Drainage Improvement Works in Ta Kwu Ling

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Environmental Impact Assessment Report

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Main Text (Volume I)

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

1.2 Need of the Project

1.3 Existing Environment

1.4 Objectives of the EIA Study

1.5 Organisation of the Report

2. DESIGN CONSIDERATION AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

2.1 Project Objectives

2.2 Site History and Project Location

2.3 Benefits of the Project 2-2

2.4 Without Project Scenario

2.5 With Project Scenario

2.6 Design Consideration

2.7 Design Return Period

2.8 Relevant Technical Circulars / Guidelines

2.9 Essential Design Considerations / Principles Adopted

2.10 Alternative Alignment

2.11 Alternative Location of Stormwater Drains and Discharge Points

2.12 Alternative Design Options for Watercourse TKL04 and TKL05

2.13 Evaluation of Design Options

2.14 Recommended Drainage Options

2.15 Alternative Channel Bed Lining / Embankment Lining Options

2.16 Alternative Dry Weather Flow Channel

2.17 Project Scope

2.18 Project Design

2.19 Ancillary Infrastructure

2.20 Landscaping Works

2.21 Construction Method

2.22 Consideration of Alternative Construction Methods

2.23 Consideration of Alternative Construction Sequence

2.24 Scope of Works during Operational Phase

2.25 Construction Programme

2.26 Concurrent Projects

2.27 Cumulative Environmental Impact

2.28 Sustainability Considerations

2.29 Continuous Public Involvement (CPI)

3. AIR QUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Statutory Requirements and Evaluation Criteria

3.3 Study Area

3.4 Identification of Air Sensitive Receivers

3.5 Baseline Condition and Background Air Quality

3.6 Assessment Methodology

3.7 Evaluation of Impacts during Construction Phase

3.8 Evaluation of Impacts during Operation Phase

3.9 Mitigation Measures

3.10 Potential for Cumulative Impacts

3.11 Residual Impacts

3.12 Monitoring and Audit Requirements

3.13 Conclusion

4. NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENT

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Relevant Legislation and Guidelines

4.3 Description of the Noise Environment

4.4 Noise Sensitive Receivers

4.5 Identification for Potential Impacts

4.6 Assessment Methodology

4.7 Evaluation of Impacts

4.8 Mitigation Measures

4.9 Cumulative Impact

4.10 Residual Impacts

4.11 Monitoring and Audit Requirements

4.12 Conclusion

5. WATER QUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Environmental Legislation, Policies, Standards and Criteria

5.3 Baseline Water Quality Conditions

5.4 Assessment Methodology

5.5 Water Sensitive Receivers

5.6 Potential Sources of Impacts

5.7 Impact Assessment

5.8 Mitigation Measures

5.9 Residual Impacts

5.10 Cumulative Impacts

5.11 Monitoring and Audit Requirement

5.12 Conclusion

6. WASTE MANAGEMENT

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Relevant Legislation, Policies, Standards and Criteria

6.3 Assessment Methodology

6.4 Expected Waste Sources

6.5 Waste Management Assessment

6.6 Mitigation Measures

6.7 Residual Environmental Impacts

6.8 Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements

6.9 Conclusion

7. LAND CONTAMINATION

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Statutory Requirements and Evaluation Criteria

7.3 Description of the Proposed Project

7.4 Future Land Use

7.5 Assessment Methodology

7.6 Historical and Current Land Uses of Project Area

7.7 Potential Land Contamination Hotspots

7.8 Site Investigation Programme

7.9 Evaluation of Land Contamination Impacts

7.10 Cumulative Impacts

7.11 Recommendation of Further Works

7.12 Residual Impact Evaluation and Mitigation Measures

7.13 Conclusion

8. ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Relevant Legislation and Guidelines

8.3 Literature Review

8.4 Ecological Baseline Survey Methodology

8.5 Ecological Baseline Survey Results

8.6 Evaluation of Habitats and Species of Conservation Importance.

8.7 Impact Assessment

8.8 Mitigation Measures

8.9 Summary of Mitigation Measures

8.10 Evaluation of Residual Ecological Impacts

8.11 Environmental Monitoring and Audit Programme

8.12 Conclusion

8.13 Reference

9. FISHERIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Environmental Legislation, Standards and Guidelines

9.3 Assessment Area

9.4 Assessment Methodology

9.5 Baseline Condition

9.6 Impact Assessment

9.7 Mitigation Measures

9.8 Potential for Cumulative Impact

9.9 Evaluation of Residual Impact

9.10 Environmental Monitoring and Audit

9.11 Conclusion

9.12 References

10. CULTURAL HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Relevant Legislation and Guidelines

10.3 Assessment Methodology

10.4 Cultural Heritage Baseline Condition

10.5 Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment

10.6 Mitigation Measures

10.7 Residual and Cumulative Impacts

10.8 Environmental Monitoring & Audit

10.9 Conclusions

10.10 Bibliography

11. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Environmental Legislation, Standards, Guidelines and Criteria

