1.1 Background
1.2 Purpose of the Project
1.3 Objectives the Environmental Impact Assessment Study
2.1 The Project
2.2 Ecological Reserve
2.3 Development Site
2.4 Sha Lo Tung Road Improvement
2.5 Works Programme
3.1 Air Quality
3.2 Noise
3.3 Water Quality
3.4 Sewerage Impact Assessment
3.5 Waste Management
3.6 Ecology
3.7 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
3.8 Cultural Heritage
3.9 Environmental Monitoring and Audit
3.10 Overall Conclusion
LIST OF FIGURES
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Figure 1 |
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Figure 2 |
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Figure 3 |
Location of Proposed
Footbridge and Safety Fencing within Sha Lo Tung Ecological Reserve |
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Figure 4 |
The Pilot Project for Public-Private Partnership
Conservation Scheme, Sha Lo Tung Valley, Tai Po establishes the framework for a
public-private partnership to conserve the Sha Lo Tung Valley in Tai Po. The Project intends to ensure long-term
active conservation management of the ecologically sensitive areas currently
located on private land owned by the Sha Lo Tung Development Company
(SLTDC). More importantly, the Project
will provide a source of funds to sustain such conservation action. The Project is fully in line with Government’s
announced policy intentions for conserving Priority Sites for Enhanced
Conservation such as Sha Lo Tung, by packaging long term conservation
management at the ecologically sensitive area with sustainable, commercial
activities within the ecologically non-sensitive area within the site. With appropriate development concessions
granted in non-sensitive areas (as identified as the Development Site) adjoining the Conservation Area, the capital and
ongoing costs of establishing and managing conservation operations and
infrastructure in the Valley are assured.
The balance between development and conservation expectations is
expected to enable the Valley to become a unique nature attraction and
educational resource for both locals and tourists, which can be achieved
quickly and without Government funding.
This Project responds directly to the former
Environment, Transport and Works (ET&W) (now Environment) Bureau’s invitation
to submit proposals for areas selected as potential “pilot projects” for
“Public-Private Partnership” (PPP) schemes under the Government’s New Nature
Conservation Policy announced in November 2004.
Under the PPP scheme, it is stated in the policy that “development of an
agreed scale will be allowed at the ecologically less sensitive portion of the
project site, provided that the project proponent undertakes to conserve and
manage the rest of the site that is ecologically more sensitive on a long-term
basis”. The conservation objectives
incorporated in the Project are directed at conservation, ecological
enhancement, sustainable use and education.
Following the intention of the policy, the Proponent’s commitment to
these objectives is achieved through an obligation to donate to the statutory fund an amount of fund upfront to cover the
recurrent cost for long-term conservation management. The Proponent partners with Green Power who will be the Conservation
Agent.
With 96% of the private land within the Valley owned
by the Sha Lo Tung Development Company Ltd (SLTDC), the commitment of Green
Power and co-operation of Government, such a partnership can be established
immediately to start early conservation action within the Valley and provide a
basis for sustainable management over the long term.
The Project identifies three critical reasons for
endorsement of a pilot priority project within the Sha Lo Tung Valley under the
New
Nature
Conservation
Policy
as detailed below.
(1) The Valley is Accorded High Priority for Nature Conservation and
Management - In the
announcement of the New Nature Conservation Policy on 12 November 2004, the Sha
Lo Tung Valley was ranked no. 2 (scored 2.7 out of 3.0) among the 12 Priority
Sites for Enhanced Conservation identified by an expert group convened by the
Government based on an agreed scoring system.
The stream course and riparian habitats have been the subject of many
local and international specialist studies and the ecological significance of
the area is reflected in the Sha Lo Tung Outline Zoning Plan No. S/NE-SLT/4
which states “the primary planning
intention is to conserve the areas of ecological significance, to preserve the
natural landscape, to promote conservation and to maintain the rural character
of the area”. The Project will
protect the habitats and preserve the natural landscape through active
management and hence protect the habitats of wildlife, while
preventing anthropogenic threats such as the use of four wheel drive vehicles,
wargames and vegetation removal and undesirable natural succession which are
unfavourable to the existing wildlife.
It will also relieve development pressure on buildings lots (up to some
29,000 sq m GFA as of right) and the development of small houses (NTEHs) (up to
160 as advised by District Office/Tai Po in 1996) in the Valley and hence
minimise long term human disturbance to wildlife. The development concession to fund
conservation management in the Valley is sensitively designed so as to be
compatible with the rural character of the Valley.
(2) Nature Conservation must be Beneficial to the
Biodiversity, Successfully Planned and Sustainable alongside Limited Compatible
Development - The Project proposes to set up an Ecological
Reserve on ecological sensitive land in the Sha Lo Tung Valley (
(3) Institutional Arrangements and Funding Must Be
Realistic and Achievable - The New Nature Conservation Policy encourages commitment from the
landowner and proponent (the SLTDC) through encouraging compatible development
concessions on less ecologically sensitive land within the project area under
the pilot project that will fund conservation facilities and operations. In this Project, the concession takes the
form of institutional development in the form of a Multi-Cultural Education
Retreat and Columbarium located in the greenbelt zone at the entrance to the
Valley. The details of all development
within the green belt zone shall be subject to approval by the Town Planning
Board and implemented according to the agreed terms of a later execution of
lease modifications and land exchange.
