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Press
Release
Beneficial
uses proposed for restored landfills
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) is mapping out plans with the
relevant government bureaux and departments to use restored
landfills for beneficial purposes.
There
are 13 closed landfills which collectively occupy a total
area of about 300 hectares, enough to house 15 numbers of
Victoria Park.
Apart
from the landfill in Pillar Point Valley which will be restored
in 2004/05, the restoration works of the other 12 closed landfills
have all been completed.
The Principal
Environmental Protection Officer (Facilities Development),
Mr Alex Ng, said today (January 26) that although the restored
landfills were not suitable for building development during
the aftercare period which could be up to 30 years due to
settlement problems, they could be used for certain beneficial
uses during this time.
"For
example, the restored Shuen Wan landfill has been developed
into a golf driving range in 1999. It is popular among the
public, with the average usage rate standing at 15 000 hours
per month," Mr Ng said.
This
is only the beginning. Different plans for the 13 restored
landfills are being worked out.
"The
next project is the building of a multi-purpose grass pitch
for soccer and baseball on the restored landfill in Sai Tso
Wan, adjacent to the Lam Tin MTR Station.
"The
building of a baseball pitch would provide one more choice
for baseball players in addition to the two existing public
venues available for baseball training and competition.
"The
usage rate for the pitch should be high in view of the excellent
public transport links and the dense population in the surrounding
areas.
"Tenders
will be invited for the construction works and the targeted
completion date is the end of 2002," Mr Ng noted.
Other
proposals to be commissioned over the subsequent years include
the provision of four grass pitches for soccer and rugby and
one grass pitch for baseball and cricket in the Tseung Kwan
O Landfill Stage I.
In view
of the popularity of golfing, the EPD is planning to turn
the Shuen Wan golf driving range into a nine-hole golf course
and a golf practice range.
An ecological
theme park, which consists of an environmental education centre,
two grass pitches for gateball and a model car racing circuit,
will be built on the restored landfill in Jordan Valley.
Mr Ng
said the EPD had commissioned contractors to carry out restoration
works and maintain the sites to ensure that they were safe
and environmentally acceptable for other land uses.
End/Friday,
January 26, 2001
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