18
Conclusion
18.1.1
This
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report has provided an assessment of the
potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation
of the Project based on the preliminary engineering design information
available at this stage.
18.1.2
The assessment,
conducted in accordance with the Study Brief No. ESB-363/2023 under the
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and the Technical Memorandum
on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM), covers the following
environmental issues:
¡¤
Air Quality;
¡¤
Noise;
¡¤
Water Quality;
¡¤
Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Implications;
¡¤
Waste Management Implications;
¡¤
Land Contamination;
¡¤
Ecological Implication
(Terrestrial and Aquatic);
¡¤
Fisheries;
¡¤
Landscape and Visual;
¡¤
Impact on Cultural Heritage;
¡¤
Hazard to Life;
¡¤
Landfill Gas Hazard; and
¡¤
Impact from Electric and
Magnetic Field.
18.1.3
The findings of
the EIA Study have determined the likely nature and extent of environmental
impacts predicted to arise from the construction and operation of the
Project. During the EIA process,
specific environmental control and mitigation measures have been identified and
incorporated into the planning and design of the Project in
order to achieve compliance with environmental legislation and standards
during both the construction and operational phases. The implementation
schedule listing the recommended mitigation measures is presented in Appendix 16.1.
18.1.4
Various sections
of this EIA Report present the measures to minimise the potential environmental
impacts associated with the Project throughout the construction and operational
phases. The key measures to minimise the environmental impacts are summarised
in Section 17.5.
18.1.5
An environmental
monitoring and audit (EM&A) programme has also
been developed and is presented in a stand-alone EM&A Manual to check on
project compliance of environmental legislation and
standards.
18.1.6
The summary of
key assessment assumptions and limitations of methodologies and summary of
environmental impacts are presented in Appendix 18.1 and Appendix 18.2, respectively.
Construction
Phase
18.2.1
Potential air
quality impact from the construction works of the Project would mainly be
related to the construction activities of excavation, material handling, spoil
removal and wind erosion. Construction activities of the concurrent projects
within 500 m assessment area would also pose cumulative construction air
quality impact. With the implementation of mitigation measures recommended and
EM&A programme, no adverse air quality impact on air sensitive receivers
(ASRs) in the vicinity of the works sites would be anticipated during the
construction phase.
Operational
Phase
18.2.2
Cumulative air
quality impact arising from the vehicular emissions from the existing and
planned open roads, proposed transport facilities including Transport
Interchange Hub and Public Transport Terminus, and heavy goods vehicle/coach
parking sites, as well as the existing and planned industrial emissions within
500 m assessment area has been assessed. No adverse
air quality impact on the existing and planned ASRs is anticipated.
18.2.3
Cumulative odour
impact arising from existing odour sources and the proposed sewage pumping
station (SPS) has been assessed.
With implementation of the proposed mitigation measures, adverse odour
impact is not expected.
Construction
Noise
18.3.1
Assessment on
potential construction noise impact arising from the Project has been conducted
qualitatively. The assessment results indicate that with the implementation of
appropriate mitigation measures, no adverse construction noise impact would be
anticipated.
Road
Traffic Noise
18.3.2
Road traffic
noise impact assessment has been conducted. The predicted overall noise levels
would exceed the relevant noise criteria at a number of
noise sensitive receivers (NSRs) in the unmitigated scenario. With the
implementation of the proposed noise mitigation measures including the
provision of low noise road surfacing (LNRS), absorptive type noise barriers,
and acoustic windows/balconies or acoustic windows/balconies lined with sound
absorptive material, the overall noise levels at all planned NSRs within the
Development Area would comply with the traffic noise criteria. For the existing NSRs with the predicted
traffic noise levels exceeding the relevant noise criteria, all practicable
direct mitigation measures, such as noise barriers and LNRS, have been
considered such that the predicted traffic noise levels from Project roads
would be below the relevant noise criteria, and the noise contribution from the
Project roads to the overall traffic noise levels at all existing NSRs would be
less than 1.0 dB(A). Therefore, no further direct mitigation
measures are required for these existing NSRs. In addition, these NSRs would not be
eligible for indirect technical remedies due to high prevailing noise levels
and/or dominant noise contribution from the existing roads.
