8. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL

8.1 Introduction

8.1.1 The EIA has recommended landscape and visual mitigation measures to be undertaken during both the construction and operational phases of the project. This section outlines the monitoring and audit of these measures.

8.2 Monitoring Details

8.2.1 The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape mitigation measures should be checked to ensure that they are fully realised and that potential conflicts between the proposed landscape measures and any other project works and operational requirements are resolved at the earliest possible date and without compromise to the intention of the mitigation measures.

8.2.2 Table 8.1 indicates the monitoring programme.

Table 8.1 Monitoring Programme

Stage	Monitoring Task	Monitoring Report	Form of Approval	Frequency
Design	Monitoring of design works against the recommendations of the landscape and visual impact assessments within the EIA should be undertaken during detailed design and tender stages, to ensure that they fulfil the intentions of the mitigation measures. Any changes to the design, including design changes on site should also be checked.	Report by Engineer confirming that the design conforms to requirements of EP	Approved by Client	At Completion of Design Stage
Construction	Monitoring of the contractor’s operations during the construction period.	Report on Contractor's compliance, by ET	Counter-signature of report by IEC	Monthly
Establishment Works	Monitoring of the planting works during the 24-month Establishment period after completion of the construction works.	Report on Contractor's compliance, by ET	Counter-signature of report by IEC	3 months

Design

8.2.3 The mitigation measures proposed within the EIA to mitigate the landscape and visual impacts of the scheme should be embodied into the detailed engineering design and landscape design drawings and contract documents. Designs should be checked to ensure that the measures are fully incorporated and that potential conflicts with civil engineering, geo-technical, structural, lighting, signage, drainage, underground utility and operational requirements are resolved prior to construction.

Construction & Establishment Period

8.2.4 The implementation of landscape construction works and subsequent maintenance operations during the 12 month establishment period must be supervised by fully qualified Landscape Resident Site Staff (Registered Landscape Architect or Professional Member of the Hong Kong Institute of landscape Architects or equivalent), who would either from part of, or report to, the ET.

8.2.5 Measures to mitigate landscape and visual impacts during construction should be checked to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures.

8.2.6 The progress of the engineering works shall be regularly reviewed on site to identify the earliest practical opportunities for the landscape works to be undertaken.

8.3 Baseline Monitoring

8.3.1 A photographic record of the site at the time of the contractor’s possession of the site shall be prepared by the Contractor and approved by the ER. The approved Photographic Record shall be submitted to the Project proponent, ET, IEC and EPD for record.

8.4 Event/Action Plan for Landscape and Visual Works

8.4.1 Exceedances of the predicted landscape and visual impacts would occur if:

· the landscape and visual mitigation measures prescribed in the EIA are for some reason compromised, either before, during or after they have been implemented on the ground; or

· the engineering design alters to a point where the prescribed landscape and visual mitiagation measures are no longer sufficient to mitigate the impacts to the level predicted in the EIA.

8.4.2 Typical causes of exceedances would be:

· Unnecessary damage to existing vegetation, particularly trees;

· Trespass and damage to adjacent landscape areas;

· Soil contamination prejudicing future planting work;

· Uncontrolled site lighting causing glare to surrounding residents;

· Substitution of originally specified plant species with different species which do not provide the required landscape effect (e.g. structure planting effect, screening effect; greening and visual softening effect)

· .

8.4.3 The event action plan processes for dealing with exceedances are described in Table 8.2.

Table 8.2 Event and Action Plan for Construction and Establishment Periods

EVENT

ACTION

ACTION LEVEL

IEC

CONTRACTOR

Exceedance on one occasion

· Identify Source

· Inform IEC and ER

· Discuss remedial actions with IEC, ER and Contractor

· Monitor remedial actions until rectification has been completed

· Check report

· Check Contractor's working method

· Discuss with ET and Contractor on possible remedial measures

· Advise ER on effectiveness of proposed remedial measures.

· Check implementation of remedial measures.

· Notify Contractor

· Ensure remedial measures are properly implemented

· Amend working methods

· Rectify damage and undertake any necessary replacement

Repeated Exceedance

· Identify Source

· Inform IEC and ER

· Increase monitoring frequency

· Discuss remedial actions with IEC, ER and Contractor

· Monitor remedial actions until rectification has been completed

· If exceedance stops, cease additional monitoring

· Check monitoring report

· Check Contractor's working method

· Discuss with ET and Contractor on possible remedial measures

· Advise ER on effectiveness of proposed remedial measures

· Supervise implementation of remedial measures.

