7. Landscape and Visual Assessment (Maunsell) 1

7. Landscape and Visual Assessment (Maunsell)

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1.1 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.

7.1.1.2 The sensitive receivers are shown in Figure 7.1.1.1 to 7.1.1.5, 7.2.1.1 to 7.2.1.5, 7.3.1.1 to 7.3.1.4 and 7.3.2.1.

7.2 Relevant Legislation

7.2.1.1 The following legislation, standards and guidelines are applicable to landscape and visual impact assessment associated with the construction and operation of the project:

· Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap.499.S.16) and the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process (EIAO TM), particularly Annexes 10 and 18

· Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance Guidance Note 8/2002

· ETWB No. 36/ 2004 - Advisory Committee on the Appearance of Bridges and Associated Structures (ACABAS)

· ETWB TCW No. 10/2005 - Planting on Footbridges and Flyovers

· ETWB TCW No. 2/2004 - Maintenance of Vegetation and Hard Landscape Features

· ETWB TCW No. 29/2004 - Registration of Old and Valuable Trees, and Guidelines for their Preservation

· ETWB TCW No. 3/2006 - Tree Preservation

· ETWB TCW No. 5/2005 on Protection of natural streams/rivers from adverse impacts arising from construction works

· Hong Kong International Airport Approved Plant Species List (Revision 3: June 2007)

· Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, particular Chapter 4, Chapter 8, Chapter 10 and Chapter 11

· HQ/GN/13 - Interim Guidelines for Tree Transplanting Works under Highways Department’s Vegetation Maintenance Ambit

· HyDTC No. 3/2008 - Independent Vetting of Tree Works under the Maintenance of Highways Department

· HyDTC No. 5/2000 on Control in the Use of Shotcrete (Sprayed Concrete) in Slope Works

· Protection of Endangered Species of Animals And Plants Ordinance (Cap 586)

· Study on Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong

· Town Planning Ordinance (Cap 131)

· WBTC No. 17/2000 on Improvement to the Appearance of Slopes

· WBTC No. 25/92 - Allocation of Space for Urban Street Trees

· WBTC No. 25/93 on Control of Visual Impact of Slopes

· WBTC No. 7/2002 - Tree Planting in Public Works

7.3 Methodology and Criteria

7.3.1.1 The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape and visual 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.

7.3.1.2 Site inspection and audit is necessary in the operation stage.

^{Table 7.1}^{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 ER 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	Weekly
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 Phase

7.3.1.3 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. Detailed landscaping drawings and specification should be checked during detailed design stage and before tender stage by a Registered Landscape Architect 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. Monitoring of design works against the recommendations of the landscape and visual impact assessments within the EIA should be undertaken when the designs are produced to ensure that they fulfil the intentions of mitigation measures.

Construction & Establishment Period

7.3.1.4 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).

7.3.1.5 Measures to mitigate landscape and visual impacts during construction should be checked and monitored by a Registered Landscape Architect to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the mitigation measures.

7.3.1.6 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.

7.4 Baseline Monitoring

7.4.1.1 A one off survey shall be conducted prior to commencement of any construction works. 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.

7.5 Event and Action Plan

7.5.1.1 Should non-compliance of the landscape and visual impacts occur, actions in accordance with the action plan stated in Table 7.2 should be carried out.

^{Table 7.2}^{Event and Action Plan for Landsca}^{pe and Visual Impact}

EVENT ACTION LEVEL	ACTION
EVENT ACTION LEVEL	ET	IEC	ER	CONTRACTOR
Design Check	· Check final design conforms to the requirements of EP and prepare report.	· Check report. · Recommend remedial design if necessary	· Undertake remedial design if necessary
Non-conformity 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 Non-conformity	· 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 non-conformity 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

7.6 Mitigation Measures

7.6.1.1 The landscape and visual impact assessment of the EIA recommends a series on mitigation measures, as noted below:

Design Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures

· The large surface of the retaining wall along the toll plaza area shall adopt a patterned/ smoother finishes and texture design to break the large surface. Climber treatment is proposed to soften the structures (DM1),

· The colour and shape of the toll control buildings, ventilation building and administration building shall adopt a design which could blend it into the vicinity elements, and the details will be developed in detailed design stage (DM2),

· Round angle, patterned finishes, and oval shaped pier were considered in the viaduct design, and further details will be developed under ACABAS submission (DM3),

· Details of the street furniture will be developed in the detailed design stage (DM4),

· Aesthetic design of the viaduct, retaining wall and other structures will be developed under ACABAS submission (DM5).

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase

· Existing trees on boundary of the Project Area 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. (Tree protection measures will be detailed at Tree Removal Application stage) (CM1),

· Trees unavoidably affected by the works shall be transplanted where practical. Trees will be transplanted straight to their final receptor site and not held in a temporary nursery. A detailed Tree Transplanting Specification shall be provided in the Contract Specification. Sufficient time for necessary tree root and crown preparation periods shall be allowed in the project programme (CM2),

· Hillside and roadside screen planting to proposed roads, associated structures and slope works (CM3),

· Hydroseeding or sheeting of soil stockpiles with visually unobtrusive material (in earth tone) (CM4),

· Screening of construction works by hoardings around works area in visually unobtrusive colours, to screen works (CM5),

· Control night-time lighting and glare by hooding all lights (CM6),

· Ensure no run-off into water body adjacent to the Project Area (CM7),

· Avoidance of excessive height and bulk of buildings and structures (CM8),

· Recycle/Reuse all felled trees and vegetation, e.g. mulching (CM9),

· Compensatory tree planting shall be provided to the satisfaction of relevant Government departments. Required numbers and locations of compensatory trees shall be determined and agreed separately with Government during the Tree Felling Application process under ETWBTC 3/2006 (CM10).

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase

· Re-vegetation of affected woodland/shrubland with native species (OM1),

· Tall buffer screen tree / shrub / climber planting should be incorporated to soften hard engineering structures and facilities (OM2),

· Streetscape elements (e.g. paving, signage, street furniture, lighting etc.) shall be sensitively designed in a manner that responds to the local context, and minimises potential negative landscape and visual impacts. Lighting units should be directional and minimise unnecessary light spill (OM3),

· Structure, ornamental tree / shrub / climber planting should be provided along roadside amenity strips, central dividers and newly formed slopes to enhance the townscape quality and further greenery enhancement (OM4),

· Aesthetically pleasing design (visually unobtrusive and non-reflective) as regard to the form, material and finishes shall be incorporated to all buildings, engineering structures and associated infrastructure facilities (OM5),

· Avoidance of excessive height and bulk of buildings and structures (OM6).