9a.1.1.1 EM&A for landscape and visual resources shall be undertaken by the contractor during the design, construction and operation phases of the Project. This section presents the requirements of the baseline review, and the monitoring of the design, implementation and maintenance of the landscape and visual mitigation measures during the design, construction and operation phases of the Project.
9a.2.1.1
The
landscape and visual impact assessment of the EIA Study recommended a series of
mitigation measures to ameliorate the landscape and visual impacts of the
Project. The measures for both the
construction and operation phases as recommended in the EIA Report are summarized
in Table
9a.1.
Table
|
ID. No. |
Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measure |
|
During Construction Phase |
|
|
Mitigation for both Landscape & Visual
Impacts |
|
|
MLVC-01 |
Grass-hydroseeded bare soil surface. |
|
MLVC-02 |
Provision of Water Pond as habitat for
Little Grebe A compensatory habitat for Little Grebe
will be provided as an ecological mitigation measure for the loss of habitat
within the project site. This compensatory habitat, which would be a landscape
area with water pond and plants, is also considered as a landscape mitigation
measure for the loss of ash lagoon. The
final design of the habitat will be determined in the Habitat Creation and
Management Plan. The compensatory habitat as shown in Figure 10a.9 of the EIA
Report and the photomontages is for illustration purpose. |
|
MLVC-03 |
Existing Trees Preservation within Works Areas No trees should be felled or transplanted unless they are inevitably
affected by the proposed works. Affected trees should be transplanted under
circumstance where technically feasible. A tree survey report should be
prepared and a tree felling application should be submitted to Government
during the detailed design stage for approval before the site formation works
commence. The numbers, locations, species and sizes of the trees to be
transplanted or felled should be clearly addressed. All existing trees within work sites shall be properly maintained and
protected for their crowns, trunks and roots. |
|
MLVC-04 |
Transplanting of Trees to Adjacent
Locations The existing trees recommended to be
transplanted shall be directly transplanted to other locations in vicinity
where no construction will take place. The construction programme should also allow sufficient time for
root pruning and rootball preparation prior to transplanting. |
|
MLVC-05 |
Compensatory Landscape Planting Implementation of compensatory planting with heavy standard trees shall
be of a ratio not less than 1:1 according to tree quantity and total tree trunk
diameter lost. |
|
MLVC-06 |
Landscape Design 1)
Early planting using fast grow trees and tall
shrubs at strategic locations within site will be implemented to block view
corridors to the site from the VSRs, and to locally screen haul roads,
excavation works and site preparation works. 2)
Tree species of dense tree crown will be
used to serve as visual barrier. 3)
Hard and soft landscape treatment (e.g. trees and
shrubs) of open areas within development will be implemented to provide shade
and shelter and a green appearance from surrounding viewpoints. 4)
Planting strip
would be provided along the periphery of the project site. 5)
Selected plant species should be suitable for
coastal condition. |
|
MLVC-07 |
Reuse Existing Boulders Boulders cleared from the ash lagoon during site formation will be
reserved and used as part of the landscape design to preserve its “natural
look”. |
|
MLVC-08 |
Greening Design (Rooftop & Vertical Greening) 1)
Rooftop and
vertical greening (vertical building envelope) shall be implemented to
increase the amenity value of the proposed works, moderate temperature
extremes and enhance building energy performance, as well as visually improve
the development. 2) Vertical greening shall be implemented for the lower portion of
chimney (~20 |
|
Mitigation for Visual Impacts |
|
|
MVC-01 |
Visual Mitigation and Aesthetic Design 1)
Recessive colour
tone is proposed for the façade of the ancillary facility buildings (e.g.
