7                    Visual Impact

7.1                 Introduction

7.1.1.1           This section evaluates the visual impact assessment (VIA) associated with the construction and operational phases of the Proposed Helipad at the New Block at Queen Mary Hospital (QMH).  The key concern is the visual impact from lighting during night operation of the Project.  The assessment area covers all possible viewpoints to the Project, which are defined as the visual envelop (VE) within the study area.

7.2                 Relevant legislation, standards and guidelines

7.2.1.1           The local legislation and related guidance applicable to visual impact assessment include:

·         Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499);

·         Annex 10 and Annex 18 of the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process (TM-EIAO); and

·         EIAO Guidance Note No. 8/2002 on Preparation of Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance.

7.3                 Description of the Environment

7.3.1                Surrounding Environment

7.3.1.1           The major land uses in the vicinity of the Project are composed of “Country Park”, “Green Belt”, “Residential” and “Government, Institution or Community” zone.  To its north-north-west to south-south-east, those areas are covered by High West and Pok Fu Lam Country Park.  To its south, they are the buildings of Queen Mary Hospital and there are some residential developments to its outer south.  To its southwest across the Pok Fu Lam Road, they are some student dormitories of The University of Hong Kong.  To its west across Pok Fu Lam Road and slopes, they are some residential developments at lower elevation.

7.3.2                Baseline Survey

7.3.2.1           A night time survey has been conducted in May 2015.  As observed, the existing lights are mostly from streets/ roads, footbridges and Queen Mary Hospital and student dormitories of The University of Hong Kong.  Figure 7.1 illustrates the existing environment during night time.

7.3.3                Identification of existing / planned Visual Sensitive Receivers (VSRs)

7.3.3.1           The VE could cover up to Shek Tong Tsui Area (e.g. The Belcher’s) to the north of the proposed Project while to the south, VE could extend up to Wah Fu Area (e.g. Wah Fu Estate).

7.3.3.2           The helipad will be constructed at an elevation of 299.4mPD, such the worst-affected receivers shall be at relatively higher position.  The worst-affected receivers of all possible viewpoints to the Project was identified on the basis of their altitude, which include

·         VSR1 is a residential development of Royalton, which is located to the south of the Project and its building height is 216.5mPD as the highest residential development ;

·         VSR2 is hiking trial, which is located to the northeast of the Project with an elevation of 271mPD.

7.3.3.3           Figure 7.2 illustrates the location of the aforementioned visual sensitive receivers for the Project.

7.4                 Operation Stage

7.4.1                Mode of Operation

7.4.1.1           There will be no high mass lighting and floodlight to be installed in the Project.  Only two kinds of lighting will be switched on during night time operation, including one landing light of helicopter and perimeter lighting system on helipad.  The landing light is focus light which will point to the target (i.e. the helipad) directly.  The perimeter lighting is inset light which will be embedded on helipad and emit upward.  Those lights aim to help the pilot to locate the helipad for safely landing and take-off at night time.  Details of the lighting operation are as follow:

·         Landing lights: to illuminate the helipad only during approaching and departure.  The overall operation of landing lights takes 2 minutes approximately;

·         Perimeter lights: to be switched on from approach mode to take-off mode (leaving the helipad).  The overall operation takes 7 minutes approximately.

7.4.1.2           In addition, the frequency of helicopter landings shall be less than once per day. 

7.4.2                Impact

7.4.2.1           Considering its altitude relationship between the lighting on the helipad and the identified VSRs, the VSRs are at a lower position than the helipad.  Meanwhile the perimeter lights will be inset into the helipad emitting upward.  Apparently the perimeter lights cannot be seen directly at those VSRs as the helipad is at the highest altitude comparing to the VSRs, such there will be no direct line of sight from the VSRs to the perimeter lights.  It is anticipated that no uncomfortable eye feeling will be caused by the perimeter lights on the Proposed Helipad during night time operation.  Figure 7.3 illustrates a section drawing showing the relationship between the helipad and VSR and photos of perimeter lights at Wan Chai (where the design will be very similar to the Proposed Helipad according to international standard of ICAO Annex 14 Volume II Heliports and GFS Helicopter Landing Site Specification Guidelines and) during night time operation.

7.4.2.2           For the landing light of the helicopter, it will be switched on to illuminate the helipad only during approaching and departure, and the overall operation takes 2 minutes approximately.  

7.4.2.3           Considering the frequency of helicopter landings is less than once per day, which impact is limited.  In addition, GFS expressed that so far there is no complaint on the lighting of Wan Chai Heliport.

Table  7.1      Summary of the Visual Impact

Lighting

Impact

Perimeter Lights

Approach to take-off mode: No direct line from VSRs, hence no uncomfortable eye feeling caused.

Landing Lights

Landing lights will be switched on to illuminate the helipad only during approaching and departure.  The overall operation of landing lights takes 2 minutes approximately.

7.4.3                Mitigation Measures

7.4.3.1           Good practice to minimise the light nuisance from the night time operation of helipad includes:

·         no high mass lighting and floodlight will be used;

·         landing lights of the helicopter should be switched on during approaching and departure only;

·         focus landing lights will be used and only illuminate the helipad ;

·         perimeter lights on helipad will be switched on from approach mode to take-off mode of the helicopter only; and

·         perimeter lights will be inset into the helipad emitting upward.

7.4.4                Residual Impacts

No adverse residual Impacts are anticipated during night time operation.

7.5                 Conclusion

7.5.1.1           No high mass lighting and floodlight will be installed for the Project.  In summary, there are only two lights to be switched on during night time operation, including landing light of helicopter and perimeter lights on the helipad.  Nevertheless the operation time of those lights is short and infrequent, else mostly the lights will be completely screened off by the helipad itself.  Moreover the helipad is at the highest altitude, there is no direct line of sight from the VSRs to the lights.  Adverse visual impact from lights during night time operation of the Project is not anticipated.