Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499)
(ACE-EIA Paper 8/2001)
for advice
Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Application No. EIA-058/2001
Wan Chai Development Phase II
Purpose
1. This paper presents the key findings and recommendations of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Wan Chai Development Phase II (WDII) submitted under Section 6 (2) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) as application no. EIA-058/2001. A presentation will be made by the Territory Development Department (TDD) and their consultants. Comments from the public and the ACE will be taken into account by the Director of Environmental Protection when he makes the decision on the approval of the EIA report under the EIAO.
Advice Sought
2. Members' views are sought on the findings and recommendations of the EIA report.
Need for the Project
3. According to the EIA report, the WDII is to provide land for key transport infrastructure to include the Central Wanchai Bypass & Island Eastern Corridor Link (CWB & IECL), the proposed North Hong Kong Island Line (NIL) and the proposed fourth rail harbour crossing section of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL).
Description of Designated Project
4. The WDII study is a designated project (DP) as defined under Section 1, Schedule 3 of the EIAO , i.e. an engineering feasibility study of an urban development project with a study area covering more than 20 ha.
5. The following 5 individual DPs under Schedule 2, Part 1 of the EIAO have been identified and assessed in the WDII EIA. They will require environmental permits for their construction and operation, and their locations are shown in Figure 1.
Designated Projects under Schedule 2 of the EIAO being assessed in WDII EIA
| Designated Projects | EIAO Ref. # |
|---|---|
| Reclamation of about 28.5ha in size using marine sand fill and public filling material. | Schedule 2, Part I, C.1 |
| WDII Major Roads (approximately 1 km of Primary Distributor and 1.9 km of District Distributor) | Schedule 2, Part I, A.1 |
| Kellett Island Marina | Schedule 2, Part I, O.2 |
| Cross-harbour Water Mains from Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui | Schedule 2, Part I, C.12 |
| Wan Chai East Sewage Outfall | Schedule 2, Part I, F.5 and F.6 |
6. The EIA for the proposed NIL and the proposed SCL will be carried out separately. The EIA for CWB&IECL has been completed and was submitted for approval under the EIAO.
Interrelationship between the WDII, Central Reclamation Phase III (CRIII) and CWB&IECL Projects
7. The WDII and the Central Reclamation Phase III (CRIII) are contiguous reclamations providing land for the CWB&IECL, amongst other transport infrastructure. The general layout of these 3 projects is shown in Figure 2. The EIA report for WDII was submitted together with those for CRIII and CWB&IECL. In so doing, the overall cumulative environmental impacts due to programme overlaps can be addressed and presented in a holistic manner.
Specific Environmental Aspects to Highlight
8. The major environmental issues identified for this project are : water quality, air quality, noise and mud disposal.
Water Quality
9. During construction, the cumulative water quality impacts on the seawater intakes would be effectively minimized by implementing the recommended mitigation measures including :
- silt curtains around the dredging operations;
- silt screens at seawater intakes; and
- bulk filling behind constructed seawalls.
The maximum surface suspended solid levels at the seawater intakes will be less than 30mg/L, after mitigation, and no adverse water quality impacts are anticipated.
10. Upon completion of the WDII reclamation, surface flow patterns at the boundary of the reclamation will be close to the original prior to reclamation. The change in mean flow discharge across the Victoria Harbour due to the new coastline configuration will be reduced by approximately 0.5%.
Air Quality
11. With the implementation of mitigation measures including watering and provision of wheel washing facilities during construction, the cumulative dust impact at all air sensitive receivers (ASRs) will be mitigated to within the EIAO-TM criteria. The predicted 1-hour and 24-hour TSP levels, after mitigation, at the worst affected ASR - Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) Extension, are 394mg/m3 and 251mg/m3 respectively which are within the respective limits of 500mg/m3 and 260mg/m3.
12. Vehicular emissions from open roads, tunnel portal & ventilation buildings emissions from CWB, tunnel portal emissions from the Cross Harbour Tunnel and portal emissions from existing underpasses and planned deckovers, have been modelled and assessed. The predicted 24-hour average NO2 concentration is expected to be the highest at the planned hotel site close to the existing Cross Harbour Tunnel, where the NO2 level will just comply with the AQO criteria of 150 mg/m3 at 1.5m above ground. However, as the planned hotel is expected to be centrally air-conditioned, no adverse air quality impact is anticipated if the fresh air intakes are properly positioned.
Noise
13. With the use of silenced construction equipment and movable noise barriers, the cumulative noise impact at nearby noise sensitive receivers (NSRs) during construction will be mitigated to within the EIAO-TM criteria except at the Arts Centre and HKCEC Extension where exceedances range from 4 to 7 dB(A). However, as these NSRs are equipped with central air-conditioning system and noise insulation facilities, adverse noise impacts are not anticipated inside these NSRs.
14. The traffic noise contributed by the major roads under WDII project to the overall noise level is less than 1 dB(A) and negligible. Therefore, no adverse traffic noise impacts are expected and no direct mitigation measures on these roads are required.
15. Noise assessment has also been undertaken for the re-provisioned helipad and the fixed noise sources from the proposed CWB ventilation buildings. No adverse impacts are anticipated at the existing and planned NSRs.
Mud Disposal
16. Marine mud dredging of the project will be confined to the areas for seawalls, culvert foundations and diaphragm walls for the trunk road. The total volume of dredged marine mud is estimated to be 0.99 Mm3 of which some 0.6 Mm3 are contaminated and would require confined disposal in accordance with the relevant Works Bureau Technical Circulars.
Environmental Monitoring and Audit
17. A framework for EM&A has been put forward in the EM&A Manual submitted in the EIA. The EM&A requirements will be enforced as Environmental Permit conditions.
Public Consultation
18. TDD has made the EIA Report, EM&A Manual and executive summary available for the public to comment under the EIAO on 17 July 2001. Members will be briefed about any comments received from the public at the meeting.
Environmental Assessment and Noise Division
Environmental Protection Department
July 2001