Fixed
Noise Sources
18.3.3
In view of the
large separation distance between the existing fixed noise sources and the
planned NSRs, and that the impact from the planned fixed noise sources could be
effectively mitigated by implementing at-source noise control measures during
the detailed design stage, no adverse impact from both the existing and
proposed fixed noise sources of the Project would be anticipated.
Rail
Noise
18.3.4
No adverse
airborne and ground-borne rail noise impact would be anticipated.
Construction
Phase
18.4.1
Water quality
impacts from the construction works are associated with the general
construction activities, construction site run-off, sewage effluent from
construction workforce, accidental spillage of chemicals, construction works in
proximity of / in inland waters, removal / diversion
of watercourses, removal / filling of ponds, groundwater from contaminated
areas, contaminated site run-off and wastewater from land contamination. With
the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures including proper site
management and good site practices, adverse water quality impact is not
anticipated.
Operational
Phase
18.4.2
All sewage
generated from the Project will be discharged to the public sewerage system and
diverted to San Tin Effluent Polishing Plant (EPP), and when necessary, to Yuen Long EPP for proper treatment via the proposed and existing
Nam Sang Wai (NSW) SPS. To avoid emergency bypass to the maximum extent as far
as practicable, various precautionary measures have been proposed for
incorporation in the design of the SPS.
Also, a Contingency Plan is recommended to be developed for dealing with
the remote occurrence of emergency discharge. Hence, the possibility of sewage
overflow would be remote, and the associated adverse water quality impact would
be minimised.
18.4.3
Another source of
potential impact during the operational phase will be non-point source run-off
from impervious areas. Stormwater control measures including adequate
stormwater drainage system with suitable pollutant removal devices, blue-green
infrastructure and best management practices are recommended for the Project to
minimise the non-point source pollution. The removal of watercourses would have
minimal impact on hydrology and flow regime. With proper implementation of the
recommended mitigation measures, it is anticipated that the water quality
impacts associated with the non-point source discharge from road surfaces and
developed areas would be minimised.
18.5.1
There is no
existing sewerage system near the Development Area. An on-site SPS with a
capacity of 44,875 m3/day, requiring 0.14 ha land, is proposed to
cater for the sewage generated from the Project including the operation of
future Northern Link (NOL) Main Line (i.e. 504 m3/day, with 10%
contingency) and the existing villages (i.e. 4,000 m3/day) in
initial stage. The collected sewage would be pumped from the proposed SPS to
San Tin EPP, and when necessary, to Yuen Long EPP via
the existing NSW SPS for treatment.
18.5.2
The proposed on-site SPS would be further upgraded from 44,875 m3/day to 55,875 m3/day
to cater for the increased sewage discharge from the nearby existing villages
in long term when need arises. Space has been reserved at Site G.1 for the
potential upgrade.
18.5.3
With sewage
septicity control measures, including consideration of non-dosing solutions
prior to dosing solutions, and recommendations for the proposed on-site SPS and
the associated sewerage system, no identified insurmountable sewerage
and sewage treatment implications arising from the Project are anticipated.
18.6.1
The main waste
types to be generated during the construction phase of the Project will include
construction and demolition (C&D) materials, chemical waste, general
refuse, excavated sediment, desilted materials and floating refuse. Provided
that the waste is handled, stored, transported and disposed of using approved
methods, adverse waste management implications, including potential hazards,
air and odour emissions, noise, wastewater discharge, ecology and public
transport, associated with handling, storage, transportation and disposal of
wastes during the construction phase of the Project are not expected.
18.6.2
The main waste
types to be generated during the operational phase of the Project will include
municipal solid waste, chemical waste, clinical waste and desilted materials. Two new
refuse collection points and a Community Recycling Centre will be provided by
the Project. The proposed waste infrastructures will provide convenient
collection of recyclables from the local community, and to create synergy to
achieve better operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Provided that the waste is handled, stored, transported and disposed of using
approved methods, adverse waste management implications, including potential
hazards, air and odour emissions, noise, wastewater discharge, ecology and
public transport, associated with handling, storage, transportation and
disposal of wastes during the operational phase of the Project are not
expected.
