8                    LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

 

8.1              Assessment Methodology

 

Landscape Impact Assessment Methodology

 

8.1.1          The assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed works on the existing landscape comprises two distinct sections as follows:

 

·             Baseline survey; and

·             Potential landscape impact assessment

 

8.1.2          A baseline survey of the existing landscape character and quality within a 500 m radius of the proposed development has been undertaken by a combination of site inspections and desktop surveys.  The impact assessment and associated mitigation works cover areas within permanent land take and temporary works / disturbed areas.  The landscape elements considered include where applicable:

 

·             Local topography

·             Woodland and other vegetation types

·             Built form, land use patterns of settlement

·             Scenic spots

·             Details of local materials, architectural styles and streetscapes

·             Prominent watercourses

·             Cultural and religious identity, including feng shui features

 

8.1.3          The landscape baseline survey formed the basis of the landscape context by describing broadly homogenous units of similar character (Landscape Character Units).  These have been clearly delineated on plan.  The landscape character has been rated into low, medium or high depending not only upon the quality of the landscape elements present but also according to their sensitivity to change and local or regional importance.

 

8.1.4          The assessment of the potential landscape impacts of the proposed crematorium reprovisioning will result from:

 

·             Identification of the sources and magnitude of impacts that would be generated during construction and operation.

·             Identification of the principal landscape impacts, primarily in consideration of the degree of change to the baseline conditions.

 

8.1.5          Some common factors that have been considered in deriving the magnitude of change and sensitivity in assessing landscape impacts are as follows:

 

8.1.6          Factors affecting magnitude of change:

 

·             Compatibility of the crematorium with the surrounding landscape

·             Duration of impacts under construction and operation phases

·             Scale of development

·             Reversibility of change

 

8.1.7          Factors affecting sensitivity:

 

·             Quality of landscape character / resources

·             Importance and rarity of special landscape elements

·             Ability of the landscape to accommodate change

·             Significance of the change in local and regional context

·             Maturity of the landscape

 

8.1.8          The sensitivity / quality of the landscape has been assessed as follows:

 

·             High:  e.g. important components of a landscape of particularly distinctive character susceptible to relatively small changes

·             Medium:  e.g. a landscape of moderately valued characteristics reasonable tolerant to change

·             Low:  e.g. a relatively unimportant landscape able to absorb significant change

 

8.1.9          The magnitude of change in the landscape has been classified as follows:

 

·             Large:  Notable change in the landscape characteristics over an extensive area ranging to very intensive change over a more limited area

·             Intermediate:  moderate changes in a local area

·             Small: Virtually imperceptible change in any components of the landscape

·             Negligible:  Indiscernible change to landscape characteristics

 

8.1.10      The degree of impact or significance threshold has been considered as follows:

 

·             Significant:  adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause significant deterioration or improvement in existing landscape quality

·             Moderate:  adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause a noticeable deterioration or improvement in existing landscape quality

·             Slight:  adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause a barely perceptible deterioration or improvement in the existing landscape quality

·             Negligible:  no discernible change in the existing landscape quality

 

8.1.11      The analysis of the significance threshold for the landscape and visual impacts during construction and operation has been presented in the following form of matrix.  A ‘nil’ rating means that the impact is not applicable to the particular LCU.

 

Table 8.1   Matrix for Analysis of the Significance Threshold for the Landscape and Visual Impact

 

 

Visual Impact Assessment Methodology

 

8.1.12      Similar to the landscape impact assessment, the assessment of the potential visual impacts of the proposed works has two distinct stages as follows:

 

·             Baseline survey

·             Potential visual impact assessment

 

8.1.13      The baseline survey of views towards the proposed crematorium reprovisioning has been carried out by identifying:

 

a)          The visual envelope (2km distance or defined by natural or manmade features) within which the proposed development may be contained whether wholly or partially within views, including indirect effects such as temporary contractor’s works areas.