incinerator plant) to blend in with the nature. 2)
Architectural
feature (e.g. light weight aluminum structure is incorporated with the
tapered chimney of recessive colour tone to diminish its “chimney like”
appearance. 3)
Stone as a natural
material is proposed at the lower portion of the building façade and the
chimney to compliment with the surrounding environment. 4)
Change of material
at different portions of the building helps to reduce the bulkiness. 5)
Green roof
structure (with irrigation and drainage system) in curvilinear strips is
proposed to cover the rectilinear building bulk. Roof strips of different
curvatures are further broken down to echo with the contour of the hillside
slope behind. |
|
MVC-02 |
Security floodlight for construction areas shall be controlled at
night to avoid excessive glare to the surrounding receiver. |
|
MVC-03 |
The construction sequence and construction programme shall be
optimized in order to minimize the duration of impact. |
|
MVC-04 |
The backfilling materials for site formation & construction
materials / wastes on site shall be stored at a maximum height of |
|
MVC-05 |
The number of construction traffic to /
from the project site shall be maintained to practical minimum. |
|
During Operation
Phase |
|
|
Mitigation for Landscape
Impacts |
|
|
MLO-01 |
Planting Maintenance Proper planting maintenance and replacement of defective plant species
on the new planting areas to enhance aesthetic and landscape quality shall be
provided. |
|
Mitigation for Visual Impacts |
|
|
MVO-01 |
Environmental
Education Centre to Promote Waste Reduction An |
|
MVO-02 |
Control of Light The numbers of lights and their intensity shall be controlled to a level good enough to meet the safety requirements at night but not excessive. |
|
MVO-03 |
Control of Operation Time The frequency of waste transportation
shall be minimized to practical minimum (e.g. limit the reception of MSW from
8 am to 8 pm). |
9a.2.1.2
The mitigation measures during construction shall be
implemented from the commencement of the works and shall be applied for the
whole duration of the construction period.
The mitigation measures during operation will be included in the
detailed design and shall be constructed or built up during the construction. Management and maintenance for all mitigation
measures shall follow ETWB TCW No. 2/2004 Maintenance of Vegetation and Hard
Landscape Features.
9a.3.1.1 The contractor shall incorporate the recommended mitigation measures in the detailed design and shall ensure the potential conflicts of the mitigation measures with the works under the Project and other interfacing projects are resolved prior to construction.
9a.3.1.2 Audits of the detailed design against the recommendations of the landscape and visual impact assessments within the EIA should be undertaken by a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA), who should ensure the fulfilment of the intentions of landscape mitigation measures, and a Registered Architect (RA), who should ensure the fulfilment of the intentions of visual mitigation measures.
9a.4.1.1
A
baseline review shall be undertaken prior to the commencement of the construction
works. The purposes of the review are as
follows:-
·
To check the status and any changes of the baseline
Landscape Resources, Landscape Character areas and Visually Sensitive Receivers
(VSRs) within and immediately adjacent to the works areas;
·
To determine whether amendments in the design of
the landscape and visual mitigation measures are required; and
· To recommend any necessary amendments to the design of the landscape and visual mitigation measures due to the above changes, if any.
9a.4.1.2
Any changes to the mitigation
measures that may be recommended as a result of the baseline review shall be
taken into account.
9a.5 Construction and Operation Phase Audit
9a.5.1.1
A
specialist Landscape Sub-Contractor (on the approved Government list) shall be
employed by the contractor for the implementation of landscape establishment
works and the compensatory planting, as well as the subsequent maintenance
operations during the one-year maintenance period which will be the first
operational year of the Project.
9a.5.1.2
All
landscape measures, including compensatory planting, undertaken by both the contractor
and the specialist Landscape Sub-Contractor during the construction phase and
the first year of the operation phase shall be audited by a Registered
Landscape Architect on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the intended
aims of the measures and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. Site inspections should be undertaken at least
once every two weeks throughout the construction period, and once every month
during the first operational year. After
the one-year maintenance period, the landscape maintenance and monitoring shall
be carried out by the Contractor.
9a.5.1.3
All
visual measures undertaken by the contractor and the specialist Landscape
Sub-Contractor during the construction phase and the first year of the
operation phase shall be audited by a Registered Architect on a regular basis
to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures and the
effectiveness of the mitigation measures. Site inspections should be undertaken
at least once every two weeks throughout the construction period, and once
every month during the first operational year.
9a.5.1.4
If
there is repeated non-compliance of the landscape and visual mitigation
measures, EPD shall be notified as necessary.