This concession will enable the SLTDC to cover construction and
equipping conservation, educational and public facilities supporting the
Ecological Reserve and to improve
1.3
Objectives the
Environmental Impact Assessment Study
The Project involves earthworks (building a
footbridge crossing a stream within the Ecological Reserve) within Sha Lo Tung
Site of Special Scientific Interest. It
is classified as a Designated Project under Schedule 2, Part I, Category Q,
Item Q.1 of the Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) and, therefore, the construction and
operation of the Project will require an Environmental Permit. The overall objectives of the EIA Study are
to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts
arising from the Project; to recommend appropriate mitigation measures to
control the potential environmental impacts so that it complies with the
requirements of the Technical Memorandum
on Environmental Impact Assessment Process of Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance (EIAO-TM), and to confirm the environmental acceptability of the
Project.
The specific objectives of the EIA Study described in the EIA
Study Brief are listed below.
(i)
to describe the Project and
associated works together with the requirements for carrying out the Project;
(ii)
to identify and describe
elements of community and environment likely to be affected by the Project
and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the Project, including the natural and
man-made environment and the associated environmental constraints;
(iii)
to provide information on the
consideration of alternatives to avoid and minimise the potential environmental
impacts to the environmentally
sensitive areas and other sensitive uses; to
compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of each of the different
options (including the
different development options for the three components of the Project); to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to
describe the part environmental factors played in the selection of preferred option(s);
(iv)
to identify and quantify emission
sources and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and
potentially affected uses;
(v)
to identify and quantify any potential
loss or damage to flora, fauna and wildlife habitats;
(vi)
to identify and quantify any
potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate
these impacts;
(vii)
to identify
any negative impacts on site of cultural heritage, historic buildings and
structures and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;
(viii) to propose provision of mitigation measures so as to minimize pollution,
environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of
Project;
(ix)
to investigate the feasibility,
practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation
measures;
(x)
to identify, predict and evaluate
the residual environmental impacts (i.e. after practicable mitigation) and the
cumulative effects expected to arise during the construction and operation
phases of the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential
affected uses;
(xi)
to identify, assess and specify
methods, measures and standards, to be included in the detailed design, construction
and operation of the Project which are necessary to mitigate these
environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to acceptable levels;
(xii) to investigate the extent of the secondary environmental impacts
that may arise from the proposed mitigation measures and to identify
constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA
study, as well as the provision of any necessary modification; and
(xiii) to design and specify environmental monitoring and audit
requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the recommended
environmental protection and pollution control measures.
As specified above, the EIA Study addressed the
following key environmental issues due to the construction and operation of the
Project:
·
potential air and noise impacts on sensitive receivers located
within and near the Project site arising from construction and during operation
of the Project;
·
potential water quality and hydrological impacts on sensitive
receivers located within and near the Project site including Sha Lo Tung
Stream, Fung Yuen Stream, Sha Lo Tung Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI), Fung Yuen Valley SSSI, Water Gathering Ground, etc. during construction
and operation of the Project;
·
potential ecological impact on habitats located within and near
the Project site including the Sha Lo Tung Stream, Fung Yuen Stream, Sha Lo
Tung SSSI, Fung Yuen Valley SSSI, Pat Sin Leng Country Park and conservation
areas, etc. due to the construction and operation of the Project;
·
waste arising as a result of the construction and operation
activities of the Project;
·
potential landscape & visual impacts from construction and
operation of the Project;
·
potential impacts on sites of cultural heritage, historic
buildings and structures likely to be affected by the construction and
operation of the Project and its associated works;
·
cumulative impacts of the existing, committed and planned
developments in the vicinity of the Project on the Sha Lo Tung SSSI and the
adjacent conservation areas; and
·
the short-term and long-term conservation and management of the proposed
Ecological Reserve within the project area including the financial arrangement.
The Project includes three inter-related
components: Ecological Reserve, Development Site and Sha Lo Tung Road
Improvement (Figure 1).
The Proponent, the Sha Lo Tung Development Company (SLTDC) and the
Conservation Agent, Green Power (GP) propose to set up an Ecological Reserve
(approximately 52.5 ha, accounting for more than 92% of the entire Valley) in
Sha Lo Tung (SLT) Valley (of total area approximately 56.6 ha). The SLTDC intends to dedicate their private
housing lots (approximately 0.8 ha) and private agricultural lots (approximately
26 ha) in the Valley and agricultural lots in the adjacent
The Development Site of approximately 4.1
ha is outside of the
Sha Lo Tung Road Improvement also lies
outside of the
The Ecological Reserve, of approximately
52.5 ha, provides an opportunity to enhance Sha Lo Tung Valley’s environment
for the benefit of the community and boost its ecological value. Biodiversity conservation is the core focus of
the Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme where value-added activities
such as conservation education will be integrated into the management strategy
of Sha Lo Tung Valley, when appropriate.