 

b)          The visually sensitive receivers (VSRs) within the visual envelope whose views will be affected by the scheme.  The sensitivity of each VSR group is also influenced by the distance and direction of view to the proposed development.  The potential receivers have been divided into three groups:

 

a)              View from residences.  This group is the most sensitive due to the high potential intrusion on the visual amenity and quality of life.  Sensitivity is ‘high’.

b)              View from workplaces.  This group including, e.g. schools, institutions and factories are less sensitive than a) since visual amenity is less important within the work environment with less emphasis on external views.  Sensitivity is ‘medium’.

c)              Views from public areas not included in a) or b).  This group includes, e.g., public parks, footpaths and roads.  Sensitivity of this group is relatively low and will depend on the transitory nature of the receiver with views being typically glimpsed rather than sustained for long periods.  Sensitivity is ‘low’.

 

8.1.14      The baseline survey describes and records by photograph typical views from within visual envelopes for low-level viewpoints (street level) and high level viewpoints (high-rise buildings / hillsides).  Wherever possible, future VSRs have also been considered.

 

8.1.15      The assessment of potential visual impacts results from the following:

 

·             Identification of the sources of visual impacts and their magnitude that would be generated during construction and operation

·             Identification of the principal visual impacts with particular consideration given to the degree of change to the baseline conditions

 

8.1.16      The impact assessment compared the typical existing views identified in the baseline survey of the key receiver groups and the potential view after the proposed works are complete.  Some typical factors affecting the magnitude of changes and sensitivity for assessing visual impacts include the following:

 

8.1.17      Factors affecting the magnitude of change:

 

·             Compatibility of the project with the surrounding landscape

·             Duration of impacts under construction and operation phases

·             Scale of development

·             Reversibility of change

·             Viewing distance

·             Potential blockage of view

 

8.1.18      Factors affecting the sensitivity of receivers:

 

·             Value and quality of existing views

·             Availability and amenity of alternative views

·             Type and estimated number of receiver population

·             Duration and frequency of view

·             Degree of visibility

 

8.1.19      The magnitude of change to the views have been classified as follows:

 

·             Large:  e.g. the majority of viewers affected / major change in view

·             Intermediate:  e.g. many viewers affected / moderate change in view

·             Small:  e.g. few viewers affected / minor change in view

·             Negligible:  e.g. very few viewers affected / no discernible change in view

 

8.1.20      The degree of visual impact or significance threshold has been rated in a similar fashion to the landscape impact described above, i.e. significant, moderate, slight and negligible.  The impacts may be beneficial or adverse.

 

Mitigation Measures

 

8.1.21      The identification of the landscape and visual impacts will highlight those sources of conflict requiring design solutions or modifications to reduce the impacts and, if possible, blend the development with the surrounding landscape.  The proposed landscape mitigation measures will be described and illustrated by means of site plans and photomontage and take into account factors including:

 

·             Screen planting

·             Transplanting of mature trees with good amenity value where appropriate

·             Conservation of topsoil for reuse

·             Sensitive alignment of structures to minimise disturbance to surrounding vegetation

·             Reinstatement of areas disturbed during construction

·             The design and finishes / colours of architectural and engineering structures such as terminals and pylons

·            Existing views, views of the development with no mitigation, views with mitigation at day one of operation and after 10 years of operation

 

Residual Impacts

 

8.1.22      Residual impacts are those impacts remaining after the proposed mitigation measures have been implemented.  This is often 10 to 15 years after operation commences when the planting mitigation measures are deemed to have reached a level of maturity which allow them to perform their original design objectives.

 

8.1.23      The level of impact is derived from the magnitude of change which the crematorium development will cause to the existing view or landscape character and its ability to tolerate change, i.e. the quality and sensitivity of the view or landscape character taking into account the beneficial effects of the proposed mitigation.  The significance threshold is derived from the matrix shown above.

