Report

13 Summary of Environmental Outcomes

13.1.1.1 This section summarises the overall environmental outcomes due to the construction and operation of Tung Ping Chau (TPC) Public Pier in accordance with Section 3.6.1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief No.: ESB-306/2017. It can be seen in Section 1 and Section 2 that environmental considerations have been the key considerations throughout the development of the Project. Alternative options for designs and construction methodologies have been duly considered. Besides, all the options considered have ensured that environmental impacts could be avoided or minimised where practicable and mitigated by implementation of suitable mitigation measures to fulfil all the statutory requirements. The technical assessments conducted (Section 3 to Section 11) have demonstrated that all the statutory requirements in the EIA Study Brief (ESB-306/2017) and Technical Memorandum of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (TM-EIAO) have been compiled with.

13.1.1.2 The following sections summarise the approaches that have been adopted to either avoid or minimise various environmental impacts throughout the design process, and the associated environmental enhancements.

13.2 Environmentally Friendly Options Considered and Incorporated to Avoid Environmental Impact

13.2.1.1 Avoidance of environmental impacts has been one of the key considerations throughout the entire project development and design. The environmental impacts that have been avoided are listed and discussed below:

· Avoidance of open sea dredging works; and

· Avoidance of wastewater / effluent discharge during both construction and operational phases; and

· Avoidance of works in Country Park and Site of Special Scientific Region.

13.2.2 Avoidance of Open Sea Dredging Works

13.2.2.1 As discussed in Section 8, the Project is located within the Tung Ping Chau Marine Park where there are abundance of corals. The ecological surveys conducted have concluded that the ecological value of the coral habitat is High (see Section 8.4.6 for the ecological evaluation). Hard coral communities are sensitive to suspended solids that may be generated during the construction phase of the Project.

13.2.2.2 In order to avoid any adverse water quality impacts and hence ecological impacts associated with the Project which are also within the Tung Ping Chau Marine Park, the layout has been very mindful on the configuration and design of the pier. According to the latest design layout, open sea dredging works would be totally avoided during the construction phase. By avoiding open sea dredging works, any adverse water quality impacts and hence impacts on marine ecological resources during the construction phase would be minimised as much as practicable.

13.2.3 Avoidance of Wastewater / Effluent Discharge During both Construction and Operational Phases

13.2.3.1 Given that the Project is within the Tung Ping Chau Marine Park which is a Water Sensitive Receiver (see Section 5.3), it is important to implement all practicable measures to avoid any discharge of waste water / effluent discharge into Tung Ping Chau Marine Park during both the construction and operational phases.

13.2.3.2 During the construction phase, the potential impacts that would be generated by the construction team has been assessed in detail (see Section 5.4.2). The Contractor will be prohibited to discharge any wastewater and effluent into the Tung Ping Chau Marine Park. Any wastewater and effluent that would be generated during the construction activities would be transported away for proper treatment and disposal.

13.2.3.3 During the operational phase, the Project has been designed to avoid any need for using detergents/chemicals during routine maintenance (see Section 5.5). This would therefore avoid any potential water quality impacts on the Tung Ping Chau Marine Park.

13.2.4 Avoidance of Works in Country Park and Site of Special Scientific Interest

13.2.4.1 As discussed in Section 1.2, Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park is located at approximately 70m from the existing pier. The habitat between the Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park and the existing pier is the footpath and the intertidal shore which have ecological values of Low to Moderate. The works will not encroach upon the Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park as illustrated in Figure 1.1. Direct impacts on the natural resources in Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park can be avoided.

13.2.4.2 In addition, Ping Chau is also famous for its distinctive, attractive and unique geological features, physical landforms and has been designated as the Ping Chau Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Project also avoids any works to be undertaken within the Ping Chau SSSI to protect the special geological features of the island.

13.3 Environmental Designs Recommended to Minimise and Mitigate Environmental Impacts

13.3.1.1 Other than initiatives to avoid environmental impacts as summarised in Section 13.2, efforts have been exercised to minimise those inevitable impacts. The need for any environmental designs required to mitigate the associated impacts have also been identified and will be implemented as appropriate. A summary of these approaches is given below.

