13
CONCLUSION
13.1
Introduction
13.1.1
This EIA Report has provided an assessment of the
potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation
of the WDII development, with the consideration of the potential cumulative impact
from the CRIII and the CWB & IECL projects.
The key environmental outcomes arising from this EIA are:
·
the existing air sensitive
receivers from Central to Causeway Bay will be protected from adverse construction air quality impact by the
recommended dust control measures (Section 3.8.1) during construction phase;
·
as no adverse operational
air quality impacts at the existing and planned air sensitive receivers from
Central to Causeway Bay are predicted, mitigation measures are not considered necessary;
·
the existing residential
noise sensitive receivers from Central to Causeway Bay, including Causeway Centre, Gloucester Road 169 - 170, Elizabeth
House, Riviera Mansion, Mayson Garden, Belle House and Victoria Centre will be
protected from adverse construction noise impact by the adoption of quiet
powered mechanical equipment (PME) (Section 4.8) during construction phase;
·
as no adverse road traffic
noise impacts at the existing noise sensitive receivers from Central to
Causeway Bay are attributed to the ‘New’ roads, direct mitigation measures are
not necessary;
·
adverse water quality impact
at the seawater intakes along the Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay waterfront
is predicted during marine works.
Mitigation measures, including reduction in dredging rates and
implementation of silt curtains and installation of silt screens are considered
necessary to alleviate the impact; and
·
the WDII reclamation will
only result in minimal change in flow regime.
13.1.2
The Implementation Schedules of the recommendations
are presented in Section 14. The
principal findings of this Report are summarised below.
13.2
Air Quality Impact
13.2.1
During reclamation, filling and surcharging were
identified as the major dust sources.
Entrusted work of the CWB tunnel section would also cause potential dust
nuisance during excavation and backfilling.
Due to the complexity of the activities, ten worst case scenarios of the
construction schedules were identified and modelled using the FDM model.
13.2.2
Exceedances occur at the ASRs in the vicinity during
construction. In order to achieve the
Air Quality Objectives, the following mitigation measures for all WDII works
including entrustment works from HyD are recommended:
·
strictly limit the truck
speed on site to below 10 km per hour and water spraying to keep the haul roads
in wet condition;
·
twice daily watering of the
work site with active operations when the weather and the work site are dry;
·
watering during excavation
and material handling;
·
provision of vehicle wheel
and body washing facilities at the exit points of the site, combined with
cleaning of public roads where necessary; and
·
tarpaulin covering of all
dusty vehicle loads transported to, from and between site locations.
Operational Phase
13.2.4
The dispersions of NO2, RSP and CO,
arising from the background pollutant levels within and adjacent to the WDII,
vehicle emissions from open road networks, tunnel portal and ventilation
building emissions from the CWB & IECL, tunnel portal emissions from the
CHT, and portal emissions from existing underpasses and planned deckovers, were
modelled using the CALINE4 and ISCST3 models.
13.2.5
Results show that the predicted air quality at the
ASRs will comply with the AQOs. No mitigation measures are proposed.
13.3
Noise Impact
Construction Phase
13.3.1 This assessment has predicted the WDII construction noise impacts during
normal daytime, taking into account other concurrent projects including the
CRIII and CWB & IECL projects and the Causeway Bay Flyover project. With the use of silenced equipment and
movable barriers for WDII construction tasks and implementation of the noise
mitigation measures proposed in the CRIII and CWB & IECL EIA Reports, the
noise levels at most of the representative NSRs would comply with the
construction noise criteria. Noise
exceedences are still predicted at performing art centres. However, these NSRs are equipped with central
air-conditioning systems and good noise insulation facilities. In addition, they do not rely on openable
windows for ventilation. No adverse
noise impacts are therefore expected at the indoor environment of these NSRs.
13.3.2 The proposed
cross harbour water mains will extend from Wan Chai near the HKCEC Extension to
connect to the existing system near the Museum of Arts at the Tsim Sha Tsui
promenade. Insignificant construction noise
impacts are expected on the indoor environment of the NSRs such as the Hong
Kong Space Museum and the Museum of Arts, which are close to the construction
site at Tsim Sha Tsui, as they have blank facades / fixed windows and are
provided with central air conditioning, and therefore do not rely on openable
windows for ventilation.