11.3 Principal Work Elements

11.4 Assessment Methodology

11.5 Planning and Development Control Framework

11.6 Landscape Baseline Condition

11.7 Tree Survey Baseline Condition

11.8 Visual Baseline Condition

11.9 Potential Landscape and Visual Impacts

11.10 Landscape Impact Assessment

11.11 Visual Impact Assessment

11.12 Mitigation Measures

11.13 Cumulative Impacts

11.14 Conclusion

11.15 Environmental Monitoring & Audit

11.16 Bibliography

12. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND AUDIT MEASURES

12.1 Introduction

12.2 EM&A Manual

12.3 Air Quality

12.4 Noise

12.5 Water Quality

12.6 Waste Management

12.7 Land Contamination

12.8 Ecology

12.9 Fisheries

12.10 Cultural Heritage

12.11 Landscape and Visual

12.12 Implementation Schedule

13. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Environmental Benefits of the Project

13.3 Environmental-Friendly Design Recommended

13.4 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Protected

13.5 Key Environmental Problems Avoided and Compensation Areas

Included

13.6 Environmental Benefits of Environmental Protection Measures Recommended

14. CONCLUSION

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Air Quality Impact

14.3 Noise Impact

14.4 Water Quality Impact

14.5 Waste Management

14.6 Land Contamination

14.7 Ecological Impact

14.8 Fisheries Impact

14.9 Cultural Heritage Impact

14.10 Landscape and Visual Impact

14.11 Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A)

