7. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL
7.1.1 The EIA has recommended the EM&A for
landscape and visual resources is undertaken during both the design,
construction and operational phases of the project. The design, implementation and maintenance
of landscape mitigation measures is a key aspect of this and 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.
In addition, implementation of the mitigation measures recommended by
the EIA will be monitored through the site audit programme.
7.2.1
The Landscape and
Visual Assessment of the EIA recommended a series of mitigation measures for
the construction phase to ameliorate the landscape and visual impacts of the
project. These measures include the
following, which are also summarised in the environmental mitigation
implementation schedules provided in Appendix A:
¨
the construction programme for the PAFF should be reduced to the
shortest possible period and should be executed in phases, with future phases
of tanks built in sets of 2-4.;
¨
the extent and periphery of the works areas should be managed so that
they are as small as possible and do not appear cluttered, untidy and
unattractive, particularly to road traffic along
¨
temporary hoarding barriers should be of a recessive visual appearance
in both colour and form;
¨
materials should be stored in areas with the least obstruction to
residents, pedestrians and traffic;
¨
all material stockpiles should be covered with an impermeable material
and sandbagging diversions should be placed around exposed soil;
¨
temporary landuses should be implemented on the area of site not
initially required for tanks comprising earth mounding with hydroseeding and
quick-growing tree planting.;
¨
a raised bund/earth mound comprising containment bund-wall, access road
and planting buffer shall be built around the tank farm;
¨
transplantation of existing road side whips affected by the proposed
works and new compensatory planting works should be carried within the first
year of construction;
¨
the design of the PAFF should incorporate materials, details and
textures which are visually recessive;
¨
non-reflective neutral grey colours with low chromatic intensity to
reduce the potential contrast between the tanks and their background;
¨
building roofs should have a thin edge and walls should be set back and
be dark either in colour or by being in shadow;
¨
light colours and tones of grey, green and blue shall be used for all
buildings;
¨
building roof shall be durable insulated, self cleansing, rigid curved
metal cladding system (either steel or aluminum) with a non-reflecting matt
and/or textured) finish;
¨
building external walls shall be finished in an aluminum panel and
general walls to be finished in ceramic tile (self cleaning/dust-proof) and/or
durable textured external spray paint;
¨
visually permeable security fencing should be used around the
perimeter;
¨
minimum amount of lighting for the tanks, only applied for safety at
the key access points and staircases;
¨
limited lighting intensity on the site; and
¨
directional down lighting is suggested to minimise light spill to the
surrounding.
7.3.1
The landscape
measures proposed within the EIA to mitigate the landscape and visual impacts
of the scheme should be embodied into the detailed landscape design drawings
and contract documents including the protection of existing trees where
possible, the transplanting of existing trees and the planting of new trees and
shrubs. 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.
7.3.2
The design phase
EM&A requirements for landscape and visual resources comprise the audit of
the detailed landscaping and visual specifications to be prepared during the
detailed design together with ensuring that the design is sensitive to
landscape and visual impacts and that landscape resources are retained as far
as practicable. Monitoring of design
works against the recommendations of the landscape and visual impact
assessments within the EIA should be undertaken as and when the designs are
produced to ensure that they fulfil the intentions of the mitigation measures.
7.3.3
The landscape
and visual auditor shall review the designs as and when they are prepared and
liaise with the landscape architect and design engineer to ensure all measures
have been incorporated in the design in a format that can be specified to the
Contractor for implementation. In the
event of a non conformity, the Event/Action plan as detailed in Table 7.1 below
should be followed.
Table 7.1 Event / Action Plan for Design Phase
|
Action Level |
Landscape
and Visual Auditor |
Project Engineer (PE) |
Project
Landscape Architect (PLA) |
|
Non Conformity (with
Design Standards and Specification) |
· Identify Source · Inform PE and PLA · Discuss remedial actions with
PE, PLA · Verify remedial actions when
complete |
· Notify PLA · Discuss remedial actions with
PLA · Ensure remedial designs are
fully incorporated |
· Amend designs · Discuss remedial actions with
PE |
7.4.1
Baseline monitoring for the
landscape will comprise a vegetation survey of the vegetation and trees on the
site. Representative vegetation types
will be identified along with typical species composition.
7.4.2 The landscape and visual baseline will be determined with
reference to the landscape and visual impact assessments included in the EIA
Report.
7.5
Construction and Operational Phase Audit
7.5.1
A specialist
Landscape Sub-Contractor should be employed by the Contractor for the
implementation of landscape construction works and subsequent maintenance
operations during the 24 month establishment period. It is proposed that as the majority of the
planting works in the area not to be development initially, the planting should
be conducted within the first half of the construction contract. Thus, the establishment works will be
undertaken through the latter half of the construction contract. The intention is to provide at least 24
months establishment period for the majority of the planting works.