13.3.3 An indicative assessment has been undertaken for possible construction
activities during restricted hours (1900 to 2300) associated with the
reclamation works of the Project. With
the reduction of plant numbers, adoption of quiet plant and reduction of
on-time percentage for some equipment, the predicted noise levels at all
representative residential NSRs would comply with construction noise criterion
of 65 dB(A). Noise exceedences of the 65
dB(A) criterion at HKCEC are still predicted at certain period, for plant working
close to the HKCEC Extension. It should be noted that the results of the
construction noise impact assessment for restricted hours (1900 to 2300) are
for indicative purposes; the Noise Control Authority will process any CNP
application, based on the NCO and the relevant technical memoranda in addition
to considering the contemporary situations / conditions.
13.3.4
A construction noise EM&A
is recommended to check the compliance of the noise criteria during normal
daytime working hours.
Operational Phase
13.3.5
The potential road traffic noise impacts have been
assessed based on the worst case traffic flows in 2027, taking into
consideration of the recommended mitigation measures on the IECL according to
the CWB & IECL EIA Report. The noise
levels at most of the NSRs are predicted to exceed the EIAO-TM traffic noise
criteria. However, these noise
exceedences are mainly attributed to the existing roads and the IECL. The ‘New’ road noise contributions to the
overall noise level are negligible (that is, less than 1.0 dB(A)).
13.3.6
In addition, some NSRs such as the Art Centre and
HKCEC Extension are equipped with central air-conditioning systems and noise
insulation facilities, and they do not rely on openable windows for
ventilation. Therefore, adverse traffic
noise impacts are not expected at the indoor environment of these NSRs.
13.3.7
No adverse impacts from helicopter noise and fixed
noise sources including ventilation shaft noise from the CWB ventilation
buildings are anticipated at the existing and planned NSRs.
13.4
Hydrodynamics, Water and Sediment Quality Impacts
Construction Phase
13.4.1 The water quality
impact during the reclamation of WDII has been quantitatively assessed using
the Delft3D Model. Suspended sediment is
identified as the most significant water quality parameter during the
reclamation. The worst-case scenarios
during reclamation have been assessed and it is predicted that potential water
quality impacts would occur along waters at Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay
Typhoon Shelter. The water quality
impacts upon the seawater intakes could be effectively minimised with the
implementation of the proposed mitigation measures. There will be no residual water quality
impact due to the WDII reclamation works alone.
An environmental monitoring and audit programme is required to ensure
the effectiveness of the proposed water quality mitigation measures.
13.4.2 Water quality
impacts from land-based construction, including road works, waterfront
facilities and public utilities, are associated with the surface runoff,
effluent discharge from the site, and sewage from on-site construction
workers. Impacts can be controlled to
comply with the WPCO standards by implementing the recommended mitigation
measures. No unacceptable residual
impacts on water quality are anticipated.
Operational
Phase
13.4.3 An assessment of
the hydrodynamic impact due to the WDII has been made using the Delft3D
model. With this quantitative modelling
tool, impacts have been assessed for the dry and wet seasons over a spring-neap
tidal cycle. For both seasons, the
baseline and operation simulations have been compared. It is concluded that:
·
The wet season ebb tide flow speeds in Victoria Harbour are higher than
that in the dry season. For the flood
tide simulations, the flow speeds are more comparable between the two seasons.
·
The flow speed distributions within Victoria Harbour before and after
the implementation of the WDII Project are very similar. The reclamation will only cause slight change
in the prevailing currents in the study area.
·
The predicted mean discharges across the Victoria Harbour East (Lei Yue
Mun) and Victoria Harbour West (Yau Ma Tei – Western District) will be
decreased by less than 5% and 2%, respectively, during the wet season after the
completion of WDII reclamation, as well as other reclamations within the
Victoria Harbour, including the CRIII, Kowloon Point Development, the South
East Kowloon Development, the Yau Tong Bay Development and the Western Coast
Road reclamation.
