Agreement
No. CE 61/2007 (CE)
North
East New Territories New Development Areas Planning and Engineering Study -
Investigation
Final
Environmental Impact Assessment Report – Executive Summary
Contents
2.1 General Description of the
Project
2.3 Revised Recommended Outline Development Plan
2.4 Nature, Benefit and Scope of
the Project
3 SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS IN EIA STUDY
3.13 Environmental Monitoring and
Audit (EM&A)
Figure
Figure 1.1 NENT
NDA Study Area
Figure 1.2 Location
of Schedule 2 Designated Projects in KTN NDA
Figure 1.3 Location
of Schedule 2 Designated Projects in FLN NDA
Figure 1.4 Location
of Schedule 2 Designated Projects along Fanling Bypass
Appendix
Appendix 1 Impact Summary of NENT NDA
1.1.1
The Planning and Development Study on North
East New Territories (NENT Study, CE64/96) commenced in 1998 had identified
areas in Kwu Tung North (KTN),
Fanling North (FLN) and Ping Che/Ta Kwu Ling (PC/TKL) to be suitable for New
Development Areas (NDAs). The NENT Study
also confirmed the feasibility of NDAs based on the findings and recommendations
from the technical assessments on various aspects including planning,
environmental and engineering. In 2003,
having regard to the housing demand at the time, the Government decided to
shelve the NDAs proposal in the interim pending a comprehensive review of Hong
Kong’s overall planning under the Study on Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and
Strategy (HK2030 Study).
1.1.2
The HK2030 Study carried out by the Planning
Department (PlanD) completed in 2007 was a comprehensive review of Hong Kong’s
territorial development strategy for formulating a broad planning framework to
guide the future development of Hong Kong up to 2030. It recommended proceeding with KTN, FLN and
PC/TKL NDAs (i.e. NENT NDAs) as well as Hung Shui Kui NDA to address long-term
housing demand and to provide job opportunities. NENT NDAs and Hung Shui Kui NDA were included
as one of ten major infrastructure projects in the 2007-08 Policy Address.
1.1.3
Further to the recommendations for NDAs in
HK2030 Study, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and PlanD
jointly commissioned the North East New Territories New Development Areas
Planning and Engineering Study - Investigation (the Project) to formulate
updated development proposals for NENT NDAs.
The Project aims to review and update the findings and recommendations
of the NENT Study, and to formulate revised proposals for NENT NDAs.
1.1.4
The Project has adopted a three-stage public
engagement programme to foster consensus building. The Stage 1 Public Engagement which commenced
in mid November 2008 and lasted for about three months aimed to engage key
stakeholders (the general public, relevant organisations, district councils and
rural committees) in discussions on key issues relating to the development of
the NDAs.
1.1.5
The Stage 2 Public Engagement which aimed at
collecting public views on the Preliminary Outline Development Plans (PODPs)
for the three NDAs commenced in November 2009 and completed in January 2010.The
Stage 3 Public Engagement (PE3) was carried out from mid June to end September
2012, to gauge public views on the Recommended Outline Development Plans (RODPs)
for the NDAs. A series of community engagement activities were undertaken for
different stakeholders including the Legislative Council Panel on Development,
Town Planning Board, Heung Yee Kuk, North District Council, relevant Rural
Committees, Advisory Council on the Environment, Housing Authority, Land
Development Advisory Committee, professional bodies, local concerns groups and
other stakeholders such as green groups.
1.1.6
After careful and comprehensive
consideration of comments received during the PE3 and taking into account all relevant
considerations including the findings of various technical assessments, the
current plan is to proceed with development in KTN and FLN NDAs to accommodate
about 174,900 population. The RODPs for KTN and FLN NDAs have been suitably
revised. PC/TKL NDA will be critically reviewed and re-planned. According to the 2013 Policy Address, the
development potential in New Territories North (NT North) is to be explored in
order to provide land to meet the demand for housing and economic
development. In this context, it is
recommended to include PC/TKL in the planning of NT North in order to
comprehensively review relevant planning considerations. Thus, no revised RODP
has been formulated for PC/TKL NDA and as such, no EIA assessment is required
for PC/TKL NDA at this juncture.
1.2.1
The NDAs under this Project including KTN NDA and FLN NDA
covering a total area of about 614ha as shown in Figure
1.1.
Kwu Tung
North (KTN) NDA
1.2.2
KTN NDA is located to the west of Sheung
Shui and is generally bounded by Shek Sheung River to the east, Castle Peak
Road and Fanling Highway (New Territories Circular Road) to the south, Pak Shek
Au and Tit Hang villages to the west and the present Closed Area boundary to
the north. The NDA has an area of some 450 ha and is proposed to accommodate a
population of about 101,600 people on full development.
Fanling
North (FLN) NDA
1.2.3
FLN NDA is located immediately to the
north-east of the established Fanling / Sheung Shui New Town and is bounded by
Upper Ng Tung River to the north and east, Sha Tau Kok Road to the south, and
Ma Sik Road and Tin Ping Road to the south-west. The NDA
has an area of around 164ha. FLN NDA is proposed to accommodate a population of
about 73,300 people on full development.
1.2.4
KTN and FLN NDAs would become the extension
of Fanling/Sheung Shui New Town to form the Fanling/Sheung Shui/Kwu Tung North
(FL/SS/KTN) New Town, which will have a total population of about 460,000 upon
full development, comparable to such new towns as Tuen Mun and Tseung Kwan
O. FL/SS/KTN New Town will be an
integrated community providing a wide range of employment opportunities as well
as commercial, community, recreation and cultural facilities supporting a
larger population.
1.2.5
The environmental impacts of the development
of KTN and FLN NDAs are assessed in this EIA report.
The
Project which covers KTN and FLN NDAs is a
designated project (DP) under Item 1 Schedule 3 of EIAO - Engineering
feasibility study of urban development projects with a study area covering more
than 20 ha or involving a total population of more than 100,000.
In
addition, the following work components in Tables
1.1a
and 1.1b also
fall under various Schedule 2 DP categories. Consideration of feasible alternative
options of the Schedule 2 DPs is discussed in Section 2.4.1. The
locations of the Schedule 2 DPs are shown in Figures 1.2 – 1.4.
Table 1.1a - Schedule 2 Designated Projects in KTN NDA
|
Item |
Work Component |
Schedule 2 DP Category |
Reason |
|
|
1 |
San Tin Highway and Fanling Highway Kwu Tung Section
Widening (between San Tin Interchange and Po Shek Wu Interchange) (Major
Improvement) |
A1 |
A road which is an expressway, trunk road,
primary distributor road or district distributor road including new roads,
and major extensions or improvements to existing road |
To widen the concerned portion of San Tin
Highway and Fanling Highway Kwu Tung Section from dual 3-lane to dual 4-lane
configuration |
|
2 |
Castle Peak Road
Diversion (CPR) (Major Improvement) |
A1 |
A
road which is an expressway, trunk road, primary distributor road or district
distributor road including new roads, and major extensions or improvements to
existing road. |
The
CPR will be realigned and join with the Pak Shek Au Interchange at the
western end and the original CPR near Yin Kong at the eastern end. |
|
3 |
KTN NDA Road P1 and
P2 (New Road) and associated new Kwu Tung Interchange (New Road) and Pak Shek
Au Interchange Improvement (Major Improvement) |
A1 |
A road which is an expressway, trunk road,
primary distributor road or district distributor road including new roads,
and major extensions or improvements to existing road. |
Construction of new primary distributor
roads inside KTN NDA. |
|
4 |
KTN NDA Road D1 to
D5 (New Road) |
A1 |
A road which is an expressway, trunk road,
primary distributor road or district distributor road including new roads,
and major extensions or improvements to existing road. |
Construction of new district distributor
roads inside KTN NDA. |
|
5 |
New Sewage Pumping
Stations (SPSs) in KTN NDA |
F3 |
A SPS---(b) with an installed
capacity of more than 2,000 m3
per day and a boundary of which is less than 150 m from an existing or
planned residential area or educational institution. |
Construction
of two new SPSs in KTN with installed capacity of more than
2,000 m3 per day and less than 150m from existing and planned
residential buildings. |
|
6 |
Proposed railway
station and associated facilities in KTN NDA (To be conducted under separate
study). |
A2 |
A railway and its associated facilities. |
The construction of new Kwu Tung railway station |
|
7* |
Utilization of
Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) from Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment
Works (SWHSTW) |
F4 |
An activity for the reuse of treated
sewage effluent from a treatment plant |
Construction
of service reservoir and watermain for the reuse of treated
sewage effluent for reuse in KTN NDA. |
*Work component serves both KTN and FLN
NDAs.