14.12 Overall Conclusion

List of Tables

Table 2.1	Alternative Design Options Considered for the Proposed Watercourses
Table 2.2	Evaluation of the Proposed Options
Table 2.3	Summary of the Evaluation of Alternative Channel Bed / Embankment Lining Options
Table 2.4	Configuration of Proposed Watercourses TKL04 and TKL05
Table 2.5	Environmental Benefits and Dis-Benefits of Alternative Construction Methods
Table 2.6	Configuration of Existing and Proposed Watercourse TKL04 and TKL05
Table 2.7	Summary of the proposed drainage pipes and u-channels at Ping Che Road and Ping Yeung Village
Table 2.8	Summary of the proposed gullies in Ping Che Road
Table 2.9	Tentative Key Milestone Dates
Table 3.1	Hong Kong Air Quality Objectives
Table 3.2	Identified Representative Air Sensitive Receivers
Table 3.3	5-year Averaged Annual Background Concentration of Air Pollutants recorded at Tai Po Station by EPD for the Period of 2016-2020
Table 3.4	Background Air Pollutants at Year 2025 by PATH v2.1 Model (μg/m3)
Table 4.1	EIAO-TM Day-time Construction Noise Standards (Leq, 30 min dB(A))
Table 4.2	Area Sensitivity Ratings
Table 4.3	Basic Noise Levels for General Construction Works (BNL, Leq, 5 min dB(A))
Table 4.4	Summary of Options for Watercourse TKL04 and TKL05
Table 4.5	Comparisons of the Proposed Options
Table 4.6	Representative Noise Sensitive Receivers (NSRs)
Table 4.7	Tentative Construction Activities Schedule
Table 4.8	Predicted Construction Noise Levels (Without Mitigation)
Table 4.9	Sound Power Level of Quiet PME
Table 4.10	Summary of Screening Structures for Each PME
Table 4.11	Predicted Construction Noise Levels (Mitigated Scenario)
Table 5.1	Key Water Quality Objectives of the Deep Bay WCZ for Ping Yuen River and Shenzhen River
Table 5.2	Summary of River Water Quality Monitoring Data collected by EPD River Water Quality Monitoring Programme for Stations GR1 and GR2 of Ping Yuen River (2018 - 2020)
Table 5.3	Water Sensitive Receivers
Table 6.1	Government Facilities for Disposal of C&D Materials
Table 6.2	Waste Type Classification
Table 6.3	Estimated Quantities of C&D Materials generated during Site Clearance of TKL04 &TKL05
Table 6.4	Estimated Quantities of C&D Materials generated during Channel Excavation and Construction of TKL04 and TKL05
Table 6.5	Estimated Quantities of C&D Materials generated during Excavation and Construction of Road Drainage in Ping Che Road and Ping Yeung Village
Table 6.6	Estimated Quantity of Inert C&D Materials to be Reused on Site
Table 6.7	Types of C&D Materials and Construction Wastes Generated by the Proposed Works
Table 6.8	Summary of the Quantities of C&D Materials and Construction Wastes Arising from the Proposed Channels
Table 6.9	Summary of the Quantities and Disposal Routes of C&D Materials and Waste Arising from the Project
Table 6.10	Preliminary Disposal Programme of the C&D Materials
Table 7.1	Summary of Historical Land Uses
Table 7.2	Summary of Current Land Uses
Table 7.3	Summary of SI Programme
Table 8.1	Nesting Populations of Ardeid in Ping Che Egretry since 2009
Table 8.2	Species of Conservation Importance Recorded within the Study Area from the Reviewed Literature
Table 8.3	Ecological Survey Programme
Table 8.4	Habitats within the Study Area
Table 8.5	Ping Che Egretry Activity from March to August 2020
Table 8.6	Evaluation of Habitats within the Proposed Works Limit
Table 8.7	Evaluation of Abandoned Agricultural Land within the Study
Table 8.8	Evaluation of Agricultural Land within the Study Area
Table 8.9	Evaluation of Channel within the Study Area
Table 8.10	Evaluation of Developed Area within the Study Area
Table 8.11	Evaluation of Fung Shui Wood within the Study Area
Table 8.12	Evaluation of Plantation within the Study Area
Table 8.13	Evaluation of Pond within the Study Area
Table 8.14	Evaluation of Shrubland/Grassland within the Study Area
Table 8.15	Evaluation of Wasteland within the Study Area
Table 8.16	Evaluation of Watercourse within the Study Area
Table 8.17	Evaluation of Woodland within the Study Area
Table 8.18	Evaluation of Flora Species of Conservation Importance Recorded within the Study Area
Table 8.19	Evaluation of Fauna Species of Conservation Importance Recorded within the Study Area
Table 8.20	Potential Direct Habitat Loss in Proposed Works Limit
Table 8.21	Direct Ecological Impacts on Species of Conservation Importance
Table 8.22	Potential Disturbance on Habitats in Study Area
Table 8.23	Indirect Disturbance to Ping Che Egretry
Table 8.24	Summary of Predicted Ecological Impacts
Table 10.1	Site of Archaeological Interest in the CHAA
Table 10.2	Summary of Previous Archaeological Works Conducted and the Archaeological Discovery
Table 10.3	Archaeological Potential Evaluation
Table 10.4	Identified Graded Historic Buildings
Table 10.5	Identified Built Heritage Items
Table 10.6	Impact Assessment on Built Heritage Items within 50m from The Works Area
Table 10.7	Recommended 3As levels for Grade 3 Heritage Sites from The Works Area
Table 11.1	Matrix of Impact Significance
Table 11.2	Details of Administrative Planning Zones
Table 11.3	Sensitivity of Landscape Character Areas
Table 11.4	Sensitivity of Landscape Resources
Table 11.5	Summary table of affected trees in Landscape Resources
Table 11.6	Details of Visually Sensitive Receivers
Table 11.7	Summary of Magnitude of Change on LCAs and LRs
Table 11.8	Summary of Impact Significance on LRs and LCAs before mitigation
Table 11.9	Summary of Magnitude of Change on VSRs
Table 11.10	Summary of Impact Significance on VSRs before mitigation
Table 11.11	Proposed Mitigation Measures for Landscape and Visual Impacts
Table 11.12	Summary of Impact Significance on LRs and LCAs, both before and upon mitigation
Table 11.13	Summary of Impact Significance on VSRs, both before and upon mitigation
Table 11.14	Sensitivity of Landscape Resources
Table 11.15	Summary table of affected trees in Landscape Resources
Table 13.1	Summary of Key Environmental Problems Avoided and Sensitive Areas Protected
Table 13.2	Key Recommended Mitigation Measures and Associated Environmental Benefits