It can be achieved by adopting a Conservation Management Plan (CMP),
which prescribes management to safeguard the ecological value of the area in
perpetuity for the people of
2.2.1
Conservation Management Plan
The CMP will serve as a guideline for
action covering the first 5-year period and will evolve as time passes and
experience is gained. The key objectives
are:
·
Objective
1: Conserve and Enhance Dragonfly
Biodiversity
·
Objective
2: Enhance
·
Objective
3: Enhance Quality and Area of
·
Objective
4: Restore Abandoned Farmlands to
·
Objective
5: Sustainably Manage Visitors
·
Objective
6: Conserve Target Species
·
Objective
7: Enhance Conservation Education
Opportunities
The plan will be implemented by the
Conservation Agent (Green Power) with the funding to be granted by the
Government statutory fund.
The Conservation
Management Plan zoning map shown in Figure 2 outlines areas where various conservation
measures will be implemented.
Biodiversity conservation is the core focus of the
Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) programme under which Sha Lo Tung Valley is to
be managed.
2.2.2
Other Works within Ecological Reserve
A
detailed investigation of the existing structural condition of village houses
in Lei Uk Village, most of the masonry walls have collapsed and the remaining
walls, now in reasonable condition, may further deteriorate due to lack of
maintenance and cause a potential public safety risk. In view of this public safety concern, it is
necessary to prevent unauthorized access to such houses. To achieve this fencing will be provided
along the western edge of Lei Uk adjacent to the footpath (Figure 3).
Getting materials to and from the village will not only involve
utilising existing pathways (with minor improvement of the existing footpath to
Lei Uk) but also the need to construct a small temporary footbridge across a
narrow section of the Sha Lo Tung Stream SSSI (for location refers to Figure 3).
This temporary footbridge will be demolished after the safety measures
have been completed.
The
maintenance and operation of the Ecological Reserve will follow the guidelines
of the Conservation Management Plan. All
functions of the components will be monitored and controlled by the Government statutory
fund. Only minor works will be required
during emergencies or routine maintenance.
The ecological status of
2.2.3
Ecological Benefit
The Development Site is located in area of
less ecological concern (mainly shrubland grassland mosaic) and avoids all of
the ecologically sensitive areas, including
With the implementation of the
Conservation Management Plan, human disturbance will be largely reduced/
controlled. Disturbance due to hillfire,
visitors and vandalism would be controlled by pro-active management, including
patrolling and conservation education.
Under the Sha Lo Tung pilot project, an aggressive fire-suppression
programme will be implemented to prevent the occurrence of hill fires
(regularly recorded within Sha Lo Tung Valley).
Rubbish and illegal traps would also be regularly removed by site
managers. As a consequence, the proposed
development can be expected to generate ecological gain.
The PPP pilot scheme will not only avoid
and minimise ecological impacts but will enhance the conservation value of Sha
Lo Tung Valley through the following actions:
·
The
project proponent has entered mutual agreement with village representatives to
divert New Territories Exempted House (NTEH) demand amounting to 160 NTEH sites
outside the Sha Lo Tung valley and dedicate all its land (including 236
building lots) for conservation. This
removes large scale village expansion as a threat to the ecological integrity
and conservation value of the valley; and,
·
It
protects the area by controlling site access and enhances the ecological values
by active management.
2.3.1
Master Plan of the Development Site
Due to the sensitivity of the Sha Lo Tung
Valley and the potential construction impacts to the Sha Lo Tung Stream, the
design of the Master Plan of the Development Site has adopted the following
considerations, in order to minimise potential construction impacts on the
existing trees and Sha Lo Tung SSSI Stream.
·
Provision
of a minimum additional 20 m wide Non-Building Buffer from the Sha Lo Tung SSSI
·
Retrofitting
Development to the Natural Topography
·
Locating
Development back from the Sha Lo Tung SSSI and Stream
·
Extensive
Use of Green Roofing
·
Preservation
of Existing
With the adoption of the above
considerations, the Master Plan as presented in Figure
4 can avoid or minimise
potential water quality and ecological impacts to the stream and SSSI, as well
as impacts to woodland and trees.
The preliminary Master Plan and the
concept of the Nature Interpretation Centre, and a Multi-Cultural Education
Retreat cum Columbarium is presented in Figure
4. The proposed development comprises the
following:
·
The
Nature Interpretation Centre with barrier-free pedestrian access linkage to Ecological Reserve;
·
Public and private parking
areas at the end of
·
Multi-Cultural
Education Retreat including Confucius Halls & Multi-purpose
Hall, ancillary Quarters and dining room / hall,
and extensive open landscaping areas, and
·
Columbarium
accommodating
a maximum of 60,000 niches with extensive open gardens, pathways and
landscaping.
2.4
Sha Lo
2.4.1
Alignment of the Sha Lo
The existing
The principles of the design for the road
improvement works are: -
·
Minimize
disturbance to the existing landscape and trees;
·
Preserve
woodlands of ecological value;
·
Provide
a safe access road; and
·
Enable
emergency vehicle access to the Ecological Reserve, Nature Interpretation
Centre, Multi-Cultural Education Retreat cum Columbarium.
