14.1.1.1 This
EIA Report has provided an assessment of the potential environmental impacts
associated with the construction and operation of the Project, based on the
engineering design information available at this stage.
14.1.1.2 The assessment has been conducted,
in accordance with the EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-287/2015) under the EIAO for
the Project and the EIAO-TM, covering the following environmental issues:
·
Air
Quality Impact
·
Noise
Impact
·
Water
Quality Impact
·
Sewerage
and Sewage Treatment Implications
·
Waste
Management Implications
·
Land
Contamination
·
Ecological
Impact (Terrestrial and Marine)
·
Fisheries
Impact
·
Landscape
and Visual Impacts
14.1.1.3 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 have been identified and incorporated
into the planning and design of the Project, to achieve compliance with
environmental legislation and standards during both the construction and
operation phases. The Implementation Schedule listing the recommended
mitigation measures are presented in Section 13. A summary of key
assessment assumptions and limitation of methodologies are presented in Appendix 14.1.
14.1.1.4 The
sections below summarise the environmental outcomes/benefits that have accrued
from the environmental considerations and analysis during the EIA process and
the implementation of environmental control measures of the Project.
14.2.1
Estimated Populations and
Environmentally Sensitive Areas Protected from Various Environmental Impacts
14.2.1.1
The Project is located at the waterfront immediately in
front of the village houses of the LYM villages and at the east of the LYM
lighthouse. Population and environmental sensitive areas in the vicinity of the
Project site have been protected through the avoidance and/or minimisation of
environmental impacts from the construction and operation of the Project. Population
protected from noise impacts due to the construction of the Project comprise
Lei Yue Mun Village, Ma Wan Tsuen, Che Ting Tsuen, Ma Pui Tsuen and Tin Hau
Temple. Adverse air quality impacts on sensitive receivers within the
assessment area would not be anticipated. Environmental sensitive areas
protected from adverse water quality impacts include Sam Ka Tsuen Typhoon
Shelter, Yau Tong Flushing Water Intake, Secondary Recreation Zone at Tseung
Kwan O, fish culture zones and nearby coral colonies.
14.2.2
Environmental Designs Recommended,
Environmental Friendly Option Considered and Incorporated in the Preferred
Option
Avoidance of encroachment into
recognized sites of conservation importance
14.2.2.1 The recognized sites of conservation
importance have been identified and avoided during the planning and site
selection process. The selected project
site will not encroach into any recognized sites of conservation importance.
Minimisation of Dredging Extent
14.2.2.2 The proposed size and configuration
of the dredging area are based on the minimum extent required to provide
sufficient depth of water for vessels using the proposed landing facility,
which is determined by detailed engineering and environmental assessments in
order to minimise the associated waste generation as well as the direct
disturbance to marine water quality, ecology and fisheries.
Minimisation of Underwater Rock
Excavation
14.2.2.3 The current design of the landing
facility has minimised underwater rock excavation while maintaining safe
berthing of vessels. The breakwater is designed to be at the minimum length to
cause the least environmental impact.
Enhancement of LYM Environment
14.2.2.4 As part of the Project, the proposed
beautification works for the promenade, five lookout points and an existing
viewing platform as well as streetscape improvement works would improve the overall
environment and sustain heritage culture of LYM. The proposed pavilion, carp-shaped
platform and promenade extension would be designed to blend in with the
adjacent landscape and visual context. Green landscaping including
trees, shrubs, ground covers and climbers would be provided at open spaces, viewing
platform and lookout points to provide green transition between the waterfront
and the existing urban areas that are lacking in the existing promenade.
14.2.3.1 With the consideration of various
alternative options in Project design and construction methods, the Project has
avoided or minimised the following environmental problems:
·
Avoidance of encroachment into recognized sites of
conservation importance;
·
Avoidance of loss of trees;
·
Minimisation of loss of ecological habitats;
·
Minimisation of generation of excavated and dredged
materials; and
·
Minimisation of the number of environmental sensitive
receivers to be affected.
14.2.4
Environmental Benefits of
Environmental Protection Measures Recommended
14.2.4.1 Environmental benefits of environmental
protection measures recommended in this EIA Report are summarised below.