 

8.1.24      The overall impact for the proposed crematorium scheme has been defined as follows:

 

Table 8.2   Overall Impact for the Proposed Crematorium Scheme

 

Beneficial	Acceptable	Acceptable with mitigation measures	Unacceptable	Undetermined
The impact is beneficial if the project will complement the landscape and visual character of its setting, will follow the relevant planning objectives and will improve overall and visual quality	The impact is acceptable if the assessment indicates that there will be no significant effects on the landscape, no significant visual effects caused by the appearance of the project, or no interference with key views	The impact is acceptable with mitigation measures if there will be some adverse effects, but these can be eliminated, reduced or offset to a large extent by specific measures	The impact is unacceptable if the adverse effects are considered too excessive and are unable to mitigate practically	The impact is undetermined if significant adverse effects are likely, but the extent to which they may occur or may be mitigated cannot be determined from the study.  Further detailed study will be required for the specific effects in question

 

Funding, Implementation, Management and Maintenance

 

8.1.25      It is anticipated that initial funding and implementation of the landscape and visual mitigation measures as well as on-going maintenance within the boundary of the crematorium will be by FEHD.  An implementation programme has been prepared as required by the TM of the EIAO. Reference will be made to the Works Bureau Technical Circular No. 14/2002 – Management and Maintenance of Natural Vegetation and Landscape Works and Tree Preservation which defines the management and maintenance responsibilities for natural vegetation and landscape works, including both softworks and hardworks, and the authorities for tree preservation and felling.

 

Photomontage Illustration

 

8.1.26      The effectiveness of the proposed impact mitigation proposals has been illustrated by means of a set of photomontages showing residual impacts at year 10 of the reprovisioned crematorium operation (see Figures 8.7 - 8.12)

 

8.2              Assessment Results

 

Review of Planning Development Control Framework

 

8.2.1          Figure 8.1 illustrates the existing planning context of the proposed crematorium development. The site is located within an “Other Specified Uses” zone annotated “Cemetery” (“OU-Cemetery”) on the Approved Ngau Chi Wan Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K12/14. According to the relevant Statutory Notes attached to the plan, “Crematorium” is a use that is always permitted within the “OU-Cemetery” zone, and no planning permission is required. Accordingly, the proposed use conforms fully with the existing planning intention.

Existing Landscape and Visual Context

 

8.2.2          To understand better the variety of landscape resources, the Study Area has been subdivided into key landscape character units (LCUs) within 500m of the proposed crematorium development, refer Figure 8.2, (Landscape Impact Assessment Survey Plan). Figure 8.2includes photographs to illustrate the typical character of each LCU throughout the Study Area which are described in more detail below.

 

 

 

 

8.2.3          LCU 1.  (Cemetery and Crematorium).  This LCU includes the existing Diamond Hill crematorium complex and cemetery.  The landscape resources are typical of most Hong Kong urban cemeteries, i.e. a mix of relatively sparse man-made terraces to accommodate the graves and memorials and mature amenity and ornamental tree and shrub planting at the crematorium entrance, building complex and memorial garden.  The portions of the slopes as yet undeveloped for grave terraces still have fairly dense shrub cover with pockets of woodland in the more protected ravines.  The only landscape resources which will be affected by the proposed development are located within this LCU and are discussed in more detail below.

 

8.2.4          LCU 2.  (Adjacent steep hillside).  This LCU comprises the undeveloped natural hillside tree and shrub vegetation immediately beyond the cemetery boundary.  This LCU is typical of the landscape character or the urban fringe below the Kowloon hills.  The proposed crematorium reprovisioning will have no impact on these landscape resources.

 

8.2.5          LCU 3.  (High-rise residential development)  This LCU comprises the high-rise residential estates to the south of the study area.  The landscape character of the housing estates is typical of that found throughout Hong Kong, i.e. visually dominant clusters of blocks interspersed with pockets of small scale open space / recreation facilities and amenity planting.  The proposed crematorium reprovisioning will have no impact on these landscape resources.

 

8.2.6          LCU 4.  (Service Reservoir)  This LCU comprises a grass covered service reservoir.  The proposed crematorium reprovisioning will have no impact on these landscape resources.