7.5.2
All measures
undertaken by both the Contractor and the specialist Landscape Sub-Contractor
during the construction phase and first year of the operational phase shall be
audited by a Registered Landscape Architect, as a member of the ET, on a
regular basis to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures. Site inspections should be undertaken at
least once every two weeks throughout the construction period and once every
two months during the operational phase.
The broad scope of the audit is detailed below but should also be
undertaken with reference to the more specific checklist provided in Table 7.2.
Operational phase auditing will be restricted to the last 12 months of the
establishment works of the landscaping proposals and thus only the items below
concerning this period are relevant to the operational phase.
¨
the extent
of the agreed works areas should be regularly checked during the construction
phase. Any trespass by the Contractor
outside the limit of the works, including any damage to existing trees shall be
noted;
¨
the
progress of the engineering works should be regularly reviewed on site to
identify the earliest practical opportunities for the landscape works to be
undertaken;
¨
all
existing trees and vegetation within the study area which are not directly
affected by the works are retained and protected;
¨
the methods
of protecting existing vegetation proposed by the Contractor are acceptable and
enforced;
¨
preparation,
lifting transport and re-planting operations for any transplanted trees;
¨
all
landscaping works are carried out in accordance with the specifications;
¨
the planting of new trees,
shrubs, groundcover, climbers, ferns, grasses and other plans, together with
the replanting of any transplanted trees are carried
out properly and within the right season; and
¨
all
necessary horticultural operations and replacement
planting are undertaken throughout the Establishment Period to ensure the healthy establishment and growth of both
transplanted trees and all newly established plants.
Table 7.2 Construction/Operational Phase Audit
Checklist
|
Area of Works |
Items to be
Monitored |
|
Advance planting |
monitoring of implementation and maintenance of
planting, and against possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution,
surface erosion, etc. |
|
Protection of all trees to be retained |
identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation
to be retained, erection of physical protection (e.g. fencing), monitoring
against possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution, surface
erosion, etc. |
|
Clearance of existing vegetation |
identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation
to be cleared, checking of extent of works to minimise damage, monitoring of
adjacent areas against possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution,
surface erosion, etc. |
|
Transplanting of trees |
identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation
to be transplanted, monitoring of extent of pruning / lifting works to
minimise damage, timing of operations, implementation of all stages of
preparatory and translocation works, and maintenance of transplanted
vegetation, etc. |
|
Plant supply |
monitoring of operations relating to the supply of
specialist plant material (including the collecting, germination and growth
of plants from seed) to ensure that plants will be available in time to be
used within the construction works. |
|
Soiling, planting, etc. |
monitoring of implementation and maintenance of
soiling and planting works and against possible incursion, physical damage,
fire, pollution, surface erosion, etc. |
|
Decorative treatment of site hoarding |
implementation and maintenance, to ensure compliance
with agreed designs. |
|
Architectural treatment of retaining walls, elevated
road structures and other engineering works. |
implementation and maintenance of mitigation
measures, to ensure compliance with agreed designs. |
|
Establishment Works |
monitoring of implementation of maintenance
operations during Establishment Period |
7.5.3
In the event of
non compliance the responsibilities of the relevant parties is detailed in the
Event /Action plan provided on Table 7.3.
Table 7.3 Event / Action Plan for Construction Phase
|
Action
Level |
ETL(1) |
IEC(1) |
FSR(1) |
Contractor(1) |
|
Non-conformity on one occasion |
1. Identify Source 2. Inform the Contractor, IEC and the FSR 3. Discuss remedial actions with the IEC, the FSR and the Contractor 4. Monitor remedial actions until
rectification has been completed |
1. Check report 2. Check the Contractor's
working method 3. Discuss
with the ETL and the Contractor on
possible remedial measures 4. Advise the FSR on effectiveness of proposed remedial measures. 5. Check implementation of
remedial measures. |
1. Notify Contractor 2. Ensure remedial measures are properly implemented |
1. Amend working methods 2. Rectify damage and undertake any necessary replacement |
|
Repeated
Non-conformity |
1. Identify Source 2. Inform the Contractor, IEC and the FSR 3. Increase monitoring frequency 4. Discuss remedial actions with the IEC, the FSR and the Contractor 5. Monitor remedial actions until rectification
has been completed 6. If exceedance stops, cease additional
monitoring |
1. Check
monitoring report 2. Check the Contractor's working method 3. Discuss with the ETL and the Contractor on
possible remedial measures 4. Advise the FSR on effectiveness of proposed
remedial measures 5. Supervise
implementation of remedial measures. |
1. Notify the
Contractor 2. Ensure
remedial measures are properly implemented |
1. Amend working methods 2. Rectify
damage and undertake any necessary replacement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1): ETL
– Environmental Team Leader, IEC – Independent Environmental Checker, FSR –
Franchisee’s Site Representative