· Notify Contractor

· Ensure remedial measures are properly implemented

· Amend working methods

· Rectify damage and undertake any necessary replacement

8.5 Mitigation Measures

8.5.1 The landscape and visual impact assessment of the EIA recommends a series on mitigation measures to ameliorate the landscape and visual impacts of the project. These measures and there programme of implementation are described in the Implementation Schedule in Table 8.3.

Table 8.3 Mitigation Measures

EIA Ref *	Environmental Protection Measures / Mitigation Measures	Objectives of the Recommended Measures & Main Concerns	Location / Timing	Implementation Agent	Implementation Stages*				What requirements or standards for the measure to achieve
EIA Ref *	Environmental Protection Measures / Mitigation Measures	Objectives of the Recommended Measures & Main Concerns	Location / Timing	Implementation Agent	Des	C	O	Dec
	*Construction*
S10.7 S10.8	CM1 - The construction area and contractor’s temporary works areas should be minimized to avoid impacts on adjacent landscape, including minimisation of impacts on natural slopes.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction	CEDD’s Contractor		Ö			EIAO TM ETWBC 14/2002 ETWBC 2/2004 LAO1 D12
S10.7 S10.8	CM2 - Topsoil, where identified, should be stripped and stored for re-use in the construction of the soft landscape works, where practical. The Contract Specification shall include storage and reuse of topsoil as appropriate.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction	CEDD’s Contractor	Ö	Ö			EIAO TM
S10.7 S10.8	CM3 - The potential for soil erosion should be reduced by minimizing the extent of vegetation disturbance on site and by providing a protective cover (e.g. plastic sheeting or a grass cover established by hydroseeding) over newly exposed soil.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction	CEDD’s Contractor		Ö			EIAO TM
S10.7 S10.8	CM4 - All existing trees shall be carefully protected during construction. Detailed Tree Protection Specification shall be provided in the Contract Specification. Under this specification, the Contractor shall be required to submit, for approval, a detailed working method statement for the protection of trees prior to undertaking any works adjacent to all retained trees, including trees in contractor’s works areas.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction	CEDD’s Contractor	Ö	Ö			EIAO TM ETWBC 14/2002 ETWBC 2/2004 LAO1 D12
S10.7 S10.8	CM5 - Trees unavoidably affected by the works shall be transplanted where practical. A detailed Tree Transplanting Specification shall be provided in the Contract Specification, if applicable. Sufficient time for necessary tree root and crown preparation periods shall be allowed in the project programme.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction	CEDD’s Contractor	Ö	Ö			EIAO TM ETWBC 14/2002 ETWBC 2/2004 LAO1 D12
S10.7 S10.8	CM6 - Control of night time lighting	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction	CEDD’s Contractor		Ö			EIAO TM
S10.7 S10.8	CM7 - Use of decorative screen hoarding	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction	CEDD’s Contractor		Ö			EIAO TM
S10.7 S10.8	CM8 - Minimisation of impact on natural coastline	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction	CEDD’s Contractor	Ö	Ö			EIAO TM
	*Operation*
S10.7 S10.8	OM1 - Stepped building height profile	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	TCS / during construction and operation	Implemented by PlanD/TPB & DLO	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM TPO
S10.7 S10.8	OM2 - Network of open spaces linking residential areas of TKO and Tiu Keng Leng with the waterfront, Town Park and Landfill area. The network should continue along the waterfront to form a continuous, uninterrupted link	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	TCS and TKL / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by LCSD. Maintained by LCSD and other Govt Depts in accordance with ETWBTC 2/2004	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM TPO ETWBTC 2/2004
S10.7 S10.8	OM3 - Sensitive architectural design of elevated and built structures, including paved surfaces, retaining walls, columns, buildings, and other structures on Road P2, Western Coast Road and Cross Bay Link with particular regard to form and finishes. ACABAS approval shall be required.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Road P2,WCR, CBL / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by HyD.	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ACABAS
S10.7 S10.8	OM4 - Sensitive integration of road embankments with surrounding ground level.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	WCR, CBL and Road P2 / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by HyD.	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ETWBC 2/2004
S10.7 S10.8	OM5 - Lighting of roads and bridges should be designed to minimize glare to all receivers. Poles and fittings should be designed to conform with the bridge design and subject to ACABAS approval.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	WCR, CBL and Road P2 / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by HyD.	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ACABAS