Air Quality Impact
14.2.4.2 With implementation of sufficient
dust suppression measures as stipulated under the Air Pollution Control
(Construction Dust) Regulation and good site practices, no adverse construction
dust impact would be anticipated on the surrounding ASRs. Odour impact would be not expected from the
dredging activities. Nonetheless, covering of dredged materials is recommended
to further avoid any odour emissions.
14.2.4.3 Potential air quality impact from induced
marine traffic emission from the operation of the Project has been predicted
and the results indicate that no adverse air quality impacts on the nearby ASRs
would be anticipated. No mitigation measure is therefore recommended.
Noise Impact
14.2.4.4 With
the adoption of good site practice, quiet PME and noise barriers/enclosure, the
noise levels at all the representative NSRs would comply with the EIAO-TM noise
criteria. All practicable direct mitigation
measures are considered to be exhausted to minimise the impacts.
Water Quality Impact
14.2.4.5 During construction phase, the key
source of potential water quality impact is associated with dredging and
filling activities, which have potential to release contaminants and increase
suspended solid levels in marine water. With the adoption of the recommended mitigation
measures including use of closed grab, restriction of dredging production rate
(no more than 100m3 per hour) and deployment of silt curtains during
capital and maintenance dredging, no unacceptable residual water quality impact
would be resulted.
14.2.4.6 The
key source of potential water quality impacts during the operation phase would
be the change in hydrodynamic regime, sewage effluent from the increased
touristic and commercial activities, surface run-off associated with the new
paved areas and maintenance dredging.
LYM waterfront was predicted to maintain its good flushing ability and
no adverse water quality impact would be attributed to the establishment of landing
facility and breakwater. Meanwhile, as Lei
Yue Mun Village Sewerage project will be commissioned concurrently to provide
sewerage system to LYM, including the Project area, it is expected that water
quality would be improved upon the completion of this concurrent project. For
the potential impacts of surface run-off, it is anticipated that with proper
implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, the potential adverse
water quality impact would be minimised.
Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Implications
14.2.4.7 According to the latest construction
programme, no programme gap is envisaged between the Lei Yue Mun Waterfront
Enhancement Works by CEDD & ArchSD and the new sewerage networks
constructed by DSD
under Lei Yue Mun
Village Sewerage project.
Hence, any sewerage plug-in and additional sewage arising from the
increase in visitors will be discharged into the newly constructed sewerage
system.
14.2.4.8
The existing Kwun Tong Preliminary Treatment Works has adequate
treatment capacity to handle the sewage flow generated from the visitors in Lei
Yue Mun after the completion of the waterfront enhancement works. Hence, no
adverse sewage impact arising from the operation of the Project is anticipated.
Waste Management Implications
14.2.4.9 During the construction phase, waste
generated from the Project include C&D materials, general refuse from
workforce and chemical waste from the maintenance of construction plant and
equipment. Provided that these
identified waste are handled, transported and disposed of following the
relevant legislative and recommended requirements and that the recommended mitigation
measures are properly implemented, no adverse environmental impact is
anticipated.
14.2.4.10 Marine sediment would be generated
from the dredging activities of the Project during construction phase and operation
phase for maintenance purpose. The
marine sediment to be dredged was classified as Category L and (Type 1 – Open
Sea Disposal) and Category H (Type 2 - Confined Marine Disposal) based on a review of the sediment quality data from the site investigation and
previous study. With the implementation of recommended mitigation
measures and management procedures in accordance with ETWB TCW No. 34/2002, no adverse
environmental impact is anticipated.
14.2.4.11 During the operation phase, the key
waste generated would be general refuse from recreational activities and dredged marine sediment from
maintenance dredging. With the implementation of recommended mitigation
measures, no adverse environmental impacts would be anticipated.
Land Contamination
14.2.4.12 Based on the findings of site
appraisal within the Site, no contaminating land use / activities were
identified in the Site and adverse land contamination impact arising from
Project is not anticipated. Thus, no Contamination Assessment Plan /
Contamination Assessment Report / Remediation Assessment Plan are required to be
prepared.