 

8.2.7          LCU 5.  (High-rise residential development)  This LCU comprises the high-rise residential estates and school bordering Po Kong Village Road to the west of the crematorium as well as the school village on a portion of the service reservoir.  Like LCU 3 the landscape character of the housing estates is typical of that found throughout Hong Kong.  The proposed crematorium reprovisioning will have no impact on these landscape resources.

 

Landscape Impacts

 

8.2.8          The crematorium reprovisioning will be carried out in two phases.  Phase I will be located on the existing sitting out area and garden of remembrance and Phase II will occupy the existing crematorium site.  To ensure continuity of services the existing cremators will remain in operation until the commissioning of the Phase I development.  The anticipated sources of impact on the landscape as a result of the crematorium reprovisioning will arise from the following.

 

·             Temporary works areas for the crematorium construction, hoarding, site formation etc.

·             Permanent development footprint of the completed crematorium.

·             Removal of mature trees and areas of shrub and lawn directly beneath the proposed crematorium works, notably the loss of the existing memorial garden.

 

8.2.9          The impacts have been assessed in terms of both measurable loss of landscape resources as the more subjective impacts of the development on the overall character of the landscape setting.  As outlined in the assessment methodology above the landscape impacts are a product of the magnitude of change and the sensitivity of the landscape to change.  In this context the following section discusses the anticipated temporary and permanent landscape impacts of the proposed development. Table 8.3 provides a summary of the key anticipated landscape impacts.  No additional landscape impact is expected during the transitional stage.

 

Landscape Resources – Tree Survey

 

8.2.10      The proposed crematorium reprovisioning will require removal of the existing facility and construction of a  bulkier complex extending over a larger area.  A detailed tree survey has been carried out to identify the  location and quantity of vegetation that will need to be cleared to accommodate the new development.  The landscape impact is anticipated to be significant for the following reasons:

·             The vegetation cover comprises a mix of planted native and exotic species.  There are many mature and semi-mature trees and shrubs of good form and amenity value which will need to be removed either by felling (24 nos.) or transplanting (132 nos.).  Felling is regarded as a last resort.  Transplanting trees of old and valuable and protected species is considered as the second last alternative.  Therefore, only species of poor health or form or which are difficult to transplant due to size or growth habit have been proposed for felling.  The tree felling application with i) comprehensive tree survey report, ii) compensatory planing proposals and iii) layout plan indicating the locations of the existing trees at the future development will be supplied to Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) by the contractor at least four months prior to works

 

·             Of the total 144 trees to be removed, the following 9 mature or semi-mature trees are protected species listed in the Forestry Regulations 1990:

 

Survey No.  Species (Mature &  semi-mature trees)		Survey No.      Species (Immature trees  & shrubs)
55	Ailanthus fordii	A	Michelia figo
56	Ailanthus fordii	B	Michelia figo
57	Ailanthus fordii	C	Rhodoleia championi
58	Ailanthus fordii	D	Rhodoleia championi
59	Ailanthus fordii	E	Camellia japonica
80	Rhodoleia championi	F	Camellia japonica
81	Rhodoleia championi	G	Camellia japonica
136	Michelia figo	H	Camellia japonica
147	Magnolia grandiflora	I	Michelia figo
		J	Osmanthus fragrans
		K	Camellia japonica
		L	Magnolia grandiflora

   

 

In addition, there are 12 plants (both shrubs and immature trees), listed above, which are also protected species.  These are listed as A to L on the Tree Schedule and comprise 5 nos. Camellia, 3 nos. Michelia figo, 2 nos. Rhodoleia, 1 no. Osmanthus and 1 no. Magnolia.  All of the above noted  21 nos. protected trees and shrubs are proposed to be transplanted within the cemetery.

 

·             The reprovisioned memorial garden and landscaped areas are smaller than the existing facilities, i.e. there is a net loss of 970m² of landscaped area (refer Table 8.3 below) and insufficient space to accommodate transplanting of all the affected trees within the development area or within the cemetery as a whole.   Therefore, it is anticipated that the surplus transplants will need to be held in a Government nursery until a suitable site is available.