18.7.1
Site appraisals,
in the form of desktop review and site walkover, were carried out between
December 2021 and July 2025 to identify the past and current potentially
contaminating land uses within the Project Site. Based on the site appraisal, 30
potentially contaminated sites and 16 sites suspected to be used for industrial
purposes were identified within the Project Site (excluding the works sites /
areas under the NOL Main Line project and the development area under the San
Tin / Lok Ma Chau Development Node (STLMC DN) project). For the works sites / areas under the
NOL Main Line project and the development area under the STLMC DN project, any
potential land contamination issues within these areas would be addressed by
MTRCL under the NOL Main Line project and Civil Engineering and Development
Department (CEDD) under the STLMC DN project prior to the construction of
topside development and construction of the proposed road connection to/from
San Tin Technopole under this Project respectively. No potential land
contamination impact within these areas is therefore anticipated for the
Project.
18.7.2
Further land
contamination assessments, including further site appraisal and submission of
Contamination Assessment Plan(s) (CAP(s)), should be conducted for the whole
Project Site at a later stage of the Project when site access is available to
confirm the existing land uses / activities, identify the presence of any
potential contamination sources, and address any new contamination issues. The associated site investigation works and any necessary remediation action are recommended
to be carried out after operation of concerned site(s) has ceased but prior to
the commencement of construction works. The recommended further assessment and
remediation works, including the submission of CAP(s), Contamination Assessment
Report(s) / Remediation Assessment Plan(s) and Remediation Report(s) would follow the relevant Guidance Manual, Guidance Note and
Practice Guide.
18.7.3
With the
implementation of the recommended follow up works for the Project, any
soil/groundwater contamination would be identified and properly remediated
prior to the construction works. No insurmountable land contamination impacts to the Project are therefore anticipated.
18.8.1
Direct impacts
arising from the construction and operational phases of the Project include
direct loss of habitats and vegetation, fragmentation of wooded areas on Ngau
Tam Shan, direct impact on species of conservation importance, including flora
and fauna species, and bird collision. Avoidance, minimisation, mitigation and
compensation measures, such as transplantation and translocation of species of
conservation importance, incorporation of wildlife corridor and animal barriers
design, pre-construction survey for nest of White-throated Kingfisher and use
of non-transparent or non-glazing materials are recommended to avoid, minimise
and mitigate the potential direct impacts to the habitats and the associated
wildlife within and adjacent to the Project Site.
18.8.2
On the other
hand, indirect impacts such as disturbance impact to recognised sites of
conservation importance, ecologically sensitive resources, foraging ground as
well as associated wildlife, night-time disturbance and potential water quality
and hydrodynamics impact may be induced by the construction and operation of
the Project. Measures such as provision of screening, use of directional
lighting, general good site practice and other noise, air and water quality
mitigation measures are recommended. Moreover, the feasibility to adopt the
Modular Integrated Construction technology for the construction of connection of cycle track will also be explored in the
detailed design stage to minimise on-site construction works within the Wetland
Buffer Area and the associated potential disturbance impacts to other
ecologically sensitive resources in the vicinity.
18.8.3
In addition to
the abovementioned mitigation measures, a wetland compensation site would also
be provided to mitigate the unavoidable direct loss of marsh/reed and natural
watercourse habitats with low to moderate impact significance under the
Project. Further enhancement measures such as the proposed revitalisation works
in the Ngau Tam Mei Drainage Channel (NTMDC) would be implemented to enhance
the ecological value of the drainage channel in the area.
18.8.4
With the implementation
of the proposed mitigation and enhancement measures, no unacceptable residual
ecological impacts are anticipated to arise from the construction and operation
of the Project.
18.9.1
Permanent loss of
potential fisheries resources would be anticipated under the Project, however,
the area involved is considered as small in terms of the overall fishpond areas
in Hong Kong (i.e. less than 1% in total) and quite a number
of the active fishponds were utilised for non-edible ornamental fish
cultivation. The fisheries
impact arising from the Project is therefore considered to be low.
18.9.2
Upon the
implementation of recommended mitigation measures, no adverse impact on
fisheries resources is anticipated from the construction and operational phases
of the Project.