Following the principles of the
improvement works, the impacts arising from the upgrading of
·
Widening
the existing access road to a minimum width of 4.5 m, which according to TPDM
is suitable for use of emergency vehicles;
·
Providing
additional inter-visible passing places at maximum spacing 60 m for 2-way
traffic;
·
Appropriate
local widening at bends of up to 6 m wide to cater for travel of emergency
vehicles from
·
The
access road shall follow the existing road alignment and profile to minimise
earthworks and impacts to the existing environment. Nevertheless, the road shall be re-profiled
to ensure a maximum gradient less than 16% because a gradient more than 16% is
not suitable for use of emergency vehicles;
·
The
road will be widened towards the eastern side through cutting the uphill slopes
to avoid disturbing the woodland dominating on the western side;
·
The
soil nailing, if required to stabilise slopes particularly downhill, can be
implemented carefully to avoid damage to trees and the slope surface can be
planted to maintain a green landscape after the improvement works are finished;
·
Provision
of a vehicle turn round facility at the entrance of Sha Lo Tung Valley suitable
for the use of fire engines;
·
Provision
of drainage system with additional verges and sewer along the route;
·
No
encroachment to Conservation Area and
·
Appropriate
landscape design along the access road.
The works programme and the work sequence of the
Project will be undertaken as follows:
·
Ecological
Reserve – The enhancement work will be undertaken immediately once the
commencement of the Project is confirmed in order to provide the greatest
conservation and ecological benefit. The
Conservation Management Plan and the priority of the enhancement work shall be
approved by the Government statutory fund prior to the commencement of the
enhancement work. The minor improvement
of footpath, construction and installation of the temporary footbridge and
fencing around broken village houses and structures at Lei Uk will be completed
within 3 months (during dry season).
·
·
Development
Site – The site formation works will be carried out in three stages after Sha
Lo Tung Road Improvement: Stage 1 (approximately 6 months), Stage 2
(approximately 5 months) and Stage 3 (approximately 6 months). The duration of each of the three stages will
overlap at certain periods of time so that the earthworks (soil and excavation
and filling works) will only be undertaken during the dry season (November to
March).
The environmental impacts associated with the
construction and operation of the Project are summarised in the following
sections.
The enhancement and associated works
within the Ecological Reserve will be carried out with hand tools only. No major excavation works will be required
and no dust impact is anticipated. Only
minor works will be required during emergencies or routine maintenance. No air pollution generating activity is
required and no air quality impact is expected during the operational phase.
Dust
nuisance from construction works and gaseous emissions from diesel-powered
equipment are the potential air quality concerns during the construction of the
Multi-Cultural Education Retreat cum Columbarium. Dust may be generated from materials
handling, excavation and filling, wind erosion and truck movements during site
formation works. The scale of the
construction works is likely to be small and the rate of excavated soil
generation will also be low (ie 94 m3/day on average). With the implementation of recommended dust
control measures and good site practices, dust impact is not expected. The number of diesel-powered construction
equipment to be operated at any one time will be limited owing to the small
scale of the works and the division of the works into phases. Gaseous emissions from the operation of
diesel-powered equipment are expected to be minor, and no adverse air quality
impact is anticipated.
The number of visitors during public
holidays and festival holidays will be increased. However, burning of effigies and paper
offerings will not be allowed at the future development; therefore no adverse
air quality impact is anticipated during the operation of the development. In-house management measures such as signage
to remind visitors on the prohibition of burning effigy should be
provided. Vehicular emissions from
In addition, the Motor Vehicle Idling (Fixed Penalty) Ordinance has been in effect
on 15 December 2011.
It is prohibited to allow the drivers leaving vehicle engines idling for
more than three minutes in any 60-minute period. As such, no air emission is anticipated from
the shuttle buses during idling in the parking area.
Dust nuisance from construction works and
gaseous emissions from diesel-powered equipment are the potential concerns
during the road improvement works.
Materials handling, wind erosion and truck movements are expected to be
the major sources of construction dust.
The road improvement works will be conducted over a period of 19 months
and the works will be carried out in phases, each of which covers only a road
section of approximately 800m in length, and therefore the works area will be
small. In view of the large separation
distances between ASRs and the works area, no adverse dust impact is
anticipated. The number of
diesel-powered equipment to be used for the works will be limited owing to the
small size of the works area. The air
emissions from diesel equipment are expected to be minor and no adverse air
quality impact is expected. With the
implementation of the recommended dust control measures and good site
practices, the dust impact is expected to comply with the dust criteria. Vehicular emissions are envisaged to be the
only air quality concern during the operation of the widened
Owing to the proximity of the NSRs to the
Sha Lo Tung Road Improvement, mitigation measures are required to be
implemented to mitigate the construction noise impacts. Practicable mitigation measures, including
use of quiet construction plant, reduced utilisation rates of PME and movable
noise barriers, have been recommended to be implemented during the three
phases. With the implementation of
mitigation measures, the mitigated construction noise levels at the
representative NSRs would comply with the construction noise criterion of 75
dB(A) throughout the construction period.
Noise monitoring during the construction stage is recommended to ensure
compliance with the relevant noise criteria.
