7.1
This Section
defines the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) requirements that
have been recommended to ensure that the proposed landscape and visual
mitigation measures are effectively implemented.
7.2
The implementation
of the Project into the study area will result in mainly moderately adverse to slightly
beneficial landscape impacts with moderately
adverse visual impacts assuming mitigation measures are incorporated. A moderately adverse landscape impact occurs
along the Ma Wan coastal area, from a loss of a large section of existing low
lying coastal flats and waters and the construction of new viaducts across the
river valley outflow. There will be a slightly beneficial landscape impact
along the Tuen Mun Road corridor if planting mitigation measures are
implemented. The incorporation of visual mitigation measures into the Project
will help to reduce the large number of adverse visual impacts to acceptable
residual levels. A range of mitigation measures have been proposed including
construction mitigation measures that include attractive hoarding design, early
tree planting and hydroseeding as a soil erosion control to improve visual
characteristics.
7.3
The operation
phase is considered to be of a moderate visual and landscape impact. The reclamation associated with the new seawall
minimises the extent of reclamation to within that of the existing high water
mark. Further extensive compensatory roadside planting aims to produce an
enhanced environment, where a degraded one existed before.
7.4
The primary
residual impacts will be the visual intrusion of the new viaducts and these are
made more adverse with the incorporation of noise mitigation barriers.
Similarly the large enclosures at Siu Lam interchange have a significant
adverse visual impact. Effective mitigation of these barriers will be extremely
important to the implementation of the scheme.
7.5
A key landscape
design issue during detailed design will be the need for a high level of
co-ordination and liaison between the design consultants and government to
ensure that all recommended mitigation measures are effectively incorporated
into the Project. The proposed works would not be acceptable in landscape and
visual terms if these mitigation measures are not incorporated.
Construction Programming and management (LMM1)
7.6
The construction
programme for the project should be reduced to the shortest possible period,
particularly in those locations where servere or high landscape and visual
impacts are expected.
7.7
Keeping the
periphery of the works areas at street level clean and tidy and attractive and
convenient for pedestrians.
7.8
Use colorful
hoarding with interesting motifs.
Advanced planting and erosion control works
(LMM2)
7.9
Advance planting
of trees and landscape areas.
7.10
Temporary
hydroseeding of stockpiled topsoil to minimize erosion and improved the visual
appearance.
7.11
Maintenance and
management of planting during operation.
Maximization of amenity planting in road corridor
(LMM3)
7.12
Opportunities to
incorporate significant amenity areas along the alignment should be maximized
to provide visual relief in an otherwise congested traffic environment. Efforts to remove the footpath from the
immediate road edge are to be incorporated whenever possible.
7.13
Substantial
planting of amenity areas.
7.14
Maintenance of
planting during operation.
Design, materials and finishes of engineering
structures (LMM4)
7.15
The quality of the
design of all engineering structures, which will include viaducts, parapets,
piers, slip roads, noise barriers, noise enclosures and drainage systems. Attention should be given to design modern
and attractive structures.
7.16
High quality
finishes to structural elements.
7.17
Maintenance and
management during operation.
Maximization of woodland planting on disturbed
land (LMM5)
7.18
Compensatory
planting.
7.19
Maintenance and
management of planting during operation.
Urban area under-viaduct hard and soft landscape
works (LMM6)
7.20
Where viaducts
result in sterilized space under viaducts, extensive hard and soft landscape
works should be provided to enhance and restore the function of the land,
including creepers and climbers on retaining walls and supporting columns.
7.21
Maintenance and
management of during operation.
7.22
The implementation
schedule of the recommended mitigation measures is presented in Appendix 2f.