·
The predicted mean discharges
across the Victoria Harbour East (Lei Yue Mun) and Victoria Harbour West (Yau
Ma Tei – Western District) will be decreased by about 4% and less than 1.5%,
respectively, during the dry season after the completion of WDII reclamation,
as well as other reclamations within the Victoria Harbour, including the CRIII,
Kowloon Point Development, the South East Kowloon Development, the Yau Tong Bay
Development and the Western Coast Road reclamation.
·
It is predicted that the change
of mean discharges through the Victoria Harbour East and Victoria West due to
the WDII reclamation alone will be less than 1%.
13.4.4 Therefore, it is
concluded that the WDII reclamation will have minimal impact on the
hydrodynamic regime of the study area.
13.4.5
An assessment of the water quality impact during the
operation of WDII has been carried out using the Delft3D model. Comparison between the baseline and
operational water quality modelling results suggests that the levels of
pollutant near Wan Chai and the neighbouring areas are similar under both
baseline and operational scenarios. No
unacceptable impacts associated with the operation of the WDII upon the water
quality in Victoria Harbour are envisaged.
Based on the modelling results, operational phase mitigation measures
are not considered necessary.
Operational water quality monitoring and audit is therefore not
considered necessary.
13.5
Waste Management
13.5.1
A review of the sediment quality data from the
marine ground investigation works indicates that the majority of the marine
sediments to be dredged in the proposed WDII area are classified as Category H
(biological test not required). The
dredged sediment will therefore not be suitable for open sea disposal. With the implementation of the mitigation
measures detailed in Section 6.7 in accordance with the requirements of WBTC
No. 3/2000, no residual impact is predicted.
13.5.1
To determine the disposal requirements of the
Category H sediment (with Total PCBs exceeding 10 times the LCEL) identified
within the Causeway Bay typhoon shelter, Tier III biological screening
(dilution test) would be required for the sediment sampling and testing to be
carried out in the further ground investigation works at the design phase of
the Project. Biological screening will
also be required for any identified Category M sediment in the further ground
investigation works for the Project. The
need for any special treatment / disposal procedures for dredged sediments from
the Causeway Bay typhoon shelter will be examined in detail at the design stage
of the Project, as necessary, based on the results of biological
screening. It has been agreed with EPD
that special disposal arrangements, rather than pre-treatment, would be acceptable
provided there would be negligible loss of sediment to the marine environment
during the dumping operations. A review
of possible disposal arrangements has recommended containment of the
contaminated sediments during dumping to prevent any release of material to the
marine environment. Field trials are
recommended to be undertaken during the detailed design stage (using
uncontaminated mud) to establish the optimum handling method.
13.5.2
Wastes generated by the construction activities are
likely to include C&D materials (including excavated material and
demolition material), general refuse and chemical waste. Provided that these identified waste arisings
are handled, transported and disposed of using approved methods and that the
recommended good site practices are strictly followed, adverse environmental
impacts are not anticipated.
13.6
Land Contamination
13.6.1
This land contamination assessment includes a review
of site history and environmental information, and a preliminary site
inspection (outside the shipyard and the yacht club). Based on the available information, the
potential for land contamination at the study area is considered not
insurmountable. Potential contaminants
arising from shipyard operations and the yacht club have been identified in
Section 7.7.
13.6.2
The study team could not gain access to the subject
shipyard and the yacht club for intrusive site investigation works at this
stage. It is proposed that site
investigation works should be conducted prior to the commencement of site
clearance / construction works.
Furthermore, the proposed sampling locations, sampling and testing
schedule specified in the contamination assessment plan should be subject to
review prior to the site investigation works.
The CAP will be revised and submitted to EPD for approval prior to the
commencement of the land contamination assessment work on site.
13.7
Terrestrial Ecology
13.7.1
The terrestrial ecological resources within the
study area comprise a variety of habitat types including man-made terrestrial
habitat and associated bird community.