18.10.1
Considering the
scale and nature of the Project, it would inevitably result in certain levels
of landscape and visual impacts in relation to the loss of water bodies,
woodlands and the views from hilltop. Efforts have been
exhausted to ameliorate the potential visual impact of the Project as far as
possible. In addition, among the approximately 19,000 nos. of
existing trees within the Project Site, approximately 90% will be inevitably
affected by the proposed works and proposed to be removed or transplanted as
far as practicable , subject to further review at
detailed design stage. Tree compensation strategy would be proposed along the
proposed roadside amenity areas, open space sites and amenity sites in accordance
with the latest design layout. As stipulated in DEVB TC(W) No. 4/2020,
tree compensation in a ratio of 1:1 as far as possible is advisable, under the
current development proposal under purview of CEDD, areas are mainly public
roads and engineering infrastructure works. Future residential/ commercial
sites and UniTown which are outside the purview of CEDD and not considered for tree compensation under this assessment. In view of the
above, approximately 3,200 new trees are proposed to be compensated within
Project Site. The exact number and location are subject to the detailed design
and construction stages of this Project, areas within the Project Site and
off-site areas for compensatory tree planting should be explored and negotiated
with relevant project proponent(s) to achieve 1:1 ratio in compensatory tree
planting number as far as practicable. Nevertheless, the residual landscape
impacts arising from the revitalisation of the major modified drainage channel
(i.e. NTMDC) and rationalisation of the scattered brownfield operations, but
the majority of the proposed developments is located within developed/
wasteland / man-made re-creatable landscapes, while the residual visual impact
is confined within the visual envelope involving few numbers of public viewers
along footbridges, hiking trails and unmaintained paths viewing infrequently
and in short durations. With the implementation of the proposed landscape
planning and mitigation measures, the overall amenity
of the Project should contribute to its surrounding area and complementary to
the surrounding proposed developments as an urban fringe landscape, the overall
landscape residual landscape impact would
be ranging from beneficial to moderate
during operational phase, and the overall significance thresholds of visual
impact after mitigation measures established would range from slight to
moderate, no unacceptable adverse landscape and visual impacts with mitigation
measures implemented are expected.
18.11
Impact on Cultural Heritage
Built
Heritage Impact Assessment
18.11.1
Baseline study,
comprising of desktop research and field evaluation, has identified ten graded
historic buildings located within 300 m assessment area but outside the Project
Site, while no built heritage is located within the Project Site. Neither direct nor indirect impact is anticipated on the built heritage within
the assessment area.
18.11.2
During the
construction of the Project, there would be direct impacts on seven other
identified items that are located within the Project Site. Cartographic and photographic record,
and other documentation means (including 3D scanning) should be conducted prior
to the commencement of any construction works by the contractor(s) at the respective locations for record purposes and
future use.
18.11.3
On the other
hand, potential indirect impacts are anticipated on eight other identified
items due to their proximity to the Project Site. Standard control
measures on ground-borne vibration, tilting and settlement should be
implemented for these other identified items by the future contractor(s) by
drawing necessary references from relevant government guidelines.
18.11.4
During operational phase, in response to comments
obtained during public engagement, HB1219 will be preserved in situ, while
YTMT06 would be either preserved in situ or demolished subject to the future
project proponent¡¯s consideration at detailed design stage. As Wai Cheung Ancestral Hall
(HB1219) is proposed to be preserved in situ within the Project Site, standard measures of condition survey should be
conducted for the building
before and after the construction works to aid the formation of monitoring
proposal and confirm its structural stability respectively. If the former Yau Tam Mei Primary School (YTMT06) is
confirmed to be preserved in situ in subsequent stages, the abovementioned
monitoring and condition survey should also be conducted for the school during
the construction phase.
18.11.5
A buffer zone, where no piling works are allowed,
should be reserved according to the results of the pre-construction condition
survey in the design layout of the Project for HB1219 and YTMT06 (if preserved
in situ) to minimise potential adverse vibration impact from construction
works. Furthermore, the
contractor(s) should enforce protocol to forbid any direct contact of
construction machineries with them and provide physical barriers in order to protect the buildings¡¯ fabrics. Moreover, dust suppression measures and
good site practice should be adopted by the contractor(s) during the
construction phase in order to avoid dust nuisance on
HB1219, San Yau Vegetable Marketing Co-operative Society, Ltd. (YTMT05) and
YTMT06 (if preserved in situ). A
safe access route to HB1219, YTMT05 and YTMT06 (if preserved in situ) should be
maintained for conducting mitigation measures. Additionally, project proponent(s),
subsequent developer(s) and contractor(s) should be aware of eight other
identified items located in proximity of the Project Site when the construction
works are carrying out nearby.
