14.1.1.1
This EIA report has been
prepared to satisfy the requirements given in the EIA Study Brief (ESB-278/2014)
and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process. All
the latest planning information has been incorporated into the EIA process.
Aspects that have been considered in this EIA Report include:
·
Air Quality;
·
Noise;
·
Water Quality;
·
Waste management implication;
·
Land contamination;
·
Ecological impact;
·
Landscape and visual impact;
·
Cultural heritage impact; and
·
Environmental monitoring and auditing.
14.1.1.2
All the existing and
planned environmental sensitive receivers within and in the vicinity of the
Study Area have been identified by conducting site surveys and reviewing
relevant planning information. The receivers identified include residential
blocks and educational institutions, etc. These receivers have all been
considered in this EIA study.
14.2.1
Construction Phase
14.2.1.1
During construction phase, potential
dust impact would be generated from the various construction activities,
including site clearance, temporary erection and piling works, and wind erosion
during the construction phase. The construction works will be confined within
small work area scattered along the nullah and it is understood that the
construction activities will not be taken place on the entire work sites at the
same time, but to be undertaken at moving multiple work fronts. A qualitative
construction dust assessment has therefore been conducted for the construction
of the Project. The assessment result indicated that no adverse cumulative
construction dust impact is anticipated. Nevertheless, dust control measures,
such as watering
during excavation of dusty material and washing vehicles to remove dusty
materials from its body and wheels before leaving the construction site, are
recommended to minimize the potential dust emission from the Project.
14.2.1.2
For fuel combustion equipment, the emission from the PMEs is
considered relatively small and will not cause adverse air quality impact due
to the effect of Air Pollution Control (Non-road Mobile Machinery) (Emission)
Regulation.
14.2.1.3
For construction vehicles, there would be in total of not more than
10 trips per hour and the vehicles would leave the site through two different
vehicles exits (one located near Tai Shu Ha Road West and one located near Wang
Lok Street). The emissions from construction vehicles are considered relatively
small and will not cause adverse air quality impact.
14.2.1.4
No adverse odour impact is anticipated
due to there would be very small quantity of sediment generated and stored
on-site simultaneously. Nevertheless, odour control measures are
recommended to minimize the potential odour emission from the Project.
14.2.2
Operational
Phase
14.2.2.1
The Project is an elevated
footbridge with associated infrastructures. There will be no air pollutants and
odour emission sources during operation of the Project. Hence, no adverse
cumulative air quality impact is anticipated.
14.3.1
Construction Phase
14.3.1.1
Construction airborne noise assessment has been conducted. The
construction works will be confined within small work area scattered along the
nullah and it is understood that the construction activities will not be taken
place on the entire work sites at the same time, but to be undertaken at moving
multiple work fronts. All the practicable mitigation measures have been exhausted to minimise
the noise impacts. These mitigation measures include the optimisation of
construction methodology (i.e. scheduling of PME uses, quiet plants, temporary
noise barrier and good site practices). With the implementation of the
recommended noise mitigation measures, all NSRs would comply the construction
noise criteria.
14.3.1.2
Because the Project does not involve drilling and blasting, or the use
of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). It is anticipated that construction groundborne
noise will not cause adverse impact.
14.3.2.1
The Project is an elevated
footbridge with associated infrastructures. No noise impact is generated during
operation of the Project. Hence, no adverse cumulative noise impact is
anticipated.
14.4.1.1
During construction phase, potential water pollution and impact sources
have been identified as construction of elevated
pedestrian corridor within Yuen
Long Town Nullah, construction site surface runoff, sewage from site workforce
and temporary structure within the nullah. With the full implementation of the
recommended mitigation measures, such as construction of cofferdam for
isolation of work sites and phased implementation of construction works,
covering excavated materials and providing sedimentation tanks on-site etc., no
adverse water quality impact is anticipated.
14.4.2
Operational
Phase
14.4.2.1
During the operational phase, the potential water quality impact is
mainly surface runoff from the elevated pedestrian corridor and permanent
structure of the proposed elevated pedestrian corridor within the nullah. With
the proper installation of drainage system and recommended mitigation measures,
no adverse water quality impact is anticipated.