S10.7 S10.8	OM6 - Size and extent of noise barriers and enclosures should be reduced as much as possible. Where noise barriers are unavoidable, sensitive architectural styling and chromatic treatment of the noise barriers is important in minimizing their visual impact on motorist and in elevated views from surrounding residential receivers. The advice from ACABAS should be fully incorporated.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by HyD.	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM, ACABAS
S10.7 S10.8	OM7 - Sensitive hard landscape design along roadsides, with particular regard to the creation of an attractive and user-friendly pedestrian environment.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by HyD.	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ETWBC 2/2004
S10.7 S10.8	OM8 - The two deck-overs over Road P2 should be designed as attractive landscape decks. Structural design of the deck should allow for adequate soil depth to permit tree planting (1.5m min). The appropriate maintenance agencies shall be involved in the approval of the design of the deck-over.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Road P2 / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by HyD, LCSD and other Govt Depts in accordance with ETWBTC 2/2004	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ETWBC 2/2004 ETWBC 25/92
S10.7 S10.8	OM9 - Attractive design of pedestrian subways and bridges, including murals. ACABAS approval shall be required.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	TKL and TCS / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by HyD.	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ACABAS ETWBTC 2/2004
S10.7 S10.8	OM10 - Tree, shrub and climber planting adjacent to roads and structures with particular regard to softening and screening of roads and noise barriers in low level views from adjacent areas. Provision of shade trees along footpaths, and climbing plants against abutment walls and viaduct columns.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by LCSD and other Govt Depts in accordance with ETWBTC 2/2004	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ETWBC 25/92 ETWBTC 2/2004
S10.7 S10.8	OM11 - Woodland/amenity tree and shrub planting should be implemented adjacent to the Western Coast Road where it is at grade. This will include cut and fill slopes.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	WCR / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by LCSD and / or AFCD and other Govt Depts in accordance with ETWBTC 2/2004	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ETWBC 2/2004
S10.7 S10.8	OM12 - Any unavoidable geotechnical works for slope stabilization should employ methods causing minimal visual intrusion, such as some types of soil nailing. Sprayed concrete finishes must not be used where viable alternatives are available. Cut slopes shall be planted with woodland trees and shrubs to compensate for vegetation lost during construction. Where rock cut slopes are created bio-engineering techniques shall be use to reduce their visual impact.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	WCR / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by HyD, LCSD and other Govt Depts in accordance with ETWBTC 2/2004	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM GEO 1/2000 ETWBC 2/2004
S10.7 S10.8	OM13 - Non-invasive climbing plants should be used to soften the appearance of viaduct columns at ground level.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	WCR, CBL and Road P2 / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by LCSD and other Govt Depts in accordance with ETWBTC 2/2004	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ETWBC 2/2004
S10.7 S10.8	OM14 – Predominantly native shrub planting should be undertaken to screen the proposed works and blend it into the landscape where appropriate	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	PSK and WCR / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by LCSD and / or other Govt Depts in accordance with ETWBTC 2/2004	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ETWBC 2/2004
S10.7 S10.8	OM15 - Tree, planting along roadside amenity strips and central dividers to provide structure planting for the townscape.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	Works site / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by LCSD and / or other Govt Depts in accordance with ETWBTC 2/2004	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ETWBTC 2/2004 ETWBC 25/92
S10.7 S10.8	OM16 - Sensitive architectural design to the toll plaza buildings should be implemented to reduce their visual impact and make them compatible with the surrounding coastal environment. This is to include the use of clay tiles of a dark earth-tone colour that harmonises with the local landscape context to provide texture and pattern to building surfaces as well as helping to minimize any visual impact	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	WCR / during construction and operation	Funded & Implemented by CEDD. Maintained by HyD	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM ACABAS
S10.7 S10.8	OM17 – The massing of new building developments should provide for breezeways in accordance with the current approved Outline Development Plans.	Minimize effects of landscape and visual impacts	TCS / during construction and operation	Implemented by PlanD/TPB & DLO	Ö	Ö	Ö		EIAO TM TPO Lease Conditions

# All recommendations and requirements resulted during the course of EIA/EA Process, including ACE and / or accepted public comment to the proposed project.

* Des - Design, C - Construction, O – Operation, and Dec - Decommissioning