During the operational phase of the Project,
the induced traffic on
Sha Lo Tung Valley comprises water quality
sensitive receivers including Sha Lo Tung SSSI and stream, which are also
considered of high ecological and conservation significance, as well as the wet
abandoned agricultural land to the east of the Development Site. It has been identified that the water quality
sensitive receivers (WSRs) of the Development Site and Sha Lo Tung Road
Improvement include Sha Lo Tung SSSI, Fung Yuen Valley SSSI and streams.
During the construction phase of the
Project water quality impacts have the potential to arise from construction
runoff, general construction activities and domestic sewage discharge. To avoid ecological risk to the downstream
Sha Lo Tung Valley, any discharge of construction runoff from the Development
Site is prohibited. The following
practices and measures to be proposed are targeted to ensure no discharge of
construction runoff to the downstream ecological sensitive areas:
·
Complete
the
·
Restrict
earthworks to the dry season;
·
Manage
the construction sequences, in particular during the wet season;
·
Provide
temporary drainage channels to divert site runoff to the sandtrap before
discharging it from the site;
·
Provide
silt removal facilities such sand traps;
·
Provide
a separate temporary drainage system to divert the natural runoff away from the
site and minimise the site runoff;
·
Erect
a continuous site hoarding with seal along the northern boundary of the
Development Site;
·
Carry
out daily inspection; and
·
Carry
out water quality monitoring programme during and after construction.
Effective
controls, including but not limited to the construction of peripheral channels
and erection of the site hoarding (with any gaps to be filled and cemented) in
advance of site formation works and a restriction that earthworks are
undertaken only during the dry season, will be implemented. Consequently, the potential water quality
impacts will be controlled and are expected to be minimal.
The principal impacts on the existing
drainage that require mitigation are as follows:
·
Increase
in the total volume of run-off;
·
Increase
in peak intensity of run-off flow; and
·
Increase
in risk of pollution.
The
increase in water quantity has been addressed by minimising the creation of
impermeable surfaces, encouraging natural ground water recharge through
soakaways/filter drains and transferring all highway runoff into the adjacent
urban catchment. The increase in peak
intensity has been addressed by controlled run-off attenuation using swales,
naturally lined channels, catchpits, and vortex grit separator with outlet
control and undeveloped buffer zones.
The risk of pollution has been addressed by transferring runoff from
higher risk areas to the adjacent urban catchment, and the use of catchpits,
filter drains and vortex grit separator in the traffic free, low risk Development
Site. The hazards and risk associated
with accidental oil spillage and leakage are negligible because all storm water
run-off from the access road and car park within the Development Site will be
isolated, collected in the pumping station located beneath the proposed car
park and then pumped back into the stormwater drainage system for the upgraded
access road where it will re-enter the existing main storm water drainage
system for the Ting Kong Road.
During the construction phase of the Sha
Lo Tung Road Improvement, the water quality impacts have the potential to arise
mainly from construction runoff and general construction activities. It is anticipated that the effects on water quality from the
construction activities are likely to be minimal, provided that major
earthworks are undertaken during dry season, and that good construction
practices and a well designed temporary drainage system are implemented.
Vehicles will
enter the Ecological Reserve, Nature Interpretation Centre, and a
Multi-Cultural Education Retreat cum Columbarium along the improved
3.4
Sewerage
Impact Assessment
Taking into consideration the constraints
of the Development Site, and the existing and planned sewage network in the
region, three sewage disposal options for the development of the Site have been
investigated. In broad terms, the three
proposed sewage disposal options are discharging to Tai Po Sewage Treatment
Works, treatment on Site and removal off site.
Among the three options, the option of
discharging the sewage to Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works is recommended. The option of provision of on-site sewage
treatment plant and removal of the sewage off site by tanker are not
recommended. The recommended option is
considered feasible and practical given that the impacts to the downstream
sewer and the Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works are considered insignificant. The details of the recommended sewage
disposal scheme will be further confirmed at the detailed design stage and
close liaison will be carried out with relevant departments to approve the scheme.
An assessment of the impacts of sewage
generation during festival days has also been considered. With the following measures to manage the
increase in sewage generation, no adverse impacts to the sewerage system are
expected:
·
Provision
of adequate permanent water closets and urinals in the complex;
·
Emptying
of the sewage storage tank before and immediately after the festivals;
·
Provision
of portable toilets at the entrance of Sha Lo Tung road, next to
·
Should
the permanent sanitary facilities in the Development Site be closed due to
malfunction or emergency maintenance, additional portable toilets can be
arranged within a short period of time to cater the visitors (e.g. ten portable
toilets to cater for a maximum of 7,600 visitors if cleaning exercise is
performed).
As part of the associated works within the
Ecological Reserve, a temporary footbridge will be constructed across the
stream within the Sha Lo Tung Stream SSSI.
Minor excavation for the construction of the bridge footing will be
required. It is estimated that about 1.1
m3 of C&D materials will be generated from the footing
construction. About 0.4 m3 of
this material will be reused as backfilling onsite and the rest will be
disposed offsite at the appropriately waste reception facility. With the implementation of good waste
management and on-site waste minimisation practices, no adverse impact
associated with the management of green waste is expected during the maintenance
and operation of the Ecological Reserve.