14.5.1.1
During construction phase, the demolition of existing retaining wall
of the nullah and construction works regarding the elevated pedestrian corridor
and its supporting features will result in C&D wastes which need proper
management to prevent waste implication to the environment. It is estimated
that a total of 15,330m3 inert soft C&D materials, 3,040m3
AHM, and 5,120m3 rocks will be generated during construction phase.
Whilst approximately 3,785m3 inert soft C&D materials can be
reused on-site as backfill material. The remaining C&D materials, including
inert C&D soft materials, AHM and rocks will be delivered to public fill
reception facilities for future reuse in other infrastructural projects. 5,870m3
non-inert C&D materials is estimated to be generated from the Project. The
materials will be delivered to landfills for disposal. In addition, it is
estimated that less than 100m3 Cat. L land-based sediment
would be generated from the construction works. The sediment is proposed for
Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal, and application for dumping at designated sediment
disposal area should be made in accordance with DASO. General refuse, sewage
and chemical wastes will be also generated during construction phase, no
residual impact is anticipated with the implementation of the waste management
plan and recommended mitigation measures.
14.5.1.2
A Waste Management Plan should be prepared and implemented by the
contractor to ensure proper management of the collection, sorting, storage,
transportation and disposal of waste generated from the construction phase of
the Project. With proper implementation of mitigation measures, including good site
practices, waste reduction measures, proper containment and disposal of various
types of wastes, no residual impact is anticipated during construction
phase.
14.5.2
Operational
Phase
14.5.2.1
During operational phase, the major source of waste will be the general
refuse generated by the future users of the elevated pedestrian corridor. Adequate refuse
collection bins and recycling bins should be provided on the elevated
pedestrian corridor and reputable refuse collector should be employed to
collect and dispose the waste regularly. No residual impact is anticipated
during operational phase.
14.6.1.1
Upon review of historical aerial photo and site
reconnaissance, it was observed that the Project Area has been a channelized
watercourse lined with concrete and concrete-paved pedestrian footpath for more
than 20 years. No soil contamination is anticipated in the Project Area.
14.7.1
Construction Phase
14.7.1.1
The Project is located over the major channelized
watercourse, Yuen Long Town Nullah, in the highly urbanised and populated area
in Yuen Long. No habitat or species of conservation importance is identified
within the Project Area. Due to the highly developed and disturbed status, the
ecological value of the Project Area and within 500 m Assessment Area is
considered low. However, the major construction works would take place in the nullah.
The nullah is connected to Shan Pui River, which is hydrologically linked to
the ecological sensitive area further downstream, including various habitats in
the Wetland Buffer Area and Wetland Conservation Area. Therefore, mitigation
measures during construction phase should be strictly followed to prevent
deterioration of the water quality of the nullah, which may lead to adverse
impact to the ecological sensitive areas downstream. With proper implementation
of mitigation measures, the generation of pollutants and their release to the nullah
would be minimised and no significant adverse residual impact is anticipated.
14.7.2
Operational
Phase
14.7.2.1
The
Project is an elevated pedestrian corridor in the highly urbanized Yuen Long
district. As the area is already highly developed and disturbed, and there is
no ecological sensitive habitat or species in the vicinity, no adverse
ecological impact is anticipated during operational phase.
14.8.1.1
It is considered that the
proposed footbridge and the pedestrian interchanges follow in principle the
planning intentions from the Draft Yuen Long Outline Zoning Plan
(No.S/YL/22) and Ping Shan Outline Zoning Plan (No.S/YL-PS/16). However, the concept of the
proposed footbridge and pedestrian interchanges has been considered to a
minimum impact. Enhanced connectivity to the public transportation and open
space network from On Ning Road to Kau Yuk Road do reinforce the planning
intentions of Yuen Long Urban Area.
14.8.1.2
There are approximately 38 trees
will be affected by the construction of the proposed footbridge and pedestrian
interchanges located in Yuen Long On Ning Road, Castle Peak Road – Yuen Long,
and Kau Yuk Road, out of which 1 tree are
proposed to be transplanted and 37 trees are proposed to be felled.
None of these affected trees are LCSD Champion Trees nor Registered Old and Valuable
Trees. There are no rare species or endangered species but common species will
be affected.
14.8.1.3
With the implementation of the
mitigation measures, residual impacts at day 1 of operation are considered to
be slightly beneficial for the LR1, LR5, LR6, LR7, LR8, and LR9. These
beneficial impacts are mainly due to the streetscape elements, namely, paving
enhancement along both side of the Yuen Long Town Nullah. LR10, LCA2 and LCA5
will still have slight landscape impact due to the proposed interchange platform
will permanently cover some portion of the nullah.
