transplantation will be carried out in accordance with ETWB TCW No. 3/2006
and undertaken under separate submission process. |
MTR Corporation |
MTR Corporation / LandsD / HyD / LCSD /
AFCD |
|
|
CM3 |
Site
Practice – Visual |
Control
of night-time lighting glare All security floodlights
for construction sites and temporary works areas shall be equipped with
adjustable shield, frosted diffusers and reflective covers, and be carefully controlled
to minimize light pollution and night-time glare to nearby receivers. |
MTR Corporation
|
Contractor |
|
|
CM4 |
Site Practice – Visual |
Erection of Decorative
Hoardings Temporary decorative screen
hoardings shall be designed and erected to be compatible with the existing
urban context, either brightly and imaginatively or with visually unobtrusive
design and colours where more appropriate. All works sites and works areas
shall be surrounded by such hoardings, which shall be removed at project
completion. |
MTR Corporation
|
Contractor |
|
|
Operational
Phase |
|||||
|
OM1 |
Design /
Planning – Landscape |
Re-provision of Public
Open Spaces Every
effort should be made to minimise use of public open spaces, however if
affected by the Project they shall be re-provisioned to an equal or improved
standard at completion of the project. Sensitive design and
reinstatement of the affected Public Open Spaces (Gascoigne Road Rest Garden,
Yan Fung Street Rest Garden, Fat Kwong Street Playground) shall be made,
incorporating replacement facilities to those currently provided and using
materials of quality suitable for long term use and acceptable to the relevant
government departments including LCSD and PlanD, who shall be consulted on
the design of the reinstated public open spaces at an early stage of the
design process. |
MTR Corporation |
LCSD |
|
|
OM2 |
Design / Planning – Landscape / Visual |
Compensatory Tree Planting Suitable land pockets
within the project area will be used for the implementation of compensatory
mitigation to offset the net loss of key landscape resources and improve
visual amenity. A compensatory tree planting proposal including
locations of tree compensation will be submitted separately to seek relevant
government department’s approval, in accordance with ETWB TCW No. 3/2006. |
MTR Corporation
|
MTR Corporation / LandsD/ HyD/ LCSD/ AFCD |
|
|
OM3 |
Design /
Planning – Landscape / Visual |
Horizontal and Slope
Greening Shotcreting of cut rock
slopes shall be avoided and greening applications employed throughout the
project. At HOM Station the
backfill slopes shall be hydroseeded and native seedling trees planted. The station
roof shall be temporarily greened should there be no further on-site
development within 1 year of the completion of the KTE, until permanent
measures are undertaken under the proposed property development stage. Parapets at WAB and HOM Station
shall be provided with internal permanent planter boxes. The roof at WAB shall be greened to improve visual amelioration from
surrounding high level viewers Station entrances at HOM and WHA shall utilise shrub planting areas to
provide localised greening |
MTR Corporation
|
MTR Corporation
/ LandsD |
|
|
OM4 |
Landscape / Visual |
Vertical Greening Vertical greening /
climbers shall be applied to all above ground structures against exposed
walls as far as possible subject to technical operational and maintenance
constraints. Such planting shall be employed at WAB, HOM Station and WHA
Station. |
MTR Corporation
|
MTR Corporation
|
|
|
OM5 |
Design /
Planning – Visual |
Architectural Design Aesthetics
for the WAB at Club de Recreio The emergency access and
ventilation building shall be designed in a way so as to ensure the form,
material and surface detailing of this structure can fit sympathetically into
the local context. The form shall consider the Cultural Heritage of the Club
de Recreio site as well as other proximate buildings. The structure shall
incorporate vertical greening / climbers where possible subject to technical
operational and maintenance constraints. Detail Design Intent for the
structures can be noted below. |
MTR Corporation |
MTR Corporation
|
|
|
OM6 |
Design /
Planning – Visual |
Architectural Design
Aesthetics for Above-Ground Structures at HOM Station All station entrances, vent
shafts, chillers and other above-ground structures shall be designed in
accordance with the standardised MTR architectural theme for the KTE and
other current rail projects. However specific attention shall be undertaken
to ensure the form, material and surface detailing of these structures is
considered to fit into the local context in terms of the architectural
character of the site. Detail Design Intent for the structures can be noted
below. |
MTR Corporation
|
MTR Corporation
|
|
|
OM7 |
Design /
Planning – Visual |
Architectural Design
Aesthetics for Above-Ground Structures at WHA Station These shall be designed in accordance with the standardised MTR
architectural theme for the KTE and other current rail projects. However specific
attention shall be undertaken to ensure the form, material and surface
detailing of these structures is considered to fit into the local context in
terms of the architectural character of the site. Detail Design Intent for
the structures can be noted below. |
MTR Corporation
|
MTR Corporation
|
|
(1) Agreement
and approval, including precise delineation of boundaries, etc., of the
implementation, management and maintenance agencies of the project will be sought
from all relevant authorities during the detail design stages of the project.
(2) MTR Corporation would be responsible for maintenance
and management of trees within the permanent site boundary. The maintenance
matrix and responsible parties for trees outside the permanent site boundary
are to be confirmed during detailed design stage. To facilitate with the
confirmation process, MTR Corporation would be responsible for the maintenance
works before any agreement is made.
(3) Reinstatement of the Public Open Spaces and other
disturbed areas is subject to the land status after project completion.
Reinstatement of the land back to the previous state may not be practical and
thus the reinstatement may take in other appropriate form.