Approximately 16,100 m3 of
inert soft materials will be excavated during site formation and approximately
7,600 m3 of public fill are required for filling to the required
level. The in-situ excavated materials
will be reused for the backfilling, and the cutting and filling activities for
the site formation and slope works will be planned and arranged in such a way
that the requirement for stockpiling will be minimised. The waste management assessment is based on
the worst case scenario assuming there is no reuse of materials on-site. The average rate of excavated soil generation
and filling rate will be low (ie about 134 m3/day and 63 m3/day,
respectively). Assuming 10 working hours
a day, about 4 to 5 trucks and 1 trucks will be required per hour on average
(considered as worst case scenario as some materials will be reused
on-site as much as possible) to dispose to public filling facilities and to
import fill materials, respectively. It
should be noted that the trucks will only travel along the improved
Limited quantities of general refuse and
chemical wastes are expected to be generated during the operation of the Nature
Interpretation Centre, Multi-Cultural Education Retreat cum Columbarium. With good site practices, the potential
environmental impacts associated with the storage, handling, collection,
transport and disposal of a small quantity of general refuse and chemical
wastes arising from the operation of the Multi-Cultural Education Retreat will
meet the relevant EIAO-TM criteria
and no adverse impact associated with waste management is anticipated.
The road improvement works will be divided
into three phases. The three phases of
the road improvement works will be undertaken in consecutive sequence with some
overlap between phases. A total of
11,000 m3 of soil will be excavated over the 19-month construction period. About 20m3 of soil is estimated to
be generated per day. Even if a peak
factor of 2 is applied to cater for the potential increase in spoil generation
during the overlapping of two phases, the estimated peak volume of spoil to be
generated per day (ie 40 m3) is still considered small. Assuming a capacity of 7.5 m3 per
truck and a bulk factor of 1.2, about 7 trucks per day will be required to
dispose to public filling facilities. A
small volume of fill materials (ie, 1,000 m3) will be required. Assuming 24 working days a month, a capacity
of 7.5 m3 per truck and a bulk factor of 1.2, the filling rate, on
average, will be 2 m3 per day and about 1 truck will be required to
import the fill materials. With such a
small number of truck trips generated, the effect on the existing traffic on
Chemical waste generated from maintenance
of construction equipment will be generated during the construction phase. Given the implementation of the recommended
mitigation measures, no adverse environmental impact is expected during the
construction phase.
The ecological impact
assessment has been prepared using the results of comprehensive literature
reviews and ecological field update surveys conducted between 2004 and 2011. The Ecological Reserve
covers areas within Sha Lo Tung Valley and is considered of high ecological
significance. Habitats recorded include
Fung Shui
The Development Site is
mainly covered by grassland shrubland mosaic with a small part of the area
occupied by secondary woodland and developed area. The grassland shrubland mosaic is frequently
disturbed by hill fire and is considered to have low to moderate ecological
value. The secondary woodland is
dominated by climax native tree species such as Schima superba with densely vegetated understorey and is considered
of moderate to high ecological value.
Faunal species of conservation interest recorded within the Development
Site included Greater Coucal, Lesser Coucal, Hwamei, Savannah Nightjar with
sightings of the Crested Serpent Eagle flying overhead. Floral species of conservation interest
included Bamboo Orchid and Willow-leaved Camellia.
Habitats within the Sha Lo Tung Road
Improvement area include secondary woodland, plantation, grassland-shrubland
mosaic and developed area. The secondary
woodland is of moderate to high ecological value, the grassland-shrubland
mosaic of low to moderate ecological value, the plantation of low ecological
value and the developed area of negligible ecological value. Species of conservation interest recorded
within the Construction Works Boundary along the Sha Lo Tung Road Improvement
included Incense Tree, Lamb of
Tartary, Hong Kong Pavetta, Rhodoleia, Common Tutcheria and Cycad fern and all the same bird species of
conservation interest as found in the Development Site, with the addition of
the Emerald Dove and a Common Buzzard flying overhead. In addition, evidence of the Masked Palm
Civet, a mammal of conservation interest, in the form of scats on the road, was
also recorded.
The enhancement
works for the establishment of the Ecological Reserve and the implementation of
the Conservation Management Plan will enhance the conservation value of Sha Lo
Tung Valley. In addition, human disturbance such as hill fire will be largely reduced/
controlled. As a consequence, the
proposed Project is expected to bring about long term and sustainable
benefits to the ecology of Sha Lo Tung Valley and the habitats and associated
wildlife.
Direct habitat loss may
result from the land taken for the construction of proposed buildings and
facilities as well as the
With the provision
of a 20 m building buffer from Sha Lo Tung SSSI, the riparian woodlands which
served as wildlife (particularly Family Gomphidae dragonflies) foraging/
roosting grounds are significantly preserved.
The small-sized habitat loss due to the proposed development is not
predicted to cause adverse impacts to the wildlife using the SLT SSSI and
associated habitats. The ecological
impacts on the larval stage of the dragonfly community in the SSSI due to the water
quality impacts from the construction activities are likely to be avoided
through water pollution control measures.