14.8.1.4
The Travellers T2, T3 T4 and REC1 are
considered to be insubstantial after the implementation of mitigation measures.
These are the viewers along Yuen Long On Ning Road (T2), Castle Peak Road –
Yuen Long (T3), and Kau Yuk Road (T4). The visual impacts will be reduced due
to the enhanced streetscape along both side of the nullah.
14.8.1.5
The proposed footbridge structure will
unavoidably cause some visual impact to the residential VSRs along both sides
of the Yuen Long nullah. It is considered that the proposed new trees and
existing trees can provide green buffer between those VSRs and the footbridge,
therefore, the visual impact can be reduced to slight to moderate after
implementation of mitigation measures.
14.8.1.6
Despite that the footbridge
structure will unavoidably cause visual obstruction to the existing visual
corridor and visual impact to the travellers/leisure space users along the
crossings of Yuen Long Nullah (REC2), by taken account into the overall visual
impact to all VSRs are mostly slight to insubstantial, and the functional
requirement of the project, the works is considered as marginally
acceptable in visual point of view.
14.8.1.7
Overall, the landscape impact of the
project are considered to be acceptable with mitigation measures and visual
impact of the project is considered to be marginally acceptable with mitigation
measures.
14.9.1
Built Heritage
14.9.1.1
Two built heritage resources, the Entrance
Tower of Tai Kiu Tsuen (Proposed Grade 3 Historic Building) and No. 21 Tai Kiu
Tsuen (Nil Graded Historic Building), were identified close to and within the
100m assessment area respectively. Besides these historic buildings, no
heritage resources with significant value were identified.
14.9.1.2
During the construction phase, no direct impact is
anticipated as the construction work will be confined within the nullah and
footpath along the nullah. Indirect impact, such as ground borne vibration and
visual impact, is considered minimal and acceptable due to there will be at
least 90m buffer distance between the historic buildings and the work area of
the Project.
14.9.1.3
During the operational phase, entrance tower
of Tai Kiu Tsuen (Proposed Grade 3 Historic Building) will be preserved under
the approval conditions of the application of proposed comprehensive commercial
/ residential development at Tai Kiu Tsuen (A/YL/136-1). Since both identified
built heritage resources will be surrounding by the existing buildings and future comprehensive
commercial / residential development, potential visual impact of the Project is
considered minimal
and acceptable as there will be no direct view from the identified heritage
resources to the Project under both current and future conditions.
14.9.2
Archaeology
14.9.2.1
No site of archaeological interest,
government historical site and area of significant archaeological potential
were identified within the 100 m assessment area. As the work area of the
Project will be confined within the Yuen Long Nullah and footpath along the nullah.
No potential archaeological impact is anticipated and no archaeological survey
is considered necessary for the Project.
14.10
Environmental Monitoring and Audit
Requirements
14.10.1.1
It is recommended to implement an EM&A
programme throughout the entire construction period to monitor the
environmental impacts on the neighbouring sensitive receivers regularly. An
EM&A Manual was prepared to specify the monitoring requirements for the
implementation of the environmental mitigation measures identified in the EIA
process. All the requirements specified in the EM&A Manual shall be
complied with.
14.10.1.2
An Environmental Mitigation Implementation
Schedule has also been included in the EM&A Manual to summarise all the
measures, the locations of implementation, timeframe, agency, etc.
14.11.1.1
In conclusion, with the full implementation
of the recommended mitigation measures such as installation of drainage system,
provision of adequate refuse collection / recycling bins and employ of
reputable refuse collection, no adverse environmental impact is anticipated at
the operational stage. During construction stage, the short term impacts could
be controlled to compile with environmental legislation and standards through
implementation of purposed built equipment and standard mitigation measures,
such as watering during excavation of dusty material, washing vehicles to
remove dusty materials from its body and wheels before leaving the construction
site, use of quiet plants and temporary noise barrier and use of cofferdams. Enhancement
of the streetscape elements would also create a beneficial impact. Through improvement
in the pedestrian connectivity in the vicinity of the Project, convenience to
both the pedestrians and local community could be achieved.