Table 1.1b - Schedule 2
Designated Projects in FLN NDA
|
Item |
Work Component |
Schedule 2 DP Category |
Reason |
|
|
7* |
Utilization of TSE from SWHSTW |
F4 |
An
activity for the reuse of TSE from a treatment plant |
The on-site sewage treatment works will
include TSE for reuse in both KTN and FLN NDAs. Construction of service reservoir
and watermain for the reuse of treated
sewage effluent in FLN NDA. |
|
8 |
Po Shek Wu
Interchange Improvement (Major Improvement) |
A1 |
A
road which is an expressway, trunk road, primary distributor road or district
distributor road including new roads, and major extensions or improvements to
existing road |
Po Shek Wu Road is primary distributor. Major improvement works on primary distributor is a DP |
|
9 |
Fanling Bypass
Western Section (New Road) |
A1 |
A
road which is an expressway, trunk road, primary distributor road or district
distributor road including new roads, and major extensions or improvements to
existing road |
Construction of new district distributor inside FLN NDA. |
|
10 |
Fanling Bypass
Eastern Section (New Road) |
A1 |
A
road which is an expressway, trunk road, primary distributor road or district
distributor road including new roads, and major extensions or improvements to
existing road. |
Construction of new primary distributor inside FLN NDA. |
|
11 |
Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works - Further Expansion at FLN NDA |
F1
|
Sewage
treatment works with an installed capacity of more than 15,000 m3
per day. |
The design capacity of the proposed
expansion and upgrading SWHSTW is of 190,000 m3 per day. |
|
12 |
Reprovision
of temporary wholesale market in FLN NDA |
N3 |
A
wholesale market. |
A wholesale market is a DP under EIAO |
|
13 |
New SPSs in FLN NDA |
F3 |
A
SPS---(b) with an installed
capacity of more than 2,000 m3
per day and a boundary of which is less than 150 m from an existing or
planned residential area or educational institution. |
The installed capacity of 4 new SPSs is
more than 2,000m3 per day and less than 150m from existing or
planned residential building or educational institution. |
*Work component serve both KTN and FLN NDAs.
2.1.1
The Project comprises the development of KTN NDA and FLN NDA and associated infrastructure such as
road works, sewage treatment works, drainage channel, wholesale market, etc. Taking into account the public comments received and
findings of technical assessments, a set of revised Recommended Outline Development Plans (RODPs) has been formulated and preferred options of
traffic and transport, basic infrastructure and utilities provisions are also proposed.
The Project scope is summarized below.
2.2.1
The
development of NDAs was announced by the Chief Executive in 2007-2008 Policy
Address as one of the ten major infrastructure projects for economic growth.
According to the policy address, the NDAs were to ease pressure on developed
areas and to meet the demand for land arising from population growth. The size
of the NDAs would be smaller, less than one fourth of that of the existing new
towns such as Tuen Mun and Sha Tin. The NDAs would provide land for various
uses such as housing, employment, high value-added and non-polluting
industries. Through comprehensive planning, the NDAs would provide quality
living space and convenience to both residents and the public. In this
connection, the Government commissioned the Project to formulate updated development
proposals for NENT NDAs with a view to reviewing and updating the findings and
recommendations of the NENT Study and to formulating a revised proposal and
implementation strategy for the NDAs.
Outline
Development Plan Options
2.3.1
In
the outset, the drawing up of the PODP avoided and minimised direct
encroachment upon ecologically sensitive areas, including the Long Valley
(predominant part), major rivers (including Ng Tung River, Shek Sheung River
and Sheung Yue River), natural streamcourses (including Ma Tso Lung Stream
upper and middle section) and hilly slopes, from proposed urban type
development as far as practicable. Other
ecologically less sensitive areas, including existing rural developed areas,
agricultural land and the areas on the two sides of the major rivers, were
included in the proposed development areas, as the NDAs developments are to
optimise on the transport and infrastructure provision and to provide land to
meet medium and long term needs for housing and economic development, in
accordance with the strategic planning intentions stated in HK2030 Planning
Vision and Strategy (HK2030). HK2030 (para. 13.4.44 and 45) states that “to
ensure a more balanced development pattern and provide a choice of living other
than the high-density urban mode, it is recommended that low to medium-density
nodal clusters should be developed in the New Territories around rail stations.
This proposal could also help to optimise use of rail and other infrastructure,
provide housing land (for public and private housing), upgrade the rural
environment, revive the rural economy, create boundary/gateway towns, and
introduce employment. New development areas should be comprehensively planned
for a mixture of land uses, emphasizing both the creation of a quality
living/working space as well as resident/user convenience. Such development
opportunities have been identified in previous planning studies including the
Territorial Development Strategy Review and the consequential planning and
engineering studies for North East New Territories and North West New
Territories.”
2.3.2
Any ecological impacts, which are not
expected to be significant, on the proposed development areas, would be reduced
and mitigated with appropriate measures. The PODP was prepared in accordance
with a comprehensive planning and urban design framework, with a set of
well-defined planning principles, one of which was to devising layout
respecting ecology and environment.
Suitable zonings (e.g. open space along the major rivers) and mitigation
measures were proposed and the residual ecological impacts, if any, were
environmentally acceptable.
2.3.3
The PODPs for NDAs proposed in the early
stage of this Study is evolved to the Revised RODP presented in this EIA taking
into consideration of the public opinions in the stages of public engagement as
mentioned in Section2.3.3
as well as the findings of this Study.
Key Project Requirements of Development
Plan
Planning
Parameters
2.3.4
Taking into account the received public comments
during Stage 3 Public
Engagement and with careful and comprehensive consideration, the RODPs
have been further refined. Table 2.1 summarizes the major planning parameters
of the revised RODP.