No unacceptable ecological
impacts during the construction and operational phases are expected based on
the current design given that appropriate mitigation measures are properly
implemented, including the key measures listed below:
·
minimisation of the development footprint within the
Development Site, occupying only 1.625 ha of development footprint out of the
4.1 ha Development Site (comprising about 39.6% of the total site area);
·
detailed
engineering design avoiding habitat and vegetation loss;
·
completion of the
·
managing the
construction sequences and in the dry season, careful scheduling of the earthworks;
·
provision of an additional 20 m non-building buffer
between the works area and Sha Lo Tung SSSI;
·
adoption of a phased schedule;
·
compensatory
planting;
·
vegetation
transplantation;
·
good construction practice;
·
a well designed temporary as well as a permanent drainage systems;
·
provision of silt removal facility;
·
erection of site
hoarding in advance of the commencement of any works;
·
proper visitor control (particularly during special
festivals); and,
·
restricting the
workers within the Development Site during construction.
No adverse
residual water quality or associated ecological impacts were predicted to occur
due to construction and operation of the Project on the basis that the
recommended mitigation measures are adopted in full.
3.7
Landscape and
Visual Impact Assessment
Fourteen Landscape Resources and four Landscape
Character Areas were identified within the 500 metre Study Area. A number of mitigation
measures have also been proposed for both the design and construction period to
not only reduce potential landscape and visual impacts but also to improve the
overall amenity of the Project.
The following residual
landscape impacts have been identified during the construction phase:
·
There will be ‘Moderate’ impacts on LR1
·
There will be ‘Slight’ impacts on LR3 Abandoned Agricultural Land, LR4
Developed Area, LR7 Roads and LCA2 Fung Yuen Valley.
·
There will be ‘Negligible’ residual impacts of all other LRs and LCAs
during the construction phase.
The following residual
landscape impacts have been identified during the operation phase:
·
During the operation phase, there will be ‘Moderate’ residual landscape
impacts on LCA4 Sha Lo Tung Valley at Day 1 of operation, reducing to ‘Slight’
at Year 10 of operation.
·
There will be ‘Slight’ impacts on LR1
·
There will be ‘Negligible’ residual impacts of all other LRs and LCAs
during the operation phase at both Day 1 and Year 10.
In addition to a review of
the physical barriers forming the natural visual envelope of the project, a GIS
analysis and an analysis of the parameters of human vision was undertaken. The visual envelope was found to extend to
2.3 km from the boundary of the Development Site and 900m from the road improvement
works.
Ten recreational, seven residential,
two occupational and three travelling VSRs were identified within the visual
envelope.
The following residual visual
impacts have been identified during the construction phase:
·
Temporary residual visual impacts of ‘Moderate’ significance will include
R1 Hikers on the Wilson Trail west of the site, R2 Cyclists along Ting Kok
Road, R3 Hikers within the Pat Sin Leng Country Park west of the site, R4 and
R5 visitors to
·
Residual visual impacts of ‘Slight’ significance will include R10 Hikers
in
·
All other VSRs will experience ‘Negligible’ impacts during construction.
The following residual visual
impacts have been identified during at Day 1 of the operation phase:
·
At Day 1 of the operation phase, ‘Moderate’ residual visual impacts have
been identified for R1 Hikers on the Wilson Trail west of the site ,R2 Cyclists
along Ting Kok Road, R3 Hikers within the Pat Sin Leng Country Park west of the
site ,R4 and R5 visitors to
·
Residual visual impacts of ‘Slight’ significance at Day 1 of operation
will include R8 Hikers on the
·
All other VSRs will experience ‘Negligible’ residual visual impacts at
Day 1 of operation.
·
At Year 10 of operation, ‘Slight’ impacts will remain for R1 Hikers on
the Wilson Trail west of the site, R2 Cyclists along Ting Kok Road, R3 Hikers
within the Pat Sin Leng Country Park west of the site, R4 and R5 visitors to
In accordance with Annex 10 of the EIAO-TM,
the landscape and visual impacts are considered acceptable with mitigation measures.
Desktop review supplemented by field
survey identified that there is no declared monument within the Built Heritage
Impact Assessment (BHIA) and the Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA)
assessment areas. Hok Tau Reservoir –
Two graded historic buildings (
Five graves are identified within the
Development Site, the project proponent and the grave owners have come up to an
agreement that all the graves in the Development Site will be relocated. No other cultural heritage resources are
identified within the Development Site.
The archaeological impact assessment
identified two pieces of artefacts dated back to Neolithic Age and Tang to Song
Dynasties respectively at the southern portion of the proposed Sha Lo Tung Road
Improvement. Archaeological monitoring
has been recommended during construction stage of the Sha Lo Tung Road
Improvement to preserve potentially impacted archaeological resources by
record. The need and scope of
the archaeological monitoring is subject to the detailed design of the
construction works.
A landscape feature, an earth shrine
(LF01), is identified at the southern section of the Sha Lo Tung Road
Improvement. The construction work
adjacent to the shrine may affect the access to the shrine. It is recommended that safe access of
visitors to the shrine should be ensured.
A temporary fence with access entrance should be erected to prevent any
direct impact to LF01 during the construction work. Potential vibration impact will also be
a concern if sheet piling works are required for laying of drainage pipes
adjacent to the earth shrine.