 

Table 8.3   Summary of the key anticipated landscape impacts

 

Landscape Character Unit (LCU)	Description	Quality / Sensitivity	Magnitude of Change	Impact	Significance Threshold without mitigation
					During Construction	During Operation
LCU 1	Crematorium with amenity and ornamental planting to building complex and access roads.  Pockets of hillside vegetation adjacent to upper grave terraces	Medium	Large	Removal of  144 mature and semi-mature trees to accommodate bigger new building Net loss of landscaped area: Ex. planted area   = 2,620m2 New planted area = 1,650m2	Moderate / Significant- adverse	Moderate / Significant- adverse
LCU 2	Hillside woodland and shrub vegetation	High	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LCU 3	High-rise housing estate	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LCU 4	Service Reservoir	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LCU 5	High-rise housing and schools	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible

Visual Impacts

 

General Assessment

 

8.2.11      The proposed development comprises 6 cremators, 4 service halls and supporting facilities.  The building plans are illustrated in Figures 2.2 to 2.5, the master landscape plan is given in Figure 8.3 and the longitudinal and transverse sections of the New Crematorium is shown in Figure 8.4.  The design of the building takes the existing site conditions and terraced profile into account to minimise the need for site formation.  The building is generally low to medium-rise, the tallest component being the chimney, approximately 28.5 m high.  Building colours and finishes have not been finalised, however, it is recommended that generally recessive tones and non-reflective materials are used to minimise the contrast with the surrounding vegetation.  Planting areas to the roadside and deck areas bordering the new crematorium will be provided to help reduce the visual mass of the structure and soften the outline of the building.  No additional visual imapct is expected during transitional stage.

 

8.2.12      The crematorium has mature belts of trees along the boundary bordering Po Kong Village Road and Hammer Hill Road which provide a strategic and effective screen to passersby.  Although, as noted above, many trees will be affected by the development within the building platform, the screenbelt to the site boundary will not be affected and is expected to mitigate the majority of the potential visual impacts for the identified high level and low level VSR groups noted below.

 

Detail Assessment

 

8.2.13      Figure 8.5illustrates the visual envelope for both low-level and high-level visually sensitive receivers and Figure 8.6 includes a selection of existing views to demonstrate the visual character of the site and surroundings.  The high-level visual envelope is contained by the adjacent high-rise residential blocks at Fu Shan Estate, King Shan Court, Sun Lai Garden, Grandview Garden, Plaza Hollywood and Fung Tak Estate.  Views of the proposed crematorium building from the west, e.g. the nearby schools east of Tsz Man Estate are screened by the intervening columbarium building and multi-storey CLP transformer / sub-station.   Low-level views are typically contained by intervening topography, structures or vegetation such as the boundary amenity tree planting within the crematorium. Table 8.4 identifies the key groups of visually sensitive receivers and records the relative impacts of the proposed development on each.

Table 8.4   Summary of the key anticipated visual impacts

 