Table 2.1 - Major planning parameters of the
RODPs
|
|
KTN NDA |
FLN NDA |
Total |
|
Development Theme |
Mixed Development Node |
Riverside Community |
- |
|
Major Land Uses |
Residential;
Commercial, Research & Development; Long Valley Nature Park; Agriculture
Uses; Recreational
Facilities |
Residential; Government
Facilities |
- |
|
Total Area |
450 ha |
164 ha |
614 ha |
|
New Population(a) |
101,600 |
73,300 |
174,900 |
|
New Flats |
35,400 |
25,300 |
60,700 |
|
New PRH Flats (% Total) |
17,700 (49.9%) |
14,000 (55.3%) |
31,700 (52.2%) |
|
New HOS Flats (% Total) |
2,700 (7.7%) |
2,200 (8.8%) |
4,900 (8.1%) |
|
New Private Flats(b) (% Total) |
15,000 (42.4%) |
9,100 (35.9%) |
24,100 (39.7%) |
|
Plot Ratio |
3.5 – 6 |
2 – 6 |
- |
|
Maximum Building Height |
35 storeys |
35 storeys |
- |
Note
(a) Excluding those resided in the indigenous villages, affected
village houses/building lots under the village removal term (VRT), and existing/committed
developments. If these people are
included, the total population of the two NDAs would be 179,000 (105,500 in KTN
and 73,500 in FLN).
(b) Excluding the
two “R4” sites.
Nature
of Project
2.4.1
This Project is an urban development project
with a study area covered 614 ha involving a total population of about 174,900
and accommodation of about 37,700 employment.
KTN and FLN NDAs will provide a mix of housing types as well as basic infrastructure
and community facilities. The NDAs are
planned according to four guiding principles, namely, strategic roles of the
NDAs, people-oriented communities, sustainable living environment and appropriate implementation mechanism.
Benefits
of Project
2.4.2
The benefits of the Project, are described
below:
·
Providing Housing Land to
Better Meet Long-term Housing Needs Particularly for Meeting Public Housing
Needs
-
Provide about 102 ha
of housing land
supply
-
Provide about
60,700 new residential flats
-
Accommodate about 174,900
new population
·
Catering
for Various Land Use Needs for Promoting Economic Development
-
Serve to meet strategic land use requirements
and offer development spaces for industries which Hong Kong enjoys clear
advantages
-
Provide connection to Lok Ma Chau (LMC)
Loop
and reserve about 8 ha of land for research and development uses in support of
LMC Loop development in KTN NDA
-
Develop
a cluster of “Commercial, Research and Development” sites (about 14 ha) along
Fanling Highway in the KTN NDA
-
Provide employment
in support of the local needs, including retail, services and community, in KTN
and FLN NDAs. About 37,700
new jobs
will be created
·
Providing
wider choice of social and community facilities
-
As an extension
of Fanling/Sheung Shui New Town to form the Fanling/Sheung Shui/Kwu Tung North
New Town, it will have a total population of about 460,000 upon full
development and provide a wide range of employment, commercial, social,
community, recreational and cultural facilities for the expanded new town
·
Conservation of Long Valley
-
Designate
core area of Long Valley as “Nature Park” to enhance and conserve the existing
ecological environment
·
Improving Transport Network
-
Enhance
the accessibility of the Kwu Tung area
(including the planned population and existing residents in nearby areas) by
implementing the proposed Kwu Tung Station on the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line
-
Improve
the traffic condition in the Fanling and Sheung Shui area by
the proposed Fanling Bypass
·
Pursuing Greener
Living Environment
-
Adopt
rail-based development approach in planning NDAs to reduce road traffic
-
Reuse of
Treated Sewage
Effluent
to conserve
water and reduce
treated sewage effluent as well as sewage pollution loading discharged to Deep
Bay
2.4.3
The specific environmental benefits of the NDAs development are broadly described below:
·
The project
will improve the sewerage infrastructure and sewage treatment facilities of
the areas, which would benefit both
the existing and new
population;
·
The project
will help improving
the existing interface
problems of residential/ open storage/ rural industrial uses;
·
The project will provide the opportunity to
clean-up existing contaminated land;
·
The project will provide long-term
conservation
for Long Valley;
·
The
Project makes
use of existing land
for building sustainable and green communities, rather than forming new
land through reclamation works.
Scope of Project
2.4.4
The project is proposed to be divided into 6 packages, which are summarized below.
|
Development Package |
|
Advance Works Package – Infrastructure and
Development at KTN and FLN |
|
Package
1 – First Stage of Infrastructure and Development at KTN and FLN |
|
Package
2 – Remaining Infrastructure and Development at KTN (South) |
|
Package
3 – Remaining Infrastructure and Development at KTN (North) |
|
Package
4 – Remaining Infrastructure and Development at FLN (East) |
|
Package
5 – Remaining Infrastructure and Development at FLN (West) |
Advance Works Package – Infrastructure and Development
at KTN and FLN
2.4.5
The advance works will consist of the following
works:
·
The
infrastructures for the first population intake in year 2023 in both KTN and
FLN would be constructed.
·
In
KTN, the site formation and the associated roadworks of the southwest portion
of the KTN NDA would be carried out.
·
The
essential underground utilities for the future site development in KTN, such as
sewerage, watermain, power supply cables will be laid along the existing
Fanling Highway.
·
To
provide water supply to the future site development in KTN, a secondary fresh
water service reservoir and a flushing water service reservoir in Tai Shek Mo
and the associated watermain will be constructed.
·
In
FLN, the site formation and the associated roadworks of the East portion of the
NDA would be carried out
·
A
new road connecting the existing Jockey Club Road and the proposed core
residential district in FLN and the essential underground utilities for the future site development
in FLN, such as sewerage, watermain, power supply cables will also be laid
along the existing road and the new road.
·
The
new road Fanling Bypass Eastern Section will be constructed. The existing North District Temporary
Wholesale Market to be affected by the construction of Fanling Bypass will be
reprovisioned.
·
E&M
works for the extension of the existing Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works.
·
A
site near Sheung Shui Wan Shan for the existing site subjected to VRT in
FLN affected in the Advance Works Package will be formed.
·
Two
stockpiling areas in KTN and two in FLN will be provided for the excavated
material generated in the early stage of the project.
Package
1 – First Stage of Infrastructure and Development at KTN and FLN
2.4.6
Package 1 will consist of the following works:
·
The
other infrastructure and development in the early stage of the NDA development
in KTN and FLN will be carried out.
·
The
Wetland Enhancement and the Visitor Centre of the Long Valley Nature Park in
KTN will be carried out.
·
The
existing Fan Garden Junior Police Officer's Police Married Quarters and
District Headquarter Associated Married Staff Quarters will be reprovisioned in
KTN.
·
The
existing Police Driving and Traffic Complex, Weapon Training Division in Fan
Garden will also be reprovisioned in FLN.
·
Planting
for Relocation of Man Kam To Egretry at FLN will be carried out in a mitigation meander on the north side of
the Ng Tung River in FLN area A1-7 which is proposed to be zoned as
Conservation Area (CA).
·
A
site near Ho Sheung Heung for the existing site subjected to VRT in KTN to be
affected in the Package 2 & 3 development will be formed.
Package
2 – Remaining Infrastructure and Development at KTN (South)
2.4.7
Package 2 will consis of the following works:
·
The
remaining infrastructure and development in the southern part of KTN.
·
The
widening of existing Fanling Highway, diversion of existing Castle Peak Road,
construction of Kwu Tung Interchange and Pak Shek Au Interchange improvement.
·
The
site formation of the remaining developable area in the southern part of KTN
and the associated new road and utilities.
·
A
trunk watermain connecting the existing Ngau Tam Mei Primary Fresh Water
Service Reservoir to the existing and proposed Kwu Tung Fresh Water Service
Reservoir and the associated pumping station.
·
The
site formation of the district cooling system in the southwest of KTN.
Package
3 – Remaining Infrastructure and Development at KTN (North)
2.4.8
Package 3 will consist of the following works:
·
The
remaining infrastructure and development in the northern part of KTN.
