11                   CONCLUSIONS

 

11.1                Introduction

11.1.1.1    This EIA report has provided an assessment of the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the EMSD Hong Kong Workshop, based on the preliminary engineering design information available.  The EIA has been conducted, in accordance with the EIA Study Brief No: ESB-231/2011 issued under the EIAO for this Project.  The findings of this EIA study have determined the likely nature and extent of environmental impacts predicted to arise from the construction and operation of the Project.  During the EIA process, environmental control measures were identified and incorporated into the planning and design of the Project to achieve the compliance with environmental legislation and standards during both the construction and operation phases.  The Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedules are presented in Section 12 of this EIA report.  Details of individual environmental aspects are summarised below.

 

11.2                Noise Impact         

11.2.1.1    With the use of quieter construction plant and temporary noise barrier, adverse impact to the NSRs would not be anticipated during the construction phase.  In the operation phase, with proper noise barrier installed at the speedometer calibrator and noise curtain at the western site boundary, adverse impacts would also not be anticipated, even though the operation would be extended beyond July 2017 as planned. 

 

11.3                Air Quality Impact

11.3.1.1    There would be no major earthwork carried out for the site formation works for the Project site.  With the implementation of sufficient dust suppression measures as stipulated under the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation, adverse construction dust impact would not be anticipated.  For the operation of the workshop, no adverse air quality impacts would be anticipated as there would only be minor number of vehicles involved in the operation of the workshop, even though the operation would be extended beyond July 2017 as planned. 

11.4                Water Quality Impact

11.4.1.1    Potential water pollution sources have been identified as construction site run-off, sewage from workforce, and potential risk of chemical spillage. Mitigation measures including the implementation of the construction site practices in accordance with the EPD’s ProPECC PN 1/94 Construction Site Drainage, provision and management of portable toilets on-site, and preventive measures to avoid accidental chemical spillages are recommended to mitigate any adverse water quality impacts, based on which adverse residual impacts would not be anticipated.  Also, there would be sewerage and sewage treatment implications during the operation of this Project, but adverse water quality impact would not be anticipated with the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures based on the findings of this EIA study, even though the operation would be extended beyond July 2017 as planned.

11.5                Waste Management Implication and Land Contamination

11.5.1.1   The quantity and timing for the generation of waste during the construction phase have been estimated.  Measures, including the opportunity for on-site sorting, reusing excavated fill materials (on-site and off-site) etc., have been devised in the construction methodology to minimise the surplus materials to be disposed off-site.  The annual disposal quantities for C&D materials and their disposal methods have also been assessed.  Recommendations have been made for the Contractor for implementation of measures during the construction period to minimise the waste generation and any off-site disposal.  The types and quantities of waste that would be generated during the operation phase have been assessed.  Recommendations have been made to ensure proper treatment and disposal of these wastes.  No construction work is allowed to proceed until all issues on management of C&D materials have been resolved and all relevant arrangements have been agreed between the responsible Government department and party.  Adverse residual impact would not be anticipated during both the construction and operation phases of this Project, even though the operation would be extended beyond July 2017 as planned. 

11.5.1.2    There were no sources of historic land contamination issues associated with the Project site.  For the future operation of this workshop, with the implementation of the preventive and precautionary plan as recommended in this EIA study, land contamination impact would not be anticipated, even though the operation would be extended beyond July 2017 as planned. 

11.6                Landscape and Visual Impacts

11.6.1.1    A landscape and visual impact assessment has been conducted which covers a 500m study area for assessment of landscape impacts, and the visual envelope (within which the proposed scheme can be seen) for assessment of visual impacts.  Given the temporary nature and scale of the project, the proposed development will not have any impacts on existing off-site landscape resources and landscape character areas, while on-site landscape impacts will be limited to felling of ten common tree species and removal of some weedy/ dead trees and temporary loss of approximately 2,040 m2 of LR7-1 (open space/vacant land).  Due to limited size of the site and the proposed land use (a workshop), no space could be allowed for on-site tree compensation for proposed felling of the ten native trees.  However, after felling of 10 trees and removal of some dead/ weedy trees, the site and the proposed development can still be well screened on the southern boundary by the retained trees and the existing footbridge.  The resulting landscape and/or visual impacts from proposed tree felling without mitigation measures (e.g. on-site tree compensation) are still considered low.

11.6.1.2    Off-site tree compensation would be implemented at the EMSD Tuen Mun Vehicle Servicing Station, 202 Lung Mun Road, Siu Lang Shui, Tuen Mun.  The compensatory planting regime would include planting of thirty-one (31) heavy standard trees (assuming of trunk diameter at least 75mm) of aggregated trunk diameters of 2,325mm to compensate the 10 trees lost (of aggregated trunk diameters 2,321mm) due to the proposed Project.

11.6.1.3    Due to the limited footprint of the Project site and the existing development setting, the Project site can only be occasionally/ rarely viewed by most of the identified visually sensitive receivers in the study area.  Except for the travellers on Sheung On Street (VSR-T1) who are considered to have low to medium sensitivity to visual change to the Project site, other identified VSRs are considered to have low sensitivity to visual change to the Project site. 

11.6.1.4    The proposed scheme is considered to have slight to moderate impacts on the travellers on Sheung On Street, and low to slight impact to the potential VSR-O6 The Proposed Education Institute at Junction of Shing Tai Road and Wing Tai Road during the approximate 10-month concurrent operation period.  However, the impacts are generally considered “enhanced impacts”, as the Project will convert the existing site (a vacant site overgrown with weeds) of low amenity value to a neat, tidy-looking site (a maintenance workshop with a steel shelter) which is possibly considered of higher amenity value to the viewers.  The proposed scheme is considered to have only slight to negligible impacts to the remaining VSRs in the study area during the approximate five-year operation period.  As the site can be resumed for its originally planned uses in the OZP, no long-term operational phase impacts on visual and landscape resources and/or visually sensitive receivers are anticipated.