No terrestrial sensitive receivers are in the vicinity of the study area
and the nearest country park, the Aberdeen Country Park, is approximately 2 km
inland to the south. Apart from isolated
trees over the study area, the most significant green area is the Victoria
Park. The current ecological assessment
shows that the terrestrial ecological resources present within the study area
are considered of low ecological value.
13.7.2
It is anticipated that no specific mitigation
measures will be required for the potential terrestrial ecological impacts to
preserve ecological resources in the study area.
13.8
Marine Ecology
13.8.1
Literature reviews of existing information
supplemented with the results of recently undertaken field surveys on marine
ecological resources indicate that the intertidal habitats and soft benthic
habitats within the Study Area are of low ecological value. There are no ecological sensitive receivers,
such as SSSIs, Fish Culture Zones and Marine Parks and / or Reserves and other
areas of ecological importance or conservation interest, in and within
the immediate vicinity of the study area.
13.8.2
The dredging and reclamation works will result in
the permanent loss of approximately 28.5 hectares of soft bottom benthic
habitat. Approximately 1,110m of rock
armoured sloping seawall and 440m of sloping seawall (with granite facing) will
be permanently lost due to reclamation or removal of existing breakwaters. Approximately 2,800m of existing vertical
seawall will also be lost during the reclamation, but some 1.5 km of new
caisson seawall and 1.3 km of new blockwork seawall will be constructed. These seawalls are expected to provide
habitat of similar ecological value to that of the existing blockwall seawalls
that constitutes the main part of the reclaimed intertidal habitat. Since the benthic community and intertidal
community in the study area are of low ecological value, only minor impacts are
anticipated from the reclamation works.
Similar intertidal flora and fauna existing at present are expected to
recolonise the new seawall.
13.8.3
Based on the prediction of construction phase water
quality modelling, impacts to benthic and intertidal assemblages immediately
outside the reclamation site are expected to occur during the construction
phase. However, since the seabed
community and intertidal community in the vicinity of the study area are of low
ecological value and in view of the impact of suspended solids elevation is
temporary, only minor impact is anticipated.
13.9
Landscape and Visual
13.9.1
Landscape and visual impacts are summarised below
for each of the three Designated Projects and the Schedule 3 Project.
DP1
: Reclamation Works
Predicted Landscape and
Visual Impacts in the Construction Phase
13.9.2
Adverse landscape impacts of substantial significance
would be felt by:
·
HKCEC Promenade and Approach
Roads (LR5), which would be directly affected by the reclamation works on the
east and west sides of the HKCEC;
·
Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
Wharf (LR13), Noon Day Gun (LR17), Floating Tin Hau temple (LR18) and Typhoon
Shelter (LR19), which would all be disrupted by the reclamation and IECL; and
·
The landscape character
zones LZ1, LZ3, LZ6A, LZ13, LZ18, LZ19, LZ20, LZ21, LZ25, and LZ29, each of
which would suffer a large magnitude of change in landscape character due to
the reclamation construction works.
13.9.3
Adverse landscape impacts of moderate significance
would be felt by:
·
Victoria Harbour (LR1A); and
·
The landscape character
zones LZ15, LZ17 and LZ22.
13.9.4
The remaining residual landscape impacts would be
insubstantial.
13.9.5
Adverse visual impacts of substantial significance
would be felt by:
·
High-rise properties located
along the southern and eastern edges of the primary zone of visual influence,
which are in close proximity to the development and which face directly towards
Victoria Harbour, where the construction activities associated with the
reclamation works would be in full view and would constitute a large magnitude
of change to the existing harbour views;
·
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht
Club (OU1) and Hong Kong Police Officer’s Club (GIC7), which are adjacent to
the existing seawall, and which would suffer a large magnitude of change in
views during construction; and
·
Fenwick Pier Street Public
Open Space (O1) which would be demolished by the construction works, and HKCEC
Extension Open Space and Promenade (O3) which would undergo major
reconstruction.
13.9.6
Adverse visual impacts of moderate significance
would be felt by:
·
High-rise properties located
along the south-eastern edge of the primary zone of visual influence, in
Causeway Bay, which are further way from the development and / or which do not
face directly towards Victoria Harbour.