·
The
site formation of the remaining developable area in the northern part of KTN
and the associated new road and utilities.
·
The
site formation of the proposed HKPF’s district headquarters and divisional
Police Station in KTN.
·
The
site formation of the potential activity centre.
Package
4 – Remaining Infrastructure and Development at FLN (East)
2.4.9
Package 4 will consist of the following works:
·
The
remaining infrastructure and development in the eastern part of FLN.
·
A secondary fresh water service reservoir and a
flushing water service reservoir in FLN and the associated watermain.
·
The Fanling Bypass western section, connection
between Man Kam To Road, Sha Tau Kok Road, and Po Shek Wu interchange
improvement.
·
The
site formation of the remaining developable area in the eastern part of FLN and
the associated new road and utilities.
Package
5 – Remaining Infrastructure and Development at FLN (West)
2.4.10
Package 5 will consist of the following works:
·
The
remaining infrastructure and development in the western part of FLN.
·
The further extension of the existing Shek Wu
Hui Sewage Treatment Works.
·
The
site formation of the remaining developable area in the western part of FLN and
the associated new road and utilities.
2.5.1
Site-specific construction methodologies have been developed for
the following works:
·
Fanling Bypass;
·
Fanling Highway Widening;
·
Treatment of
Arsenic-Containing Soil in KTN;
·
Establishment
of Long Valley Nature Park;
·
Planting for Relocation of Man Kam To Egretry at
FLN;
Other earth filling/cutting, roadworks,
utilities, civil structures and landscape works at Open Spaces and Amenity Areas, etc. would be constructed using conventional
approach.
2.5.2
The
substructures of the Fanling Bypass Viaduct will take the form of reinforced
concrete (RC) columns & pilecaps founded on RC bored-piles. The
superstructures of the Fanling Bypass Viaduct will be constructed by either
precast segmental method or in-situ balanced-cantilever method. Cut-and-Cover
method would be adopted for the underpass at Sha Tau Kok Interchange.
2.5.3
For the
Fanling Highway Widening, the substructures of the viaduct of Kwu Tung
Interchange and Pak Shek Au Interchange will take the form of RC columns &
pilecaps founded on RC bored-piles. The superstructures of the viaduct of Kwu
Tung Interchange and Pak Shek Au Interchange will be constructed by cast
in-situ deck method.
2.5.4
In-situ
solidification/stabilization treatment will be adopted for the
arsenic-containing soil identified in KTN NDA.
The soil after treatment will be re-used as backfilling materials within
the NDAs.
2.5.5
Long
Valley Nature Park (LVNP) is established to compensate for the loss of wetland
habitat as a result of the Project. Approximately 37ha of Long Valley with high to very high ecological value are
proposed to be zoned as “Other Specified Uses (Nature Park)”, with a view that management with nature conservation objectives has the
potential to maintain and enhance the wetland function. Long-term and strategic
management such as provision of specific wetland types, periodic habitat
changes and adoption of crop rotation, etc. will be implemented. In addition,
improvement of water supply system and construction of visitor centre would be
carried out.
2.5.6
It is proposed that loss of the Man
Kam To egretry should be mitigated by appropriate planting of trees and
bamboo to provide compensatory habitat for breeding ardeids, with the intention
that this could provide an alternative nesting site for birds from the Man Kam
To Road egretry. Measures including placing decoys (models) in potential
breeding sites and use of recordings of breeding ardeids should be implemented
to create an attraction to the site. Accidental or deliberate disturbance by
people should be minimised by giving consideration to surrounding the site with
water and fencing.
3
SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS IN EIA STUDY
3.1.1
The
potential air quality impacts during both construction and operation phases of
the NENT NDA Project have been assessed.
Construction
Phase
3.1.2
Dust
is the key pollutant during the construction phase of NENT NDA development.
Dust impacts during certain construction periods may be high due to extensive
activities at the work site and proximity of the ASRs. With the implementation
of dust suppression measures, dust impacts are expected to be reduced
significantly.
3.1.3
Quantitative
fugitive dust assessments have been conducted and results suggested that
watering once per hour would be required to control the fugitive dust impact to
acceptable levels. In addition, effective dust control following the
requirements given in the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation
and in accordance with the EM&A programme during construction are
recommended.
3.1.4
With
such measures, all the 1-hour, 24-hour and annual TSP concentrations at both
existing and future ASRs at KTN NDA and FLN NDA will comply with the dust
criterion based on the latest construction programme. Hence, it is concluded
that there are no adverse residual air quality impacts during construction
phase.
Operational
Phase
3.1.5
Vehicular
emissions from open roads are expected to be the major air pollutants during
the operational phase of NENT NDA development. Fixed polluting sources such as
existing industrial emissions, odour emission from sewage treatment facilities,
slaughtering house will also create air quality impacts on ASRs.
3.1.6
Based
on the assessment, no adverse cumulative chimney and vehicular emission impacts
are anticipated. Hence, no mitigation measures would be required.
3.1.7
Odour
impact assessments have been conducted for the proposed SWHSTW expansion. With
the implementation of odour control measures, such as covering the major odour
sources and provision of deodourising treatment, it is anticipated that the
odour impact may not be significant.
Construction Phase
3.2.1
Construction noise assessment associated
with the use of Powered Mechanical Equipment (PME) has been conducted. With the
implementation of practical mitigation measures including good site management
practices, use of site hoarding, use of movable noise barrier & full
enclosure, use of “quiet” plant and working method, construction noise impacts
at all neighbouring noise sensitive uses would be controlled to acceptable
levels.
3.2.2
However, residual impacts are anticipated
for some residential premises and educational institutions during examination
period even after implementing all practicable mitigation measures and rearrangement of works group. To
further minimise the impact for residential premises, the Contractor should investigate
the necessity in using noisy PME such as rock drill, breaker and concrete lorry
mixer. On the other hand, for some educational institutions, it
is recommended that the contractor should closely liaise with the educational
institutions to avoid noisy construction works during examination period and
the Contractor should investigate the necessity in using
noisy PME such as bullodzer, rock drill, vertical band drain installation rig,
breaker and concrete lorry mixer..
Operational Phase
3.2.3
Operational noise impacts associated with
helicopter noise, industrial noise, fixed noise sources and road traffic noise
have also been investigated. Fixed noise source sound power level limits are
specified for district cooling system (DCS), sewage treatment works (STW)
extension, sewage pumping station (SPS) and pumping station (PS) with necessary
noise control measures to comply with statutory criteria.
3.2.4
Provision of acoustic insulation with air
conditioning is recommended to the landuse (KTN D1-12, KTN D1-13, KTN F1-3 and
KTN F1-4) which is affected by helicopter noise and shooting noise near Lo Wu
Classification Range.
3.2.5
Operational road traffic noise impact on the
sensitive uses outside NDA area and existing sensitive uses within NDA area
would be mitigated by provision of vertical noise barriers, vertical noise
barriers with cantilevered arm, low noise surfacing and semi-enclosures / full
enclosures which the sensitive uses can be controlled to acceptable noise
levels. The contribution due to the Project road is less than 1dB(A) and the
noise level from Project road is also within the respective noise
criterion. Similar mitigation measures
have been recommended for the planned noise sensitive uses within NDA area to
comply with the statutory criteria. Provision of acoustic insulation with air
conditioning has been proposed for educational institutions (FLN C2-9, east and
south facades between 4/F to 8/F).