Key Visually Sensitive Receivers	Typical Viewpoint	Approx. no. of receivers and distance	Quality / Sensitivity	Magnitude of Change	Impact	Significance Threshold without mitigation
						During construction	During operation
High Level (Residential) 1.Fu Shan     Estate 2.King Shan    Court 3.Sun Lai   Garden 4.Grandview    Garden 5.Plaza    Hollywood 6.Fung Tak    Estate	Medium to long distance views over Diamond Hill area dominated by neighbouring housing estates, service reservoir in the near to middle distance and Kowloon hills in background	3 blocks 300m 7 blocks 350m 2 blocks 350m 3 blocks 300-350m 5 blocks 600m 4 blocks 500m	High   High   High   High   High   High	Small   Small   Small   Small   Negligible   Negligible	Visual impacts for high and low-level VSRs outside the cemetery will be mitigated to a large extent by the relatively low-rise crematorium building and the screening effect of the belts of mature trees within and around the cemetery.   Impact on cemetery visitors is mainly during construction and mitigated in operation by the crematorium being an integral feature in the cemetery.	Moderate- adverse Moderate- adverse Moderate- adverse Moderate- adverse Negligible   Negligible	Moderate- adverse Moderate- adverse Moderate- adverse Moderate- adverse Negligible   Negligible
(Public Areas) 7.Cemetery     Columbarium	View dominated by nearby crematorium, trees  and hillside graves	50m	Low	Intermediate (construction) Small (operation)		Slight / Moderate- adverse	Slight- adverse
Low Level (Public Areas) 8.Po Kong    Village Road    pedestrians /    road users   9.School village       10.Cemetery    Visitors       11.Service    reservoir   (possible future    recreation use)	Views dominated by traffic, service reservoir and roadside planting     Views dominated by traffic, adjacent high-rise buildings and roadside planting   Views dominated by trees and hillside grave terraces       Open, medium to long distance views to surrounding estates and Kowloon Hills beyond	50m         200m       10 - 300m         100m	Low         Medium       Low         Low	Negligible         Negligible       Intermediate (construction) Small (operation)   Negligible		Negligible         Negligible       Slight / Moderate- adverse     Negligible	Negligible         Negligible       Slight- adverse       Negligible

Estimated Number of VSRs

 

8.2.14      Based on the data contained in Table 8.4 it is estimated that there will be the following number of VSRs affected to some extent by the crematorium reprovisioning work.

 

Ÿ             Residents on upper floors of 24 high-rise blocks (refer Figure 8.5 for visual envelope)

Ÿ             Pedestrians and road users in Po Kong Village Road.  This number is difficult to quantify but should nevertheless be noted.

Ÿ             Visitors to the cemetery.  This number is difficult to quantify but should nevertheless be noted.

 

Recommended Mitigation Measures During Construction/Operation

 

8.2.15      Tree transplanting:  The tree survey has identified the trees which will be affected by the development and which could be considered for transplanting prior to commencement of construction work.  Felling will only be considered as a last resort and every effort should be made to transplant the many good trees of high amenity value to either nearby suitable sites within the cemetery or to a Government holding nursery pending identification of an alternative site.  The feasibility of transplanting will depend on a number of factors such as size, health and species of the tree.  Adequate time (a minimum of 4 months) should be allowed for preparing trees for transplanting.  Weekly inspection of tree protection measures as well as monitoring of tree transplant operations during both phases should be implemented.  Particular care should be taken to save the 9 nos. mature and semi-mature protected tree species and 12 nos. protected shrub and immature tree species identified.  To give the protected species the best possible chance of survival it is recommended that they are relocated to sheltered and well maintained planted areas within the cemetery.  The following measures for tree transplanting should be adopted:

 

(a)        Appoint a landscape contractor for the establishment and maintenance of the transplanted trees as well as any new tree planting for 12 months upon completion of the works.

(b)        Careful co-ordination of Phase I and II works to allow tree transplanting from Phase II site directly to Phase I site.

 

8.2.16      Tree protection:  Trees to be retained adjacent to works areas will be carefully protected by strong hoarding and if necessary additional protection to individual tree trunks to avoid damage by machinery.  The hoarding will also prevent contractors from compacting soil around tree roots or dumping materials.  Reference should be made to the guidelines for tree protection in the Government publication: Webb, R., (ed.) Tree Planting and Maintenance in Hong Kong (Hong Kong:  Hong Kong Government, 1991).

 

8.2.17      Topsoil conservation:  Any topsoil excavated during construction will be carefully saved and stored to one side of the works area for reuse upon completion.

 

8.2.18      Replanting:  Upon completion planting of ornamental trees and shrubs will be provided to the periphery of the new crematorium building to help screen and soften the overall appearance of the structure.  In addition, a reprovisioned memorial garden with a lotus pond and ornamental planting will be incorporated in the deck area of the building, refer Figure 8.3for the Indicative Master Landscape Plan. Since the majority of the new planting will be on the deck structure the selection of species will be more limited with emphasis on smaller trees and ornamental shrubs to comply with loading restrictions.  Notwithstanding this site constraint on tree selection, a minimum of 1.2m soil depth will be provided for tree planting on the podium / roof structure for healthy establishment of the new tree planting.