The construction activities associated with the reclamation, roadworks,
and building and open space developments would be partially visible, from a
distance, and would constitute a small to medium magnitude of change to their
existing harbour views; and
·
High-rise hotels located in
Tsim Sha Tsui, along the northern edges of the primary zone of visual
influence, where the construction activities associated with the reclamation,
roadworks, and building and open space developments would be visible across the
harbour, and would constitute a small to medium magnitude of change to the
existing harbour views.
13.9.7
The remaining residual visual impacts would be
slightly adverse or insubstantial.
Predicted Landscape and Visual
Impacts in the Operation Phase
13.9.8
After all mitigation measures are implemented and
have matured over 10 years, there would still be some residual adverse
landscape impacts of moderate significance, which would be felt by:
·
The landscape character zone
LZ19 - Police Officers Club, due to the
reclamation and replacement of the typhoon shelter adjacent to the Club with
the planned commercial development in site WDII/28; and
·
The landscape character zone
LZ22 - Shipyard and Fire Station, due to
the reclamation and development of the Leisure Complex.
13.9.9
The remaining landscape impacts would be adverse
impacts of slight or insubstantial significance, or beneficial impacts of
slight or moderate significance.
13.9.10
After all mitigation measures are implemented and
have matured over 10 years, there would still be some residual adverse visual
impacts of substantial significance, which would be felt by:
·
The Hong Kong Police
Officers’ Club (GIC7) which would be visually dominated by the IECL and the
planned commercial development in site WDII/28.
13.9.11
Residual adverse impacts of moderate significance
would be felt by:
·
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht
Club (OU1), which although presented with attractive views of the planned
Marina, would have less open views of the harbour than it currently has.
·
The remaining visual impacts
would be adverse impacts of slight or insubstantial significance, or beneficial
impacts of slight significance.
Conclusion
13.9.12
It is considered that under Annex 10 of the EIAO,
the residual landscape and visual impacts associated with the DP1 : Reclamation
Works are acceptable with mitigation measures.
DP2
: WDII Major Roads
Predicted landscape and Visual
Impacts in the Construction Phase
13.9.13
Adverse landscape impacts of substantial
significance would be felt by:
·
Fenwick Pier Street Public
Open Space (LR3), which would require to be completely demolished;
·
HKCEC Promenade and Approach
Roads (LR5), which would be affected by the new road works on the east and west
sides of the HKCEC;
·
Trees along Convention
Avenue and Hung Hing Road (LR20) due to disruption from the new road works; and
·
The landscape character
zones LZ1, LZ3, LZ6, LZ6A, LZ13, LZ18, LZ25, LZ26, LZ27, and LZ28, each of
which would suffer a large magnitude of change in landscape character due to
the road construction elements.
13.9.14
Adverse landscape impacts of moderate significance
would be felt by:
·
The landscape character
zones LZ16, LZ17 and LZ24.
13.9.15
Remaining landscape impacts would be slight or
insubstantial.
13.9.16
Adverse visual impacts of substantial significance
would be felt by:
·
High-rise properties located
along the central southern edge of the primary zone of visual influence,
between Fleet Arcade (C15) in the west and the Sun Hung Kai Centre (C28) in the
east, which are in close proximity to the roadworks and which face directly
towards them, where the construction activities would be in full view and would
constitute a large magnitude of change to the existing views; and
·
Fenwick Pier Street Public
Open Space (O1) which would be demolished by the construction works, and HKCEC
Extension Open Space and Promenade (O3) which would undergo major
reconstruction.
13.9.17
Adverse visual impacts of moderate significance
would be felt by:
·
High-rise properties located
along the southern edge of the primary zone of visual influence, between the
national Mutual Building (C29) and the Excelsior Hotel, (C32) which are further
way from the roadworks and for whom the construction activities would constitute
a small to medium magnitude of change to the existing views; and
·
HKCEC Open Space (O2) and
Renaissance Harbour View Open Space (O4), which would experience intermediate
magnitude of change to their visual context.
13.9.18
Remaining visual impacts would be slight or
insubstantial.