Recommendations have been made to avoid and minimise the potential
vibration impact through construction method review. If it is considered not feasible, a vibration
monitoring has been recommended. No
other built heritage resources are identified within the Sha Lo Tung Road
Improvement.
3.9
Environmental
Monitoring and Audit
Monitoring of noise, stream water quality, stream
hydrology, ecology (species composition and relative abundance of riparian
vegetation, adult odonate and fish communities) and cultural heritage are
required during the construction phase.
Baseline monitoring will also be required prior to construction
commencement to establish the baseline conditions for ecology, stream water
quality and hydrology. Post project (or
construction) or operation monitoring for stream water quality and ecology will
also be required.
The environmental impact assessment (covering air
quality, noise, water quality, sewerage and sewage, waste management, ecology, landscape
and visual, and cultural heritage) has concluded that no unacceptable residual
environmental impacts are envisaged due to the construction and operation of
the Project.
With Project Scenario
Sha Lo Tung Development Company (SLTDC) will dedicate
private housing lots (approximately 0.8 ha) and private agricultural lots
(approximately 26 ha) in the Sha Lo Tung Valley and agricultural lots in the
adjacent
The conservation management and funding of the SLT
Ecological Reserve will be overseen by the Government statutory fund. The Development Site (of approximately 4.1
ha) is outside of the
The Pilot Project for Public-Private Conservation
Scheme, Sha Lo Tung Valley, Tai Po is proposed to be the pilot projects under
the scheme of Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
This proposal establishes the framework for a public-private partnership
to conserve the Sha Lo Tung Valley.
Under the current proposal, Sha Lo Tung Valley will be ensured of
long-term active conservation management in which the ecologically sensitive
areas currently located on private land owned by the SLTDC will be
protected.
The Development Site is located in areas of less
ecological concern (mainly shrubland grassland mosaic) and avoids all of the
ecological sensitive areas, including
With the implementation of the Conservation
Management Plan, human disturbance of the Ecological Reserve will be largely
reduced/ controlled. Disturbance due to
hill fire, visitors and vandalism would be controlled by pro-active management,
including patrolling and conservation education. Under the Sha Lo Tung pilot project, an aggressive
fire-suppression programme will be implemented to prevent the occurrence of
hill fires (recently recorded within Sha Lo Tung Valley). Rubbish and illegal traps would also be
constantly removed by site managers. As
a consequence, the proposed development is expected to bring about long term
ecological benefits to Sha Lo Tung Valley.
The PPP pilot scheme will not only avoid and minimise
ecological impacts but will enhance the conservation value of Sha Lo Tung
Valley through the following actions:
·
The
project proponent has entered into mutual agreements with village
representatives to divert New Territories Exempted House (NTEH) demand
amounting to 160 NTEH sites outside the Sha Lo Tung valley and dedicate all its
land (including 236 building lots) for conservation. This removes large scale village expansion as
a threat to the ecological integrity and conservation value of the valley; and,
·
It
protects the area by controlling site access and enhances the ecological values
by active management.
Without Project Scenario
The remnants of
three village settlements,
·
Uncontrolled
surface runoff or waste water or sewage discharge may lead to deterioration of
the water quality of the Sha Lo Tung perennial streams and the Sha Lo Tung SSSI
(which are important odonate and fish habitats and of ecological significance)
and threaten the survival of the stream fauna in particular the larval stage of
the odonate community, other stream macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish;
·
Potential impacts to the surrounding
habitats and ecologically sensitive areas including Country Park, SSSIs,
Conservation Area and natural streams, and associated wildlife due to
uncontrolled increased human activity, noise disturbance, uncontrolled lighting
or hill fire within Sha Lo Tung Valley;
·
Uncontrolled or illegal dumping/ waste
disposal may deteriorate the surrounding habitats and ecologically sensitive
areas including
·
Stream water extraction for domestic uses
may affect the downstream aquatic community;
·
Potential impacts due to infrastructure and
utility installation and maintenance within the Sha Lo Tung Valley; and
·
Uncontrolled fishing, vegetation collection
and removal may affect the aquatic and floral communities within the Sha Lo
Tung Valley.
Being served by an access
road and as one of the major entrances to the
Despite widespread appreciation amongst the public,
conservationists and the scientific community that the specialised and diverse
dragonfly fauna associated with the stream course and riparian habitats here
are in urgent need of active conservation, and despite of the statutory
protection afforded by the Outline Zoning Plan (OZP), these and other habitats
in the Valley are and continue to be abused by incompatible recreation
activities. Neglect of the site in terms
of a total lack of conservation management is also taking a steady toll, with
natural succession slowly but relentlessly altering the open habitats so prized
by the dragonfly fauna. Eventually these
habitats will become so densely vegetated that
Reconciling the needs of nature conservation on the
one hand with human use expectations on the other can not realistically be
achieved without this Project, leaving the Valley currently unmanaged and
effectively unprotected. It should also
be noted that the habitat quality within Sha Lo Tung Valley is degrading due to
threats such as use of four wheel drive vehicles, hill fires, wargames and
vegetation removal.