3.3.1
During construction phase, potential water
pollution sources have been identified as construction site runoff, alteration
of natural streams, possible groundwater from contaminated area, and sewage
from workforce. Mitigation measures
including the implementation of cofferdams or diaphragm walls during stream
diversion and good site practices in accordance with ProPECC PN 1/94 are
recommended to mitigate any potential water quality impact.
3.3.2
During operational phase, potential water
quality sources have been identified, including sewage and sewerage system,
discharge from district cooling system, runoff from roads/open areas, drainage
system and reuse of treated sewage effluent.
Mitigation measures including collection all sewage into the
upgraded/expanded Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works (STW) and implementation
of proper drainage system with silt traps and oil interceptors are recommended
to mitigate any potential water quality impact during operational phase.
3.3.3
With implementation of recommended
mitigation measures, no residual water quality impact is anticipated.
3.4
Sewerage Management
3.4.1
The proposed NDAs will generate additional
sewage flows which cannot be handled by existing sewerage system and SWH STW
and therefore will require additional sewerage infrastructure. In order to meet
the prevailing water quality policy with
no net increase in pollution load to Deep Bay, SWH STW is
required to be upgraded to cater for additional loading.
3.4.2
Reuse of treated sewage effluent (TSE) is
recommended for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing, irrigation and DCS.
With TSE reuse, part of the TSE would be reused and the amount of TSE
discharged to Deep Bay would be reduced.
Hence, the discharge pollutant loading to the Deep Bay will also be reduced.
Nevertheless, even if TSE reuse is not implemented,
the proposed discharge standard from SWHSTW could be able to comply with both
the WPCO TM for the discharge into inland waters and ‘no net increase in
pollution loads to the Deep Bay’ Policy.
3.4.3
Based upon preliminary sewerage impact
assessment as described in this section, it can be concluded that the
proposed development is sustainable from sewerage collection, treatment
and disposal perspective
3.5.1
During the construction phase, typical wastes include
site clearance waste, excavated materials, construction and demolition
(C&D) materials, asbestos containing materials, chemical wastes, general
refuse and sewage. Potential waste
management implications from the generation of waste during the construction
phase have been evaluated. Measures, including the opportunity for
on-site sorting, reusing excavated fill materials, etc., are devised in the
construction methodology to minimise the surplus materials to be disposed.
Recommendations have been made for implementation by the Contractor during the
construction period to minimise waste generation and off-site disposal. The
disposal quantities for C&D materials and their disposal methods have also
been assessed.
Operational Phase
3.5.2
The operational phase of the proposed
developments would generate municipal solid waste, chemical waste and sewage
sludge. Recommendations have been made to ensure proper treatment and disposal
of these wastes. No adverse impacts on the environment would be
anticipated with the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures.
3.6.1
The potential land contamination impacts of
the Project have been assessed. The assessment involved site appraisal, site
investigation, assessment of contamination level, and health risk assessment
for arsenic-containing soil detected in KTN.
3.6.2
Site investigation works involving sampling
and testing of soil and groundwater were conducted at 4 identified government
sites (i.e. 3 in KTN and 1 in FLN). No soil and groundwater contamination was
detected, except the anomalistic high arsenic was detected in all 3 sites in
KTN.
3.6.3
All other potentially contaminated sites
identified in 2 NDAs (include Fanling
Bypass) were inaccessible and hence, no soil and groundwater sample was
collected during the course of this land contamination assessment study.
Nevertheless, detailed SI for these sites should be conducted when they are
resumed and handed over to the Project Proponent (PP).
3.6.4
On the other hand, although many of the
sites were not identified as potentially contaminated or could not be accessed
for visual inspection during the site survey, these sites would still be
in operation until commencement of construction. Any potential change of land
uses (e.g. change of uses to say chemical storage area, dismantling workshop,
etc) may result in potential land contamination. Re-appraisal of these sites is
therefore required if they become part of the land requirement for NDA
development.
3.6.5
The Project Proponent (PP) would prepare and
submit the Supplementary CAP to EPD prior to the commencement of SI works.
Following on from the submission of CAP and completion of SI, the PP would
prepare CAR, RAP and RR for contaminants other than As, which should
follow the recommendation of HRA, and submit to EPD for
contaminants other than Arsenic which should follow the recommendations made in
the Health Risk Assessment, for agreement
prior to commencement of the development works on these sites.
3.6.6
Anomalistic high arsenic detected in KTN was
investigated. The investigation results indicated that the high arsenic in KTN
is likely to be naturally occurred. A Health Risk Assessment was conducted for
assessing the health risk levels due to the inhalation of arsenic-containing
dust during construction stage and incidental ingestion of arsenic-containing
soil during operational stage. A Health Risk Assessment Report was prepared to
summarize the extent mapping of arsenic level and health risk assessment
findings. The Health Risk Assessment confirmed that the soil with arsenic level
above 571 mg/kg is required to be treated. The treatment method “Cement
Stabilization/Solidification” for treating the arsenic-containing soil was
proposed.
3.7.1
A quantitative risk assessment (QRA) has
been carried out since part of the proposed NDAs development (KTN and FLN) resides
in the 1-km Consultation Zone (CZ) of Sheung Shui Water Treatment Works
(SSWTW), which is a potentially hazardous installation (PHI). The assessment
has been conducted to determine the risk associated with the storage, use and
transport of chlorine at SSWTW for the
construction and operation stages of the NDAs development.
3.7.2
The assessment has concluded that the
risks are acceptable as per the individual and societal risk criteria set
out in Annex 4 of the EIAO-TM.
3.8
Landfill Gas Hazard
3.8.1
The potential landfill gas hazards of the
Project have been assessed. A qualitative assessment on potential hazards
associated with LFG migration from Ma Tso Lung Landfill (MTLL) to the proposed
development in KTN NDA has been conducted.
3.8.2
The MTLL is considered as a “Medium” source
of gas migration since LFG monitoring results in past five years in MTLL have
indicated methane concentrations were at very low level and only one data of
carbon dioxide concentration was above the background levels. The risk
categories associated with the source-pathway-target have been identified. It
is concluded that the potential risk during construction phase is “medium” and
during operational phase is ‘low’ to ‘high’ depending upon the location and
nature of the target being considered. Therefore, this implied “some
precautionary measures” to “significant engineering measures” required by the
future site developers to protect the proposed development. To avoid
engineering measures, underground rooms or void should be avoided as far as
practicable. It is recommended that further LFG monitoring should be carried
out prior to the commencement of the detailed design of the developments to
provide the latest LFG data for the detailed QLFGHA.
3.8.3
General protection and precautionary
measures have been proposed for consideration during the design, construction
and operational phases of the developments. In addition, the design,
construction and operation of the proposed development within the MTLL (i.e.
the proposed recreational area in site E1-1) should be fully compatible with
the landfill restoration and aftercare works and impose no adverse impact to
them. Caution
should be exercised to ensure long term integrity of the capping system and
other restoration facilities. The design and construction method of the
proposed development within MTLL should also be provided to EPD for agreement
during the design stage.
3.8.4
It is expected that with the proposed
precautionary measures in place, the potential risk of LFG migration from MTLL
to KTN development would be minimal. Nevertheless, a detailed QLFGHA should be
undertaken during the detailed design stage of the developments to review the
need and practicality of the protection and precautionary measures proposed and
provide recommendations on the detailed protection and precautionary measures
to be adopted. Such requirement could be imposed on developers by including it
in the lease conditions by Lands D.