Ecological Impact (Terrestrial and Marine)
14.2.4.13 The proposed marine-based works
would directly affect subtidal hard substrate habitats (0.05 ha), rocky shore
(0.03 ha), sandy shore (0.02 ha) and artificial seawall (40 m); as well as
temporary loss of subtidal soft bottom habitat (0.32 ha) and artificial seawall
(85 m). The proposed land-based works
would only affect developed area near the seafront. Given the small sizes and low ecological
values of the affected habitats, the direct impacts are anticipated to be
minor. All temporarily affected works
area will be reinstated.
14.2.4.14 The subtidal hard substrata habitat
within the study area supported sparse and patchy cover of locally common coral
species. Implementation of coral
mitigation measures by means of translocation and/or other best practicable
mitigation measures is recommended before the commencement of the works in
order to minimise the impacts on the coral colonies. To minimise the indirect impacts to marine
environment, mitigation measures (e.g. use of closed grabs for dredging,
deployment of silt curtain, etc.) would be implemented during construction phase
and maintenance dredging in operation phase.
14.2.4.15 Construction site
runoff, noise, deteriorated water quality and other disturbance impacts
resulting from the proposed marine-based and land-based works would have
potential indirect impact to the nearby natural habitats (e.g. intertidal and
subtidal habitats, mixed woodland and shrubland, etc.), wildlife, as well as
fauna species of conservation importance.
Mitigation measures such as good site practice and water quality impact
control measures are proposed to minimise the potential impacts. With the proper implementation of mitigation
measures, no adverse residual ecological impacts are expected from the
Project.
Fisheries Impact
14.2.4.16 The potential fisheries impacts due
to the construction and operation of the Project are considered minor in view
of the small scale of the works. About
0.05 ha permanent loss and 0.6ha temporary loss of fishing ground are expected. Indirect impact on fisheries due to change
in water quality including elevation in suspended solids level, depletion of
dissolved oxygen and release of contaminants, would be temporary and minimised
with the implementation of recommended water quality mitigation measures such
as adoption of silt curtain, reduced dredging rate, and use of closed grabs.
Landscape and Visual Impacts
14.2.4.17 During the construction phase,
the key sources of landscape and visual impacts would include construction of
new landing facility, dredging works, enhancement works of sitting out area and
footpath and foundation work at lookout points. All existing trees within the
proposed works boundary would be preserved.
The work areas for the Project are generally at ground level. The visual
experience of the visual sensitive receivers (VSRs) would not be significantly
changed. With the implementation of mitigation measures including preservation
of existing trees, control of night-time lighting glare, erection of decorative
screen hoarding, careful management of construction activities and facilities,
provision of buffer zone (a minimum distance of about 10m) between the CPA and
dredging works boundary, deployment of silt curtains and close supervision of
dredging works, no unacceptable residual landscape and visual impacts from
construction of the Project would be anticipated.
14.2.4.18 During the operation phase,
the aboveground/above-sea-level structures/hardscape features such as the
pavilion, the breakwater and the promenade with public landing facility, and
maintenance dredging works would be the key sources of landscape and visual
impacts. Nevertheless, the height of all the proposed aboveground/above-sea-level
structures/features would not be prominent (not higher than 5m) and the
maintenance dredging works would be limited scale and infrequent (interval of about every 5 to 10 years). With the recommended mitigation measures (e.g. provision of buffer
zone between the CPA and dredging works boundary, deployment of silt curtains
and close supervision of dredging works), the proposed
aesthetic design for the aboveground/above-sea-level structures/hardscape features and buffer and amenity planting to fit
into the local landscape and visual context, together with reinstatement
of temporarily disturbed landscape areas, the overall landscape and visual
impact of the Project would be beneficial.
14.3.1.1
A summary of environmental impacts for the
environmental issues assessed in this EIA is presented in Appendix 14.2.
14.4.1.1 Lei
Yue Mun site is prioritized for improvement under The Tourism District
Enhancement Programme that was implemented by Tourism Commission since
2000. The Project was supported by the
Kwun Tong District Council. Major concerns received from public during the
course of the EIA Study are presented in Section 2.13.