 

8.2.19      Crematorium Architecture:  The building profile has been designed in response to the site terraced topography to minimise site formation which greatly reduces the overall visual impact, (refer to Figures 2.2-2.5 and 8.3 for building plan and master landscape plan). In addition, it is recommended that the material finishes be non-reflective and low-key in nature using predominantly recessive tones to blend in as far as possible with the surrounding vegetation.

Photomontages

 

8.2.20      To illustrate the effectiveness of the various landscape and visual mitigation measures described above, photomontages have been prepared for a representative cross-section of the key viewpoints. The photomontage viewpoint locations are indicated on Figure 8.6 and the photomontages are indicated Figures 8.7 to 8.12.  As illustrated in the photomontages, the proposed crematorium development, being low-rise, located neatly on the existing terraced landform  and for the most part screened by the surrounding mature trees, is not anticipated to be visually intrusive. Accordingly, due to the vegetation and topographical site features noted above for all the key viewpoints, A to F, there is negligible difference in visual impact between the development with no mitigation (no screen planting), with mitigation (with screen planting) and the development with mitigation after 10 years (when the trees are bigger).

 

8.2.21      Tables 8.5 and 8.6 summarise the residual landscape and visual impacts anticipated after the mitigation measures noted above have been carried out.

Table 8.5   Summary of mitigation measures and residual landscape impacts

 

Landscape Character Unit (LCU)	Sources of Impact	Magnitude of Change		Landscape Quality/ Sensitivity	Mitigation Measures	Residual impact after implementation of mitigation measures
		Construction	Operation			Construction	Operation
LCU 1	Removal of 144 mature and semi-mature trees to accommodate bigger new building resulting in net loss of landscape resources	Large	Intermediate	Medium	·        Transplant as many of affected trees as practicable within the cemetery. ·        New tree and shrub planting to new crematorium upon completion	Moderate / Significant -adverse	Moderate- adverse
LCU 2	No direct impact	Negligible	Negligible	High	N/A	Negligible	Negligible
LCU 3	No direct impact	Negligible	Negligible	Low	N/A	Negligible	Negligible
LCU 4	No direct impact	Negligible	Negligible	Low	N/A	Negligible	Negligible
LCU 5	No direct impact	Negligible	Negligible	Low	N/A	Negligible	Negligible

Table 8.6   Summary of mitigation measures and residual visual impacts

 

Visually Sensitive Receivers (VSRs)	Sources of Impact	Magnitude of Change		Visual Quality / Sensitivity	Mitigation Measures	Residual impact after implementation of mitigation measures
		Construction	Operation			Construction	Operation
High Level (Residential) 1.Fu Shan   Estate 2.King Shan    Court 3.Sun Lai    Garden 4.Grandview    Garden 5.Plaza    Hollywood 6.Fung Tak    Estate (Public Areas) 7.Cemetery    Columbarium   Low Level (Public Areas) 8.Po Kong   Village Road   pedestrians /   road users 9.School village 10.Cemetery    visitors 11.Service    reservoir  (possible future    recreation use)	New, larger building results in net loss of mature trees within the heart of the cemetery though not generally noticeable by more distant VSRs.       Visual impact of new building and net loss of trees not generally noticeable by low-level VSRs due to screening effect of cemetery’s boundary tree belts	Small   Small   Small   Small   Negligible   Negligible     Intermediate         Negligible       Negligible Intermediate     Negligible	Small   Small   Small   Small   Negligible   Negligible     Small         Negligible       Negligible Small     Negligible	High   High   High   High   High   High     Low         Low       Medium Low     Low	·         Provide hoarding to screen development, particularly from cemetery visitors   ·         Design building as low-rise structure with non-reflective materials / recessive colour tones   ·         Provide new tree and shrub planting around new building to soften outline   ·         Retain as many of the mature trees affected by the development within the cemetery site to supplement the general screening effect and visual amenity.	Moderate- adverse Moderate-adverse Moderate-adverse Moderate-adverse Negligible   Negligible     Slight / Moderate- adverse     Negligible       Negligible Slight / Moderate- adverse Negligible	Moderate- adverse Moderate-adverse Moderate-adverse Moderate-adverse Negligible   Negligible     Slight- adverse       Negligible       Negligible Slight- adverse   Negligible

