8.1
This section
assesses the likely visual impacts of the concrete batching plant and proposes
mitigation measures to alleviate the impacts caused. However, by the nature and scale of the project, it is very
unlikely that the plant would create a significant visual impact as viewed from
Baguio Villas, and other sensitive receivers in the close vicinity.
8.2
The Cyberport
development lies on the west coast of Hong Kong Island to the south of Pok Fu
Lam and comprises an area of existing flat reclamation bordered to the north,
east and south by densely wooded slopes, and some residential development, and
to the west by the open waters of the East Lamma Channel between Lamma Island
and Hong Kong Island. It is overlooked
by a number of residential developments, notably Baguio Villa, Kong Sin Wan
Tsuen village, Wah Fu Estate, Pok Fu Lam Gardens and houses along Sassoon
Road. These currently have open views
over the channel. The proposed concrete batching plant is located to the south
of the vertical seawall within the Route 7 reserve (Figure 8.1).
8.3
The operation of
the concrete batching plant is divided into two stages. The stage 1 proposed
concrete batching plant is mobile and of dimension 23m x 20m x15m. After stage
2 proposed plant is operated, stage 1 will act as a stand by plant on site. The
overall configuration is a temporary structure of 95m x 45m x 24m (max height)
near the shore on a large construction site with other plant and equipment and
is therefore unlikely to be an eyesore during the construction phase of
Cyberport. The 24m high of the proposed Stage 2 concrete batching plant is the
minimum requirement for the normal operation and maintenance. By the time the
office towers in Phases C1, C2 and C3 are erected, the concrete batching plant
will have been totally screened from the line of sight of the lower floor
receivers in the nearby residential community. The plant will be demolished and
removed after the project is finished.
8.4
The methodology
for undertaking the visual impact assessment is in general accordance with
Annex 18 of the Technical Memorandum to the Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance (EIAO). The assessment of
impacts is based on the criteria in Annex 10 of the EIAO. The main elements are given below.
8.5
The source and
magnitude of effects caused by the proposed development on the existing views,
visual amenity, character and quality of the visually sensitive receivers
within the context of the site and its environs were assessed.
8.6
The assessment of
the potential visual impact of the scheme comprised two distinct parts:
Ÿ
Baseline survey; and,
Ÿ
Visual impact assessment.
8.7
The baseline
survey of all views towards the proposal facility was undertaken by
identifying:
§
The visual envelope
or visual zone within which the proposed development may be contained either
wholly or partially within views. This
also includes indirect effects such as offsite construction activities;
§
The visually
sensitive receivers within the visual envelope whose views will be effected by
the proposed construction. The
potential receivers include the following three groups:
Views from
residences – the most sensitive of receivers due to the potential of intrusion
on the visual amenity and quality of life;
View from
workplaces – less sensitive than above due to visual amenity being less
important within the work environment, and;
Views from
public areas – including all areas apart from the above, e.g., public parks,
recreation grounds, footpaths, roads, etc.
Sensitivity of this group depends on the transitory nature of the
receiver, e.g. sitting in a park or travelling on a highway. Also considered is the degree of view or
glimpsed views.
8.8
Its location and
direction of view relative to the batching plant also influence the sensitivity
of each group. Typical viewpoints from
within each of the visually sensitive groups are identified and their views
described. Both present and future visually
sensitive receivers have been considered.
8.9
The baseline
survey has formed the basis of the visual character and quality of the
site. The assessment of the potential
visual impacts was based on:
Ÿ
Identification of the sources of visual impact, and their
magnitude, that would be generated during construction and operation of the plant;
and,
Ÿ
Identification of the principal visual impacts primarily in
consideration of the degree of change to the baseline conditions.
8.10
The impact
assessment relates to the typical viewpoints within the visual receiver group,
as identified previously, and their existing and potential views subsequent to
the construction of the plant. The visual impact assessment takes into account
the following:
Ÿ
Character of existing views;
Ÿ
Quality of existing view;
Ÿ
Context and location of the visually sensitive receiver;
Ÿ
Visual receiver group sensitivity;
Ÿ
Degree of change of existing views;
Ÿ
Other views available to visual receiver group; and,
Ÿ
The cumulative effects on views of this and to other neighbouring
developments.
8.11
The degree of
visual impact is rated in a similar fashion to the landscape impact, i.e.
substantial, moderate, slight and no change.
The impacts may be beneficial or adverse.
8.12
The sensitive
receivers to the concrete batching plant will be the Baguio Villa, Aegean
Terrace and Pok Fu Lam Garden and Chi Fu Fa Yuen.
8.13
As Pok Fu Lam
Garden and Aegean Terrace are at a
higher level, it will not block the view towards the existing landscape
features.
8.14
The stage 1
proposed concrete batching plant is of dimension 23m x 20m x15m. In the present
situation, the view of stage 1 concrete batching plant will be greatly shielded
off by the existing earth mound (Fig.8.2). After the completion of stage 2
concrete batching plant, the stage 1 plant will be put inside the enclosure of
stage 2 plant. Therefore the impact from stage 1 plant is minor.
8.15
The total
dimensions of the proposed stage 2 and Stage 1 concrete batching plant is 95m ´ 45m ´ ~24m (max height)
and the elevation view of the concrete batching plant layout is shown in
Fig.2.7. The height of the lower floor in the Baguio Villa is around 30-40 mPD.
The proposed plant will only obstruct a very small part of the view of the
sensitive receiver in the lower floor of Baguio Villa during the operation
stage.
8.16
Fig. 8.3a and 8.3b
show the photomontages of the concrete batching plant, as viewed from Baguio
Villas and Wah Fu. At present, the
existing earth mound will partially shield the view of the concrete batching
plant from the Baguio Villa.
8.17
After the main
construction contracts starts, office buildings will be constructed between the
sensitive receivers and the concrete batching plant. By the end of 2001, the
buildings marked as “1” – “7” on Figure 8.1 will be partially or fully
constructed. This will further reduce the visual impact from the concrete batching
plant on Baguio Villa. A photomontage
of the plant as viewed from Baguio Villas after the erection of the office
towers in Phase C1, C2 and C3 is shown in Figure 8.4.
8.18
The external
façade of the concrete batching plant will be fabricated by steel. In order to
increase the visual compatibility of the concrete batching plant, it is
suggested to paint the reflective material and the external façade of the
concrete batching plant into dull green.
8.19
The construction
of the plant is temporary and will be decommissioned after the project is
finished. It will have no permanent effect to the sensitive receivers.
8.20
The proposed
concrete batching plant is only a small, temporary, low-rise structure near the
seawall of a large construction site at Telegraph Bay. At present, it is
partially screened by an existing earth mound. By the time the office blocks in
Phases C1, C2 and C3 are erected, the plant will be further screened from the
views of the nearby sensitive receivers. As such, it is not expected to have a
significant visual impact on sensitive receivers in the neighbourhood.