Archaeology
3.9.1
One sites of archaeological interest is
identified in the CHAA, direct impact is anticipated to
part of the site.
3.9.2
In addition, archaeological surveys conducted
in 2000-2001 and 2010 identified 20 locations of
archaeological potential within the CHAA. The
locations are presented in Figure
11.4 of
the EIA report. 12 locations including Sites 1, 2, 3 and 4
and Spots A and C to I in KTN NDA CHAA; and 5 \ locations including Sites 5, 6,
7, 8 and 10 in FLN NDA CHAA were identified to be potentially impacted by the
proposed development. All potential
impacts are considered acceptable with appropriate mitigation measures.
3.9.3
The recommended archaeological mitigation
measures include preservation in-situ,
further archaeological survey if necessary, and Survey-cum-Rescue
Excavation on impacted areas of Sites 1 to 3,
Spots C and I, and Site 5 after
land resumption but before construction. The purpose is to determine the precise
archaeological extent and preserve the impacted archaeological deposits as far
as possible.
3.9.4
Besides, based on the results of the
evaluation of archaeological potential, evaluation and further archaeological
surveys have been recommended after land resumption but before construction in the
not-yet-surveyed-areas with medium archaeological potential
located in the areas with proposed development to comprehensively assess
their archaeological potential and potential impacts caused by the
development. Appropriate mitigation
measures will be recommended if necessary.
3.9.5
Induction training should be provided to the
construction contractor before the commencement of the excavation works in
Spots A, D to H and Sites 4 and 10. An
induction will be conducted as part of the environmental health and safety
induction programme to all site staff before they are deployed on site. The induction will include an introduction on
the historical development of the Site, the possible archaeological remains
that may be encountered during ground excavation works as well as the
reporting procedures in case suspected archaeological remains are
identified. A set of the presentation
material (in the form of power point presentation) with content details will be
prepared by an archaeologist and submitted to AMO for reference and record
purpose. The first induction briefing will be video recorded and it
will be used as induction briefing material for new site staff.
3.9.6
An Archaeological Impact Assessment after
land resumption and before construction when detail construction information is
available to determine the need for archaeological follow up actions in the
impacted area (Area B1-8 and B1-9 at A1) is recommended. Should there be any
development work within the rest of A1, it is recommended that an
Archaeological Impact Assessment is required after land resumption and before
construction when detail construction work information is available to
determine the need for further archaeological follow up actions.
3.9.7
The recommended archaeological mitigation
measures including preservation in-situ,
further archaeological survey if necessary, further archaeological
survey, further archaeological survey before any follow up actions, and
Survey-cum-Excavation should be conducted by a professional archaeologist and
prior to fieldwork commencement, the archaeologist should obtain a Licence to
Excavate and Search for Antiquities from the Authority under the AM
Ordinance. Prior to the application for
the licence, archaeological proposals detailing the objectives, work scope,
methodology, staffing plan and work programme of the archaeological works should
be agreed with the AMO. For preservation
in-situ with further archaeological survey
(if necessary), appropriate follow-up actions, including preservation of
the significant archaeological deposits in-situ would then be considered based
on the survey result with the consent of AMO.
3.9.8
Pursuant to the Antiquities and Monuments
Ordinance, the construction contractor should inform the AMO immediately in
case of discovery of antiquities or supposed antiquities in the course of soil
excavation works in construction stage.
Built Heritage
3.9.9
Literature review supplemented by built
heritage survey identified two Declared Monuments, two Grade 1
historic building, three Grade 2 historic buildings, seven
Grade 3 historic buildings, two nil grade historic buildings, one Proposed
Grade 1 historic building, 25 historic buildings and structures and 104 landscape
features within the CHAA.
3.9.10
Within KTN NDA CHAA, no direct impact is
expected on any declared monuments and graded/proposed historic buildings. Potential vibration impacts on two Grade 2
(G202 and G203), two Grade 3 (G303 and G308) historic buildings are
anticipated. Regarding built heritage
items not listed by AMO, six historic buildings and structures
(ancillary
structures of G303, HKT01, HKT02, HKT03
(Entrance Gate), HKT04 and HKT08) and thirty-one landscape features
(KT01 – KT10, KT12, KT13, KT16, KT17, KT18, KT36, KT38 – KT41, KT43 – KT45,
KT47, KT50, KT52, KT54, KT61 – KT63 and KT69) are identified to have direct
impact arising from the proposed development, and one historic building (HKT03
(Main Building)) and one landscape feature (KT57) are potentially
affected by the vibration due to the construction works at adjacent area. Relocation may be required for HKT01, HKT02, and
Entrance Gate of HKT03 under KTN NDA.
3.9.11
Within FLN NDA CHAA, no direct and indirect
impacts is anticipated for the built heritage items listed by AMO. Regarding
built heritage items not listed by AMO, no direct impact is expected on
historic buildings but six landscape features (FL01, FL11, FL16, FL19,
FL33 and FL35) are expected to have direct impact. One historical building
(HFL05) and nine landscape features (FL02, FL04,
FL05, FL18, FL22, FL24, FL27, FL31 and FL36) are potentially affected by
vibration due to the construction works at adjacent area. Relocation may be required for FL19 under FLN NDA.
3.9.12
Appropriate mitigation measures comprising a
baseline condition survey and baseline vibration impact assessment to be
conducted during pre-construction stage to
be conducted by qualified building surveyor or qualified structural engineer to
define the vibration limit (a vibration limit at 7.5mm/s and 15mm/s could be
adopted for graded historic buildings and historic buildings respectively) and
to evaluate if construction vibration monitoring and structural strengthening measures
are required during construction phase to ensure the construction performance
meets with the vibration standard stated in the EIA report. Cartographic and
photographic records are also recommended to mitigate the impacts as far as
possible.
3.9.13
Meanwhile, since the construction works and
development activities may induce change in the watertable. It is recommended the contractor should ensure
that the change of watertable induced by the construction works and development
activities will not result in settlement of built heritage.
3.9.14
For the retained built heritage items in
developable area, drainage system and access route would be designed to prevent
the persevered flooding and maintain the accessibility to the built heritage.
3.10.1
The
Schedule 2 DPs have been grouped into four packages according to their
location, nature and likely landscape and visual impacts. Landscape and visual impact assessment
for the Project was undertaken for each NDA
and four packages of Schedule 2 DPs, for both construction and operational
phases of the Project and key findings are outlined below.
3.10.2
There have been many considerations when
developing the RODPs for the NDAs,
including the landscape and visual aspects of the Project; in all the NDAs care
has been taken to establish a network of linked open spaces, accommodating a
number of parks, plazas, squares, green amenity strips and landscape corridors,
to create ‘green’ new towns and partly compensate for any loss of such existing
open spaces or other relevant landscape resources, such as ponds, due to the
developments. Given the generally rural nature of the North East New
Territories (NENT), however, development of the NDAs will lead to some land use
changes which will fundamentally change the landscape and visual characters of
these areas.
3.10.3
For the VIA in particular, it is relevant to
note that detailed architectural designs of all built elements in the NDAs have
not been finalised at this stage of the development programme. Therefore the
built structure forms and masses (including for buildings, reservoirs etc)
shown in all the photomontages and drawings are illustrating maximum building
heights and currently suggested reservoir designs, which are likely to reflect
the worst case scenario. These photomontages and drawings have helped to assess
the magnitude of visual impact for various VSRs and the actual visual impacts
may reduce when the design of building and reservoir forms, finishes and
colours have been refined at the detailed design stage.
