7 Landscape AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSessment

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1.1 The EIA has recommended that EM&A for landscape and visual resources is undertaken during the 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, the implementation of the mitigation measures recommended by the EIA will be monitored through the site audit programme.

7.2 EM&A Monitoring

7.2.1.1 The Landscape and Visual Assessment of the EIA recommended a series of mitigation measures to ameliorate the landscape and visual impacts of the project. These measures include the following:

· adoption of construction methods to minimise both landscape and visual impacts, particularly in sensitive locations;

· localised refinement of the Project Area to minimise loss of landscape resources, where practical;

· minimising working areas as far as possible;

· protection and retention of existing vegetation where possible; and

· reinstatement of disturbed areas and compensatory planting.

7.2.1.2 The mitigation measures for both the construction and operation stages as recommended in the EIA are summarised in Table 7.1 and Table 7.2 below and provided in the Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule in Appendix A:

Table 7.1 Construction Phase Mitigation Measures

ID No.	Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measure
CM1	All works shall be carefully designed to minimize impacts on existing landscape resources and visually sensitive receivers. Existing trees within works area shall be retained and protected.
CM2	Existing trees of good quality and condition that are unavoidably affected by the works should be transplanted.
CM3	Not used
CM4	Not used.
CM5	Large temporary stockpiles of excavated material shall be covered with unobtrusive sheeting to prevent dust and dirt spreading to adjacent landscape areas and vegetation, and to create a neat and tidy visual appearance.
CM6	Construction plant and building material shall be orderly and carefully stored in order to create a neat and tidy visual appearance.
CM7	Erection of decorative screen hoarding should be designed to be compatible with the existing urban context.
CM8	All lighting in construction site shall be carefully controlled to minimize light pollution and night-time glare to nearby residences and GIC user. The contractor shall consider other security measures, which shall minimize the visual impacts.

Table 7.2 Operation Phase Mitigation Measures

Id No.	Operation Phase Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures
OM1	Compensatory tree planting shall be incorporated along roadside amenity areas affected by the construction works. The required numbers of compensatory trees shall follow the requirements of ETWB TCW No. 3/2006.
OM2	Compensatory tree planting shall be incorporated by the Project. The required numbers of compensatory trees shall follow the requirements of ETWB TCW No. 3/2006. Loss of amenity area adjacent to the Kwun Tong By-pass and planting areas in KTD South Apron will be mitigated by the creation of the Kai Tak South Apron: Amenity Area, which will be equal to or larger than the current provision.
OM3	Trees, shrubs and climbers shall be planted to soften and screen proposed roads, central medians and associated structures, and to enhance streetscape greening.
OM4	All works areas, excavated areas and disturbed areas for tunnel construction and temporary road diversion or any other proposed works shall be reinstated to former conditions or better, with landscape treatment and to the satisfaction of the relevant Government departments.
OM5	Tunnel portals and all above ground structures shall be sensitively designed to ensure the element with colour, texture and tonal quality being compatible to the existing urban context. Trees and shrub planting to minimize the potential adverse landscape and visual impacts shall be included where space permits. Roof top greening and vertical greening shall also be provided.

7.3 Construction and Operational Phase Audit

7.3.1.1 A specialist Landscape Sub-Contractor should be employed by the Contractor for the implementation of landscape construction works and subsequent maintenance operations during the establishment period. It is proposed that the planting works will be on-site and the planting should be completed during the construction contract. The monitoring of the planting establishment should be undertaken for a 12 month period which could extend throughout the Contractor’s one-year maintenance period, which will be within the first operational year of the project.

7.3.1.2 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 Environmental Team (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, which will comprise the 12 months of the Contractor’s maintenance period. The broad scope of the audit is detailed below but should also be undertaken with reference to the more specific checklist provided in Table 7.3. Operational phase auditing will be comprise monitoring of the establishment of the landscape planting only 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 and soft landscape areas shall be prohibited;

· 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 7.3 Construction/Operational Phase Audit Checklist for Ecology Issues

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 and existing soft landscape areas 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.
Pruning of trees	Identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation to be pruned, monitoring of extent of pruning to minimise damage, timing of operations, implementation of all stages of preparatory and pruning works, and maintenance of pruned 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.
Site fencing and hoarding	Implementation and maintenance, to ensure compliance with agreed designs and check that it matches the surrounding environment and does not cause visual intrusion.
Architectural treatment of engineering works.	Implementation and maintenance of mitigation measures, to ensure compliance with agreed designs as applicable.
Establishment Works	Monitoring of implementation of maintenance operations during Establishment Period

7.3.1.3 In the event of non compliance the responsibilities of the relevant parties is detailed in the Event /Action plan provided 1n Table 7.4.

Table 7.4 Event / Action Plan for Construction/Operational Phase for Ecology Issues

Action Level	ET	IEC	ER	Contractor
Non-conformity on one occasion	1. Identify Source 2. Inform the IEC and the ER 3. Discuss remedial actions with the IEC, the ER 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 ET and the Contractor on possible remedial measures 4. Advise the ER 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 IEC and the ER 3. Increase monitoring frequency 4. Discuss remedial actions with the IEC, the ER 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 ET and the Contractor on possible remedial measures 4. Advise the ER 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

Note: ET – Environmental Team, IEC – Independent Environmental Checker, ER – Engineer’s Representative