Predicted Landscape and Visual
Impacts in the Operation Phase
13.9.19
After all mitigation measures are implemented and
have matured over 10 years, the remaining landscape impacts would be
insubstantial, or beneficial impacts of slight significance.
13.9.20
After all mitigation measures are implemented and
have matured over 10 years, there would still be some residual adverse visual
impacts, as indicated in Table 10.9 and Figure 10.29, but these would be of
only slight significance due primarily to the mitigating effect of the planting
in the extensive roadside amenity areas
Conclusion
13.9.21
It is considered that under Annex 10 of the EIAO,
the residual landscape and visual impacts associated with the DP2 : WDII Major
Roads are acceptable with mitigation measures.
DP3 : Kellett Island Marina
Predicted Landscape and Visual
Impacts in the Construction Phase
13.9.22
Adverse landscape impacts of slight significance
would be felt by Victoria Harbour (LR1A and LZ29) due to the small reduction in
total area of the harbour.
13.9.23
The remaining landscape impacts would be
insubstantial.
13.9.24
Adverse visual impacts of substantial significance
would be felt by:
·
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht
Club (OU1) which would be in close proximity to the works, which would create a
large magnitude of change in views during construction.
13.9.25
Adverse visual impacts of moderate significance
would be felt by:
·
High-rise properties located
along the southern and eastern edges of the primary zone of visual influence,
which are in close proximity to the Marina and which face directly towards it,
where the construction activities would be in full view and would constitute an
intermediate magnitude of change to the existing harbour view.
13.9.26
The remaining visual impacts would be slightly
adverse or insubstantial.
Predicted Landscape and
Visual Impacts in the Operation Phase
13.9.27
There is no way to effectively mitigate for the loss
in harbour area, and therefore the residual impacts in the operational phase
would remain as adverse impacts of slight significance on Victoria Harbour
(LR1A and LZ29).
13.9.28
Other landscape impacts would be insubstantial.
13.9.29
After all mitigation measures are implemented and
have matured over 10 years, there would still be some residual adverse visual
impacts of slight significance felt by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, which,
although possessing an attractive view of the Marina itself, would no longer
have wide views of the Victoria Harbour and Tsim Sha Tsui East.
13.9.30
The remaining visual impacts would be adverse
impacts of insubstantial significance.
Conclusion
13.9.31
It is considered that under Annex 10 of the EIAO,
the residual landscape and visual impacts associated with the DP3 : Kellett
Island Marina are acceptable with mitigation measures.
Schedule 3 Project : WDII
Summary
of Impacts during the Construction Phase
13.9.32
Adverse landscape impacts of substantial
significance would be felt by:
·
Fenwick Pier Street Public
Open Space (LR3), which would require to be completely demolished;
·
HKCEC Promenade and Approach
Roads (LR5), which would be affected by the new road works on the east and west
sides of the HKCEC;
·
Tree Planting adjacent to
the Sewage Works, Hung Hing Road (LR10), the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (LR11)
and Trees along Convention Avenue and Hung Hing Road (LR20) due to disruption
from the new road works;
·
Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
Wharf (LR13), Noon Day Gun (LR17), Floating Tin Hau temple (LR18) and Typhoon
Shelter (LR19), which would all be disrupted by the reclamation and IECL; and
·
The landscape character
zones LZ1, LZ3, LZ6A, LZ13, LZ18, LZ19, LZ20, LZ25, LZ26, LZ27, LZ28 and LZ29,
each of which would suffer a large magnitude of change in landscape character
due to the various construction elements.
13.9.33
Adverse landscape impacts of moderate significance
would be felt by:
·
Victoria Harbour (LR1A) due
to the reclamation;
·
Victoria Park (LR14) due to
disruption caused by the construction of the two pedestrian linkages to the
waterfront;
·
The landscape character zone
LZ11 (PTI), due to the conversion of the open air PTI to a covered PTI under
the CDA development; and
·
The landscape character
zones LZ15, LZ17, LZ22, LZ23, and LZ24.
13.9.34
The remaining landscape impacts will be slight
adverse or insubstantial.