3.10.4
Despite the careful initial design of the
NDAs, some impact from the Project is inevitable and the potential landscape
and visual impacts from the construction phases of the various components of
the NDAs generally result from: site clearance including demolition of
structures and tree removal/transplantation; site formation works including
cutting (e.g. slope formation for reservoir formation) and filling e.g. of
streams and agricultural land; stockpiling of construction and demolition
materials; construction of at-grade and above ground built structures including
residential blocks, government/ institutional facilities, bridges, viaducts,
interchanges, roads, slip roads and noise barriers; temporary structures within
the Project Site including site offices and parking areas; and re-alignment of
roads, streams and watercourses. During operation, potential impacts are likely
to result from the existence and operation of these new built structures,
including buildings, new roads, intersections, viaducts and any associated
noise barriers. There will be some residual impacts that occurred during
construction, such as the loss of trees and vegetation that will continue to
cause impact at operation. Equally, planting carried out during construction
for general landscaping works will have a positive impact during operation, as
will the implementation of the careful design measures, such as provision of
open spaces, green belt areas, etc..
LANDSCAPE
3.10.5
A broad brush tree survey has been carried
out within the study area which estimates that there are approximately 17,000
trees which may be affected by the proposed development. This preliminary survey suggests that
more than 30% of the affected trees can be retained or transplanted and that
the remaining would be felled. A
detailed Tree Felling Application process will be carried out at a later
detailed design stage, to finalise tree treatment and allocate compensatory planting areas
including available open space, parks and streetscape. Five
Old and Valuable Trees along
Castle Peak Road are proposed to be retained in
situ and protected based on the revised
RODP. There are no rare species
or endangered species of trees but only common species within the NDAs. All the trees with high amenity value that
are unavoidably affected by the works would 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 and ETWB TCW No. 29/2004.
3.10.6
In
KTN NDA, channelized water course, water courses, ponds, marsh/wetland,
woodlands, shrubland/grassland mosaic and agricultural land have been
identified as major LRs. Due to the
nature of the Project, some LRs are inevitably affected, some of which (i.e. water
ponds at Fung Kong Shan, hillside woodland in Ma Tso Lung, Tit Hang and
Fung Kong, lowland woodland in Pak
Shek Au and Tong Kok, shrubland/grassland mosaic in Tai Shek Mo and the Western
Range Foothills) would experience substantial impact prior to mitigation. Seven LCAs have been identified at which
Natural Hillside Landscape would experience substantial impacts prior to
mitigation because of high sensitive of the LCA.
3.10.7
In
FLN NDA, channelized water course, water courses, ponds, marsh/wetland, woodlands,
shrubland/grassland mosaic and agricultural land have been identified as major
LRs. Due to the nature of the Project,
some LRs are inevitably affected, some of which (i.e. Ma Wat River, mitigation
wetland along Ng Tung River, hillside woodland in Cham Shan and Wa Shan,
shrubland/grassland mosaic in Lung Shan) would experience substantial impact
prior to mitigation. Seven LCAs have been identified and no LCA would
experience substantial impact.
3.10.8
For
Package A (DPs 1, 2, 3 and 4) which includes major roads in KTN NDA, no LR and
LCA would experience substantial impact as the magnitude of change on each LR
and LCA is relatively small due to the linear nature of roads.
3.10.9
For
Package B (DP 5) which includes 2 new sewage pumping stations in KTN NDA, in
view of the small scale of development, no significant landscape impacts on LRs
and LCAs is anticipated.
3.10.10 For Package C (DPs 7, 11 and 13) which
includes utilization of treated sewage effluent, further expansion of Shek Wu
Hui Sewage Treatment Works and 4 new sewage pumping stations,
shrubland/grassland mosaic at Lung Shan and Tai Shek Mo would experience
moderate impact since the construction of flushing water service reservoirs
(one of the components of DP7) at Tong Hang and Tai Shek Mo involve significant
slope cutting.
3.10.11 For Package D (DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12) which
includes major roads related to FLN NDA and a temporary wholesale market,
similar to Package A, no LR and LCA would experience substantial impact as the
magnitude of change on each LR and LCA is relatively small due to the linear
nature of roads.
3.10.12 To mitigate the adverse landscape impacts, a
number of mitigation measures have been proposed. Tree protection & preservation, tree
transplantation, compensatory planting, woodland compensatory planting, road greening
are commonly applied in the Project.
Mitigation measures including minimizing topographical change, slope
landscaping, vertical greening, green roof and compensatory planting have been
proposed to mitigate the topographic change and loss of shrubland/grassland
mosaic due to the construction of the water service reservoirs. For watercourse mitigation, four mitigation
measures, namely, diversion of natural steams, stream buffer planting,
enhancement planting on embankments and avoidance of watercourses have been
proposed.
3.10.13 It is considered that through applying the
abovementioned mitigation measures, residual impacts of LRs and LCAs would be
moderate or lower, although loss of some LRs and LCAs e.g. agricultural land
and pond cannot be directly mitigated.
On the other hand, the industrial LRs and LCAs are predicted to
experience slight to moderate beneficial residual impacts.
VISUAL
3.10.14 From
a visual perspective, the
scale and the extent of high-rise development is likely to significantly alter
the visual context of area,
particular partially or fully loss of open view or riverside view. With all the planning
mitigation measures incorporated into the revised
RODPs (e.g. view corridors, green network, stepped building heights,
building setbacks, buffer zones, etc), as well as construction and operation
mitigation measures such as light control and general soft landscaping
including slope landscaping, green roofs, road greening, screen planting,
vertical greening as well as tree protection, transplantation and compensation,
it is considered that the overall residual
visual impacts are acceptable with mitigation measures.
3.10.15 For KTN NDA, there will unavoidably
be substantial or moderate/
substantial residual impact on the VSRs at
cottage area at Western Range and Fung Kong Shan which the latter is
recreational type VSR with less visual sensitivity. For FLN NDA, visual impacts would be more
significant. There will
unavoidably be substantial or moderate/
substantial residual impact on the residential
VSRs at Kan Lung Tsuen area,
Ma Wat Tsuen Area, Shung Him Tong, which are low rise village type development,
Belair Monte & Regentville, Wing Fai Centre & Wing Fok Centre, Noble
Hill and high rise residential buildings around Tin Ping Estate which are high rise
residential development along Ma Sik Road and Ting Ping Road. However, the impacts will reduce to moderate
in year 10 operation when the soft landscape measures have matured and convey
their full mitigation effect.
3.10.16 For Schedule 2 DPs, visual impact is less significant. In Packages A and B, there is no substantial
visual impacts on VSRs. For Package C,
there will be moderate/substantial residual impacts on the VSR groups at
southern knoll of Fung Kong Shan and Wah Sum Estate due to the construction of
two flushing water service reservoirs at Tai Shek Mo and Tong Hang. However,
the impacts will reduce to slight in year 10 operation when the soft landscape
measures have matured and convey their full mitigation. For Package D, there
will be moderate/substantial residual impacts on the VSR group near Cyber
Domaine residential estate due to the Fanling Bypass Eastern section. It is considered through road greening
and screen planting, the impact can
be further reduced to slight/moderate
level by year 10 of operation where these planting works will have fully
established and helped to assimilate the works into the landscape.