18.11.6
During operational phase, it is anticipated that these
other identified items (HB1219 YTMT06) would be utilised as part of their
proposed land use, therefore, direct impact would be anticipated. However, in the case when YTMT06 would
be demolished during the construction phase, impact on YTMT06 is not
anticipated during operational phase and no mitigation measure is required.
18.11.7
Upon the preservation in situ of YTMT06, opportunity
for potential revitalisation should be explored and mitigation measures will be
proposed as appropriate in the detailed design stage. On the other hand, any revitalisation
proposed for HB1219 in subsequent stages should be further reviewed.
Archaeological
Impact Assessment
18.11.8
Based on the
desktop review and the findings of previous archaeological surveys, there are
high archaeological potential areas located within the Project Site, namely
Ngau Tam Mei Site of Archaeological Interest (SAI), Ngau Tam Mei Archaeologically Sensitive Area (ASA) and Ngau
Tam Mei (North) ASA. Direct impact
on archaeological heritage is anticipated during the construction phase.
18.11.9
Archaeological
excavation is recommended to be conducted at the Project Site within Ngau Tam
Mei SAI to obtain adequate archaeological information of the area, and retrieve
the archaeological data, if any, before the commencement of works involving
soil disturbance at the respective area, subject to future land resumption
status and discussion with Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) in later
stages.
18.11.10 Archaeological survey-cum-excavation is recommended to
be conducted at Ngau Tam Mei ASA and Ngau Tam Mei (North) ASA to obtain adequate archaeological information of these areas for verifying
their archaeological potential, and retrieve the archaeological data, if any,
before commencement of works involving soil disturbance at the respective areas, subject to future land resumption status and
discussion with AMO in later stages.
18.11.11 For the potential direct impact to areas possess
moderate-low archaeological potential within the Project Site, archaeological
survey should be conducted to obtain adequate archaeological information of
these areas for verifying their archaeological potential, and retrieve the
archaeological data, if any, before commencement of works involving soil
disturbance at the respective areas. It should be subject to future land
resumption status and discussion with AMO in later stages.
18.11.12 The low archaeological potential areas identified
within the archaeological assessments of the approved EIA reports of NOL and
STLMC DN within the Project Site are considered as having acceptable impact,
while there would be no impact on archaeological heritage by the Project for
the areas that have been disturbed heavily due to modern development and have
no archaeological potential. As a precautionary measure and pursuant to the Antiquities
and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53), the project proponent is required to
inform the AMO immediately in case of discovery of antiquities or supposed
antiquities in the course of works, so that appropriate mitigation measures, if
needed, can be timely formulated and implemented in agreement with and to the
satisfaction of AMO. With the
implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, adverse impacts on
archaeological heritage, if any, would not be anticipated.
18.12.1
No hazard to life
impact is anticipated as there are no existing hazardous facilities with
consultation zones encroaching upon the Project Site and no planned hazardous
facilities proposed under the Project.
18.13.1
A small portion
of the Project Site lies within the consultation zone of the closed and
restored Ngau Tam Mei Landfill. Qualitative landfill gas hazard assessment has
been conducted and the risk category is classified as
¡°Very Low¡± during both construction and operational phases, and thus no
mitigation measures are required.
However, appropriate precautionary and protective measures should be
considered to further minimise the landfill gas hazard.
18.14.1
According to the
Recommended Outline Development Plan, the existing 400 kV overhead cables are
situated near/at the southern and eastern portions of the Development Area.
Based on the measurement results in previous EIA studies, the electric field
(ELF) and electromagnetic field (EMF) generated by the existing 400 kV overhead
cables, even at the area directly underneath the overhead cables, were only a
few percent of the general public and occupational exposure standards, which
are well below the stipulated limits in the International Commission on
Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (1998) guideline. Hence, it is expected that the existing
400 kV overhead cables located within/in the vicinity of the Development Area
would not pose adverse impact on the proposed developments of the Project.