13.9.35
Adverse visual impacts of substantial significance
would be felt by:
·
High-rise properties located
along the southern and eastern edges of the primary zone of visual influence,
which are in close proximity to the development and which face directly towards
Victoria Harbour, where the construction activities associated with the
reclamation, roadworks, and building and open space developments would be in
full view and would constitute a large magnitude of change to the existing
harbour views;
·
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht
Club (OU1) and Hong Kong Police Officer’s Club (GIC7), which would be surrounded
by the various developments, which would create a large magnitude of change in
views during construction; and
·
Fenwick Pier Street Public
Open Space (O1) which would be demolished by the construction works, and HKCEC
Extension Open Space and Promenade (O3) which would undergo major
reconstruction.
13.9.36
Adverse visual impacts of moderate significance
would be felt by:
·
High-rise properties located
along the south-eastern edge of the primary zone of visual influence, in
Causeway Bay, which are further way from the development and / or which do not
face directly towards Victoria Harbour, where the construction activities
associated with the reclamation, roadworks, and building and open space
developments would be partially visible from a distance, and would constitute a
small to medium magnitude of change to the existing harbour views;
·
High-rise hotels located in
Tsim Sha Tsui, along the northern edges of the primary zone of visual
influence, where the construction activities associated with the reclamation, roadworks,
and building and open space developments would be visible across the harbour,
and would constitute a small to medium magnitude of change to the existing
harbour views; and
·
HKCEC Open Space (O2),
Renaissance Harbour View Plaza (O4), Wan Chai Sports Ground (O6), and Victoria
Park (O8), which would suffer due to adjacent reclamation works, roadworks, and
building construction works.
13.9.37
The remaining visual impacts would be slight or
insubstantial.
Schedule 3 Project :
WDII - Predicted Landscape and Visual Impacts in the Operation Phase
13.9.38
After all mitigation measures are implemented and
have matured over 10 years, there would still be some residual adverse
landscape impacts of moderate significance, which would be felt by:
·
The landscape character zone LZ18 - RHKYC, due to the loss
of trees and the visual influence of the adjacent IECL.
·
The landscape character zone
LZ19 - Police Officers Club, due to the
visual influence of the IECL; and
·
The landscape character zone
LZ22 - Shipyard and Fire Station, due to
the reclamation and development of the Leisure Complex.
13.9.39
The remaining landscape impacts would be adverse
impacts of slight or insubstantial significance, or beneficial impacts of
slight or moderate significance as noted in Table 10.17.
13.9.40
After all mitigation measures are implemented and
have matured over 10 years, there would still be some residual adverse visual
impacts of substantial significance, which would be felt by:
·
The Great Eagle Centre
(C25), Harbour Centre (C26) and Causeway Centre (C/R1), which would have their
harbour views blocked substantially by the planned CDA development in site
WDII/11;
·
Hoi Kung Court (C/R20), Hoi
To Court (C/R21), Hoi Deen Court (C/R22), World Trade Centre (C31) and
Excelsior Hotel (C32), which would have their harbour views partially obscured
by the planned commercial development in site WDII/28, and which would also
have clear views of the IECL;
·
The Hong Kong Police
Officer’s Club (GIC7) which would be visually dominated by the IECL and the
planned commercial development in site WDII/28; and
·
Planned Waterfront ROS (O13
- East of Harbour Museum) and Planned ROS – Causeway Bay Open Space (O17) which
would both suffer a large impact from the IECL.
13.9.41
Adverse visual impacts of moderate significance
would be felt by:
·
Renaissance Harbour View
Hotel C23) and Sun Hung Kai Centre (C28), which would have their harbour views
partially obscured by the planned CDA development in site WDII/11.
·
Sino Plaza (C30) and the
high-rise properties along Gloucester Road to the east of the Excelsior Hotel
(C/R5, C/R6, C/R7 and C/R8), which would have their harbour views slightly
obscured by the planned commercial development in site WDII/28, and which would
also have clear views of the IECL;
·
Victoria Mark Mansion (C/R9), Chesterfield Mansion (C/R10)
and Greenfield Mansion (C/R11) which will be impacted by views of the IECL and
the planned Leisure and Entertainment Complex in site WDII/30.