Funding, Implementation and Management

 

8.2.22      The proposed landscape and visual impact mitigation measures are all on-site.  No off-site mitigation measures are proposed.  Accordingly, the funding, implementation and ongoing management of the planted areas will be by FEHD.  Of particular concern is the fate of the trees to be transplanted.  The transplanting procedure and transplant locations will need further discussion at the detail design stage.  As discussed above, it is recommended to find locations within other areas of the crematorium to accommodate as many of the transplants as possible.  Also, depending upon the detailed programme of the crematorium development, it may be possible to transplant designated trees from the Phase 2 site into new planting areas within Phase 1 before commencement of the Phase 2 works. In either scenario, the landscape contractor will be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the transplanted trees as well as any new planting for 12 months upon completion of the works, after which time the maintenance responsibility would be expected to return to FEHD.

 

Cumulative Impacts

 

8.2.23      As shown in Figures 8.13 – 8.18, there are no significant cumulative landscape or visual impacts anticipated as a result of the demolition of the existing crematorium and construction of the new crematorium as they are both considered to be one development ‘entity’, i.e. the new replacing the old in the same general location.  The photomontages indicate that the old and new development during construction as well as in operation will not have cumulative impacts for VSRs or the surrounding landscape character. Regarding potential cumulative impacts of other designated projects in the vicinity of the crematorium, no significant landscape or visual impacts are anticipated. Although the Diamond Hill No. 2 Freshwater Service Reservoir project may overlap the crematorium demolition and construction programme the relatively well screened and small-scale crematorium site is not anticipated to contribute any significant cumulative impacts when seen in association with the reservoir works.  The KCRC Sha Tin to Central development is below ground in the vicinity of the crematorium and is therefore not anticipated to result in any cumulative landscape or visual impacts.

 

Conclusion and Summary of Landscape and Visual Impacts

 

8.2.24      The crematorium reprovisioning works will result in a net loss of soft landscaped area of approximately 970 m² including removal of 144 trees (nine of which are protected species) and 12 additional shrubs and immature trees which are protected species . The area of planting in the Existing Crematorium is 2,620 m²; the areas of planting, lily pond and lawn in the New Crematorium are 1,650 m², 751 m² and 507 m² respectively).  It is proposed to minimise the anticipated landscape impacts by transplanting the most suitable specimens, including all of the protected species (total: 21 specimens), to locations within the cemetery.  FEHD has advised that if not all the trees can be accommodated within existing planting areas then the surplus can be accommodated in the Wo Hop Shek Cemetery in the New Territories.  This will apply mainly to the trees affected by the Phase I development.  Careful co-ordination of the two phases of construction will allow transplants from the Phase II site to be transplanted directly into the completed Phase I site.  The proposed transplanting coupled with the proposed new planting to the crematorium perimeter and open space areas will help mitigate the overall landscape impacts. Although the new development will result in a larger building footprint and the landscaped areas are generally more compact, it is estimated that new tree planting can be provided on a one-for-one basis to replace the 144 trees to be removed.

 

8.2.25      The visual impacts arising from the tree removal and construction of the new building are not anticipated to be significant due to the retention of the cemetery’s dense and mature boundary tree belt which provides a strategic screen to low-level VSRs.  The building is generally low to medium rise and nestles neatly into the existing topography and surrounding amenity planting thus reducing the overall visual impacts for high-level VSRs.  As a result it is anticipated that the overall residual landscape and visual impacts will be acceptable with the proposed mitigation measures.