7 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1 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.

7.2 Monitoring Details

7.2.1 The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape 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.

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 IC(E)	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 IC(E)	3 months
Long Term Operation (10 year)	Monitoring of the long-term management of the planting works in the period up to 10 years after completion of the construction works.	Report on compliance by ET or Maintenance Agency	Counter-signature of report by Management Agency	12 months

Design

7.2.2 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. Designs should be checked 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.

7.2.3 The Client should prepare a detailed 10-Year Management Programme for the long-term management and maintenance of the planting works following the Establishment periods. The Programme should include evaluation and objectives for management, details of the operations to be undertaken to achieve these objectives, and outline of work programmes.

Construction & Establishment Period

7.2.4 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).

7.2.5 Measures to mitigate landscape and visual impacts during construction should be checked to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures.

7.2.6 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.

Long Term Management

7.2.7 The success or otherwise of all planting works intended to mitigate the visual and landscape impact of the roads, the noise barriers and street lighting shall be monitored during the first ten years of the operational phase of the project. Any areas of vegetation which have failed to establish, should be corrected by the appropriate maintenance authorities at the earliest opportunity. Monitoring should include the long-term maintenance of the planting works under the detailed 10-Year Management Programme.

7.3 Baseline Monitoring

7.3.1 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, IC(E) and EPD for record.

7.4 Event/Action Plan for Landscape and Visual Works

Construction & Establishment Periods

EVENT ACTION LEVEL	ACTION
	ET	IC(E)	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
Exceedance on one occasion	· Identify Source · Inform IC(E) and ER · Discuss remedial actions with IC(E), 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 Exceedance	· Identify Source · Inform IC(E) and ER · Increase monitoring frequency · Discuss remedial actions with IC(E), ER and Contractor · Monitor remedial actions until rectification has been completed · If exceedance 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

Long Term Management

EVENT	ACTION
ACTION LEVEL	MAINTENANCE AGENCY	MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Exceedance	· Identify Source · Discuss remedial actions with Management Agency · Monitor remedial actions until rectification has been completed	· Check report · Discuss with Maintenance Agency possible remedial measures · Supervise implementation of remedial measures.

7.5 Mitigation Measures

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

DP1 - Reclamation

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase

· Hydroseeding of unoccupied reclaimed land to provide immediate greening effect until such time as the land is developed (CM1).

· Minimisation of works areas (CM2).

· Erection of decorative hoardings (CM3).

· Control night-time lighting (CM4);

· Minimisation of disruption to public by effective programming of the works (CM5).

· Temporary re-provision of pedestrian access, where appropriate (CM6).

7.5.2 It is proposed that temporary landscape works (OM12) will be undertaken in the planned open space areas along the waterfront, until such time as landscape and visual mitigation measures as encapsulated in the Master Landscape Plan for the WDII Development are designed and built.

DP – WDII – Major Roads

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase

· Minimisation of works areas (CM2).

· Erection of decorative hoardings (CM3).

· Control night-time lighting (CM4);

· Minimisation of disruption to public by effective programming of the works (CM5).

· Temporary re-provision of pedestrian access, where appropriate (CM6).

· Topsoil, where identified, should be stripped and stored for re-use in the construction of the soft landscape works, where practical (CM7).

· Preservation and protection of existing trees, where possible, and transplanting, if practical, when preservation and protection is not possible (CM8).

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase

· Sensitive Aesthetic Design of Structures (OM9)

· Attractive Streetscape Design (OM10).

· Attractive Soft Landscape Design in Roadside Amenity Areas (OM11)

DP3 – Kellett Island Marina

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase

· Minimisation of works areas (CM2).

· Erection of decorative hoardings (CM3).

· Control night-time lighting (CM4);

· Minimisation of disruption to public by effective programming of the works (CM5).

· Temporary re-provision of pedestrian access, where appropriate (CM6).

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase

7.5.3 The mitigation measure specifically relevant to the Kellett Island Marina is the sensitive design of the Marina Breakwater.

Schedule 3 Project - WDII

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase

· Hydroseeding of unoccupied reclaimed land to provide immediate greening effect until such time as the land is developed (CM1).

· Minimisation of works areas (CM2).

· Erection of decorative hoardings (CM3).

· Control night-time lighting (CM4);

· Minimisation of disruption to public by effective programming of the works (CM5).

· Temporary re-provision of pedestrian access, where appropriate (CM6).

· Topsoil, where identified, should be stripped and stored for re-use in the construction of the soft landscape works, where practical (CM7).

· Preservation and protection of existing trees, where possible, and transplanting, if practical, when preservation and protection is not possible (CM8).

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase

7.5.4 The landscape and visual mitigation measures in the Operation Phase would be achieved principally through the realisation of a Master Landscape Plan encompassing the following principal objectives:

· the establishment of a network of open spaces providing for a range of functions including pedestrian circulation and as a venue for community events;

· the creation of major landscape spaces forming pedestrian arteries linking the waterfront with existing open spaces, proposed and existing adjacent developments and other areas of the city;

· the establishment of an integrated, pedestrian oriented streetscape which will enhance pedestrian movement, integrate the proposed and existing developments within an overall landscape framework and generally improve the quality of the public environment;

· the provision of green buffer areas to mitigate negative environmental conditions associated with transport corridors, especially for the proposed IECL;

· the development of an integrated, fully co-ordinated design, incorporating all foreseeable functional requirements such as utilities, drainage reserves, and pumping stations;

· the creation of a high quality Waterfront Park which will reflect and integrate with that proposed for the Central District Reclamation development;

· the provision of open space linkage between the Central Reclamation and HKCEC in the west, the RHKYC, Victoria Park and stretching to North Point to the east.

7.5.5 The Implementation Schedule for the mitigation measures is attached in Appendix A.