· Minimisation of impacts on corals;

· Minimisation of hydrodynamic changes;

· Minimisation of waste generation during construction phase; and

· Minimisation of construction vessels during construction phase.

13.3.2 Minimisation of Impacts on Corals

13.3.2.1 The ecological baseline survey as detailed in Section 8.4 has confirmed the abundance of corals within and in the vicinity of the Project. The ecological value of the coral communities has been ranked as High. In order to minimise the impacts on coral, the design of the Project has adopted the option with lower impacts to corals colonies by minimizing the number of coral colonies within the footprint, reducing from 148 colonies to 80 colonies. By adopting concrete decks on top supported by piled foundation, this would largely reduce the seabed disturbance and hence the direct and indirect impacts on corals.

13.3.3 Minimisation of Hydrodynamic Changes

13.3.3.1 The Project is located at the eastern coast area of TPC facing towards Ping Chau Hoi. In the Ping Chau Hoi area, the deepest seabed level is approximately -9mPD which has a water depth of about 9.5m at the mean lower low water (MLLW).

13.3.3.2 The existing pier comprises a solid pier head, a catwalk supported by piles and a rubble causeway. In order to minimise any additional impacts caused by the proposed pier improvement works, the structure of the proposed pier would adopt concrete decks on top supported by piled foundation. The diameter of the foundation would be approximately 0.8m to 1m and the pile spacing is approximately 5m to 8m. Such a configuration is typical for other similar piers improvement works in Hong Kong, for instance, the Reconstruction of the Sharp Island Pier.

13.3.3.3 Due to small footprint of the new supportive piles, changes in the flow regime and hydrodynamic in Ping Chau Hoi are limited. The proposed pier improvement works have minimised any impacts on hydrodynamics as much as practicable. Details are provided in Section 5.5.

13.3.4 Minimisation of Waste Generation During Construction Phase

13.3.4.1 The pier improvement works for TPC Public Pier endeavour to minimise the waste generation in relation to integrate the structures of the existing pier to the new pier structures. It therefore minimises the generation of over 600 m³ construction and demolition (C&D) materials disposed of to the landfills/public fill banks if the whole pier head was demolished and reconstructed.

13.3.4.2 The Project will not involve any works on land and avoids tree felling during the construction of pier. Hence, it minimises vessel trips required for the delivery of C&D materials and waste from the remoted Project site to the disposal sites. As such, disturbance from the marine vessels to the marine park can be minimised.

13.3.4.3 Section 6.3 has assessed all the practicable approaches to minimise the waste generation during the construction phase. Among the approaches adopted, the most effective approach is to adopt pre-cast elements as much as practicable. By adopting this approach, most of the elements for the deck would be pre-cast off-site and then transported to the site for final assembly.

13.3.5 Minimisation of Construction Vessels During Construction Phase

13.3.5.1 As open sea marine dredging would be avoided and pre-cast elements would be adopted as much as practicable, the number of construction vessels during the construction phase would also be minimised. Since the Project is located within the Tung Ping Chau Marine Park, it is inevitable that the construction vessels will travel within the marine park. Hence, by minimising the number of construction vessels required, any indirect impacts caused by those vessels on the marine park would also be minimised as well. Nevertheless, appropriate good practices would be adopted by the Contractor to operate the construction vessels.

13.4 Summary of Key Environmental Problems Avoided and Sensitive Areas Protected

13.4.1.1 Section 13.2 and Section 13.3 have summarised the key approaches adopted in the current proposed layout to avoid, minimise and mitigate environmental impacts. Some of these approaches have contributed to avoid a number of environmental issues and to protect a number of environmentally sensitive areas. Table 13.1 presents the key environmental problems that have been avoided and any sensitive areas protected by these approaches.