OVERALL
3.10.17 Given
the proposed development involves major land use changes for an
urban development in an existing rural area, it is inevitable that
landscape and visual impacts caused by such major development cannot be fully
reduced and remain at a certain level at some locations even after
implementation of all possible mitigation measures, including mimimizing
topographical change, detailed design of the built structures to ensure
compatibility of the proposed development with the existing surroundings, tree
protection, preservation and transplantation as well as compensatory planting,
woodland compensatory planting, screen planting to buffer structures from
views, decorative hoarding to screen undesirable views of work sites, light
control within construction sites and at operation to reduce light glare that
could potentially cause visual disturbance to VSRs at night time, and provision
for green roofs and vertical greening to soften hard surfaces on built
structures in sight. Additionally the
NDAs have been carefully designed to avoid impact
on natural watercourses, with the most sensitive streams being avoided
or zoned in such a way to preserve them, and with buffer areas along key
stretches. In view of the nature of the development, it is generally fair to
accept that some of the impacts cannot be fully reduced and will only remain at
a certain level for some areas. Nevertheless, such residual impacts are
predicted to be acceptable with implementation of the proposed mitigation
measures as the changes in land use gradually become adaptable to the existing
rural context.
3.10.18 It
is therefore anticipated that the overall residual landscape
and visual impacts from the development of the NDAs are considered
acceptable with mitigation measures.
3.11.1
An ecological impact assessment has been
conducted to address the potential ecological impacts arising from the
development of the NDAs. Mitigation measures have been proposed where required
to avoid, minimise or compensate for the significant impacts, such that all
residual impacts are mitigated to an
acceptable level
3.11.2
Alternatives to safeguard the conservation
value of Long Valley were considered and measures to avoid potential impacts
were adopted. These included the design of the Project such that a new road
link through or to the north of Long Valley were not required and avoidance of
development in Long Valley itself.
3.11.3
In order to safeguard the ecological value
of Long Valley in the long term, it is proposed to designate the area of
highest ecological value (~37ha), the largely wetland area south and east of
the Sheung Yue River and south and west of the Shek Sheung River, as Other Uses
(OU) Nature Park (area C1-9 in KTN).
3.11.4
It is proposed to retain the agricultural
(AGR) zonings of the area west and north of the Ng Tung and Sheung Yue Rivers
and east of Ho Sheung Heung (C2-2), and the area south and east of area C1-9
and east of Yin Kong (C1-6). To strengthen the planning control over the AGR
zone to reflect the importance of this area being on the flight path of the
birds and a buffer zone for the LVNP.
3.11.5
Impacts
on secondary woodland and hillside woodlands are largely avoided at the first
instance and when formulating the development footprint. Unavoidable loss
of a very small area of secondary woodland and plantation woodland of
ecological significance will be compensated by establishment
of around 16ha of secondary woodland in
two blocks in KTN;
3.11.6
Alternatives to avoid potential impacts to
Man Kam To Road egretry were considered, but were found to be impractical due
to engineering constraints and requirements; mitigation measures to compensate
for this loss are therefore proposed; In
view of the frequent change and the possible relocation of egretries, the
possible need of additional measures would be reviewed and formulated before
construction phase of the project.
3.11.7
Alternatives to avoid potential impacts to
the Ma Tso Lung Stream and its riparian corridor and fauna of conservation
significance were considered, and the sections of the stream to the south of
where it is crossed by the LMC Loop Eastern Connection Road the stream and
tributaries of ecological significance are included in a Green Belt zone where
there is a presumption against development. Where the construction of the LMC
Loop Eastern Connection Road will result in unavoidable impact to a downstream
section of the stream in the north of the Project Area, alternatives to
minimize impacts were considered. Avoidance of direct impacts by placing the
road on a viaduct were evaluated as being greater than impacts of diverting a
section of the stream and minimising and compensating for such impacts. Options
to find an appropriate balance between the width of buffer which could be
provided post-diversion, and the length of stream to be diverted were then
considered. It was resolved that the optimum solution, given the site
constraints, is for a section of 130m of Ma Tso Lung Stream to be diverted and
reinstated, with a minimum buffer width of 15m from the road to be maintained
following diversion on the west side of the stream. On the east side a buffer
width of 15 - 30m would be maintained from any development under the Project;
the minimum buffer width in total will be 45m. The buffer zone in this section
would be planted with riparian trees, shrubs and other vegetation in order to
maintain and enhance ecological linkages along the stream.
3.11.8
Detailed arrangement of some of the proposed
mitigation measures would be formulated further under the study, especially in
relation to the creation and long-term management and
monitoring of Long Valley Nature Park and the required detailed design
to avoid or minimise ecological impacts to habitats
including main river channels, certain streams of ecological
significance and the loss of the Man Kam To Road egretry. For Long Valley
Nature Park, a detailed Habitat Creation and Management Plan will be prepared and
implemented as the next stage of the project. Similarly, detailed design
and implementation of measures to create an egretry at FLN A1-7 to compensate
for the loss of the existing Man Kam To Road egretry will be undertaken as an
advance works element of the project.
3.11.9
Other mitigation measures required in order
to avoid, minimise or compensate impacts of the project which have not been
incorporated in the design of the project as detailed in the RODP, have been
detailed in the EIA. With the
implementation of the ecological mitigation measures described in this EIA, no
significant residual ecological impacts are envisaged. It
is considered that the implementation of NDAs project meets the ecological
requirements of the EIAO.
3.12.1
The revised RODP would result in the loss of
a fish fry farm at Fung Kong in KTN NDA.
The loss of this pond would have a moderate impact on fish fry supply
to pond fisheries in Hong Kong. It is
proposed that appropriate notice should be given to the operator to permit the
reinstatement of activities at an alternative location prior to the closure of
the existing farm.
3.12.2
Other than the fish fry farm, fisheries in
the two NDAs are of low importance in the overall productivity of Hong Kong
fisheries. Impacts to the other fisheries are not considered to be significant
in a Hong Kong context.
3.12.3
However, potential downstream impacts to
fisheries in the Deep Bay ecosystem, and in the Ma Tso Lung area in particular,
will require to be mitigated at source by preventing sediment or pollutants
arising from the construction and operation of the Project entering
watercourses.
3.13.1
An EM&A programme will be implemented
throughout the entire construction period to regularly monitor the
environmental impacts on the neighbouring sensitive receivers. Any action
required during the construction phase is also recommended for implementation.
3.13.2
The EM&A programme would include site
inspection / audit and monitoring for construction dust, construction airborne
noise, operation airborne noise, water quality and updating changes as necessary.
Details of the recommended mitigation measures, monitoring procedures and
locations are presented in a standalone EM&A Manual.
An EIA Report has been prepared to fulfil the requirements
as specified in the EIA Study Brief No ESB-176/2008 and the TM-EIAO. All the latest design information has been
incorporated into the EIA process. The aspects that have been considered in
this EIA Report include:
·
Description of land use planning;
·
Description of construction and operation activities;
·
Air
quality impact;
·
Noise
impact;
·
Water quality impact;
·
Sewerage
management implications;
·
Waste management implications;
·
Land contamination;
·
Hazard to life;
·
Landfill gas hazards;
·
Cultural heritage;
·
Landscape and visual impact;
·
Ecological impact;
·
Fisheris impact;
·
EM&A requirements.
The impact summary of NDA is shown in Appendix 1. Overall, the EIA Report has predicted that the Project
would be environmentally acceptable with the implementation of the proposed
mitigation measures for construction and operation, phases. An environmental
monitoring and audit manual has been recommended to ensure the effectiveness of
recommended mitigation measures.