·
High-rise properties along
the eastern edge of the primary ZVI due to their clear views along the length
of the IECL;
·
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht
Club (OU1), which although presented with attractive views of the planned
Marina, would no longer have the open views of the harbour and Tsim Sha Tsui
that it currently has, and would have views to the south impacted by the IECL;
and
·
Planned Commercial Development in WDII/28 (C51) due to the
impact caused by the IECL.
13.9.42
The remaining visual impacts would be adverse
impacts of slight or insubstantial significance, or beneficial impacts of
slight significance.
Schedule 3 Project :
WDII - Conclusion
13.9.43
Overall, it is considered that, in the terms of
Annex 10 of the EIAO TM, the residual landscape and visual impacts are
acceptable with mitigation measures.
13.9.44
However, the ability to meet Government's planning
objective (Section 10.3) to create a world-class harbour frontage, in respect
of visual and landscape impacts, is significantly constrained in the area
adjacent to the IECL. This is due to the
dominating visual presence of the IECL and also because a large landscape area
would lie under the IECL. The ability to
screen the IECL from users of the waterfront is dependent on the ability to
plant substantial large canopy trees over the 26 m wide drainage reserve. Tree planting over the drainage reserve is
therefore a very critical component of the overall mitigation measures.
13.10
Biogas
13.10.1
Organically enriched material is planned to be left
in-situ at the WDII reclamation within the western and eastern corners of the
Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter. As methane
gas could be generated under anaerobic conditions, there is a potential for
this gas to be released either during construction or after development of the
reclaimed area.
13.10.2
The predicted methane emission from the WDII
reclamation suggests that the methane gas generation potential is not expected
to pose a development constraint. In
view of the exceedance of the recommended maximum “safe” rate of methane
emission (derived for WDII from Waste Management Paper No. 26A) under the worst
case scenario of 100% biodegradable total organic carbon and the identification
of ‘at risk’ rooms at the proposed developments at the western and eastern
corners of the typhoon shelter reclamation, it is recommended that monitoring
of gas emission rates should be undertaken in the immediate post-reclamation
period. The review of the gas monitoring
results would determine the need for gas protection measures to be incorporated
in the building design to prevent the ingress and / or accumulation of any
methane gas emissions to potentially dangerous concentrations. With the incorporation of the recommended gas
protection measures in the design of the developments, if necessary, together
with the implementation of other recommended precautionary measures during
construction activities, the risk to people and property due to biogas
emissions from the WDII reclamation is considered to be low.
13.11
Environmental Monitoring and Audit
13.11.1
Environmental monitoring and audit are recommended for
construction dust monitoring, construction and operation noise, water quality
and release of biogas. Site inspection /
audit is also recommended for waste management during construction and
implementation of landscaping measures during operation. Details of the recommended mitigation
measures, monitoring procedures and locations will be presented in a
stand-alone Environmental Monitoring and Audit Manual (EM&A). This will enable the Contractor to have early
warning and provide necessary action to reduce impacts at specific areas if the
assessment criteria are approached. The
effectiveness of on-site control measures could also be evaluated through the
monitoring exercise. All the recommended
mitigation measures should be incorporated into the EM&A programme for
implementation.
13.12
Overall Conclusion
13.12.1
The findings of this EIA have provided information
on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising from the construction
and operation of the Project. The EIA has,
where appropriate, identified mitigation measures to ensure compliance with
environmental legislation and standards.
13.12.2
Overall, the EIA Report for the development of WDII
has predicted that the Project will generally comply with all environmental
standards and legislation after the proposed construction and operational stage
mitigation measures are implemented.
This EIA has also demonstrated the general acceptability of the residual
impacts from the Project and the protection of the population and environmentally
sensitive resources. Environmental
monitoring and audit mechanisms have been recommended before and during
construction and operation, where necessary, to verify the accuracy of the EIA
predictions and the effectiveness of recommended mitigation measures.