Table 13.1 Key Environmental Problems Avoided and Sensitive Areas Protected

Design Approach	Key Environmental Problems Avoided, Sensitive Areas Protected & Environmental Outcomes Achieved
Avoidance of open sea dredging works	· Adverse impact on water quality and ecology would be avoided.
Avoidance of wastewater / effluent discharge during both construction and operational phases	· Adverse impacts on water quality would be avoided.
Avoidance of works in country park and site of special scientific interest	· Adverse impacts on natural resources would be avoided.
Minimisation of impacts on corals	· Adverse impacts on ecology would be minimised.
Minimisation of hydrodynamic changes	· Adverse impacts on water quality would be minimised.
Minimisation of waste generation during construction phase	· Generation of waste during construction phase would be minimised.
Minimisation of construction vessels during construction phase	· Adverse impacts on air quality and noise would be minimised.

13.5 Estimated Population Protected from Various Environmental Impacts

13.5.1.1 The Project has been carefully designed to protect the populations from various environmental impacts. The protected populations include the following:

· Existing air sensitive receivers at Tai Tong, Lei Uk, Chan Uk, Sha Tau and Lam Uk would be protected from air quality impact assessment by the implementation of good site practices during construction phase of the Project; and

· Existing noise sensitive receivers at Tai Tong would be protected from noise impact assessment by the implementation of good site practices during construction phase of the Project.

13.6 Environmental Benefits of Environmental Protection Measures Recommended

13.6.1.1 In addition, mitigation measures/good site practices have been recommended to further reduce the environmental impacts due to construction and operation of the Project. Key recommended mitigation measures/good site practices and their associated benefits are summarised in Table 13.2 below.

Table 13.2 Key Recommended Mitigation Measures/Good Site Practices and their Associated Benefits

Aspect	Key recommended mitigation measures/good site practices/enhancement measures	Associated Benefits
Air Quality	· Routing of barges should be as far away from the identified Air Sensitive Receivers (ASRs) as practicable. · The number of boat trips should be minimised as far as practicable by appropriate planning.	· Protect air sensitive receivers by reducing fugitive dust emission
Noise	· Use of Quality Powered Mechanical Equipment (QPME). · Use of temporary noise barriers to screen noise from relatively static Powered Mechanical Equipment (PME). · Alternative use of plant items within one worksite, wherever practicable.	· Protect noise sensitive receivers by reducing construction noise impact
Water Quality	· Water quality monitoring. · Adoption of good site practices for foundation works, such as adopting double casing system, to avoid and minimize the release of suspended solids. · Excavation should only be conducted inside pile casing. Only one closed grab should be used at the same time. · Only 1-2 piles to be constructed at the same time. · Prefabrication construction method should be adopted as far as practicable. · Contractor to prepare Emergency Spillage Plan for accidental spillage of chemicals.	· Protect the neighbouring water sensitive receivers in particular coral communities
Waste Management	· Good waste management and control practices to avoid generation of excessive amount of waste materials. · Employ waste collectors for disposal of general refuse to prevent potential nuisance caused by mistreating general refuse, such as windblown, vermin, water pollution and visual impact.	· Minimise waste generation · Ensure proper handling of chemical waste
Land Contamination	· No mitigation measures would be required.	· No land contamination anticipated
Ecology	· A coral translocation programme comprising a pre-translocation coral survey, coral translocation and post-translocation coral monitoring will be implemented to minimise the number of corals being encroached or impacted by reduction of sunlight. · Conduct diver survey when placing legs of jack-up barge or concrete mooring sinkers. · Set up marker buoys to restrict construction vessels in the marked areas. · No overlap of new location of the construction vessels with its original location to allow more light penetration for corals. · Priority using eco-tiles or eco-concrete for the surface of the foundation to promote seamless integration of biodiversity into the pier design	· Translocate the coral colonies under the proposed pier footprint · Minimise the impact to coral in proximity to the Project · Enhance biodiversity of the site
Landscape and Visual	· Sensitive design and disposition of the pier structures to minimise visual intrusion to VSRs as far as practicable.	· Enhance the visual appearance for the operational phase
Fisheries	· Adoption of good site practices for water quality in marine works to ensure no adverse fisheries impact would be anticipated.	· Protect fisheries resources
Cultural Heritage	· No mitigation measures would be required. As a precautionary measure, Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) should be informed in case of discovery of antiquities or supposed antiquities in the course of marine works.	· No impact of cultural heritage anticipated

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