Executive summary
This Quarterly EM&A Report presents the
monitoring works conducted at Zones 2A, 2B & 2C from 01 November 2024 to 31 January 2025. The construction
works and EM&A programme for Zone 2A (Contract No.: GW/2020/05/073) was
commenced on 03 October 2020 and handed over on 31 March 2023; while the
construction works and EM&A programme for Zone 2B & 2C (Contract No.:
CC/2020/2B/088) was commenced on 30 September 2021 and handed over on 05 July
2024. The construction works and EM&A programme for Zones 2A, 2B & 2C
(Contract No.: CC/2023/2B/095) was commenced on 05 July 2024.
The impact stage EM&A programme for the
Project includes air quality, noise, water quality, waste, landscape and visual
monitoring. The recommended environmental mitigation measures were implemented
on site and regular inspections were carried out to ensure that the
environmental conditions are acceptable.
The EM&A programme was carried out by
the ET in accordance with the EM&A Manual requirements. It is concluded
from the environmental monitoring and audit works that adequate environmental
mitigation measures have been implemented by the contractors where appropriate
in the reporting quarter.
Exceedance of Action and Limit Levels
There was no breach of Action or Limit Levels for Air Quality (1-hour
TSP and 24-hour TSP) and Noise in this reporting quarter.
Implementation of Mitigation Measures
Construction phase weekly site inspections
were carried out to confirm the implementation measures undertaken by the
Contractors in the reporting quarter. The status of implementation of
mitigation measures during the reporting quarter is shown in Appendix C.
Landscape
and visual impact inspections were conducted as part of the above-mentioned
weekly site inspections during the reporting quarter. No adverse comment on
landscape and visual aspects were made during these inspections.
Record of Complaints
1 environmental
complaint was received
during the reporting quarter.
Record of Notifications of Summons and Successful Prosecutions
No
notifications of summons and successful prosecutions were recorded in the
reporting quarter.
1.1
Background
Apex
Testing & Certification Limited (Apex) was commissioned to undertake the
Environmental Team (ET) services (including environmental monitoring and audit
(EM&A)) for the construction activities in Zone 2A, consisting of
Foundation, Excavation and Lateral Support Works for Integrated Basement and
Underground Road (Contract No.: GW/2020/05/073) ; Zone 2B & 2C
consisting of Piling Works for Integrated Basement and Underground Road
(Contract No.: CC/2020/2B/088); and Zones 2A, 2B & 2C consisting of
Excavation and Lateral Support Works (Stages 1 & 2) for The Integrated
Basement and Underground Road (Contract No.: CC/2023/2B/095) at WKCD. The
construction works and EM&A programme for Zone 2A (Contract No.:
GW/2020/05/073) was commenced on 03 October 2020 and handed over on 31 March
2023; while the construction works and EM&A programme for Zone 2B & 2C
(Contract No.: CC/2020/2B/088) was commenced on 30 September 2021 and handed
over on 05 July 2024. The construction works and EM&A programme for Zones
2A, 2B & 2C (Contract No.: CC/2023/2B/095) was commenced on 05 July 2024.
The overall works for the WKCD fall under
two separate categories of Designated Project (DP) of the Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), namely an “engineering feasibility study of urban
development projects with a study area covering more than 20 ha or involving a
total population of more than 100 000” (Item 1 of Schedule 3) and “an underpass
more than 100m in length under the built areas” (Item A.9, Part I, Schedule 2).
An Environmental Permit No. EP-453/2013/B (EP) was issued with respect to the
“Underpass Road and Austin Road Flyover Serving the West Kowloon Cultural
District” which specifically includes the abovementioned category of DP under
Item A.9, Part I, Schedule 2 of the EIAO. The captioned projects include part
of the abovementioned underpass road located within the site boundary falls
under this same category.
The purpose of the development in Zones 2A, 2B
& 2C is to reserve for Integrated Basement (IB) and Underground Road (UR).
The Zone 2A (Contract No.: GW/2020/05/073) construction activities involve the foundation, excavation
and lateral support (ELS) works, road works, drainage diversion works, and
temporary car parking. The Zone 2B & 2C (Contract No.: CC/2020/2B/088) construction activities involve the piling works. The
Zones 2A, 2B & 2C (Contract
No.: CC/2023/2B/095) construction
activities involve the excavation and lateral support works.
The Quarterly EM&A Report is prepared in
accordance with the Clause 3.4 of the Environmental Permit No. EP-453/2013/B. This Quarterly EM&A Report presents
the monitoring works Zones 2A,
2B & 2C from 01 November 2024 to 31 January 2025. The purpose of this report is to summarise
the findings in the EM&A of the project over the reporting period.
The organisation chart and lines of communication with respect to the
on-site environmental management structure together with the contact
information of the key personnel are shown in Appendix A.
During the reporting period, construction works
at Zones 2A, 2B & 2C (Contract No.: CC/2023/2B/095) undertaken include:
●
Bored Pile, Pipe
Piling and King Post Works
The Construction Works Programme of the
Project is provided in Appendix B. A layout plan of the Project is
provided in Figure 1.
In accordance with the EM&A Manual, environmental parameters
including air quality, noise, landscape and visual have been monitored. The specific
parameters, monitoring frequency and the respective Action and Limit Levels are
given in Table 2.1. Locations
of the monitoring stations are provided in Figure 1.
Table 2.1: Summary
of Impact EM&A Requirements
|
Parameters
|
Descriptions
|
Locations
|
Frequencies
|
Action Level
|
Limit Level
|
|
Air Quality
|
24-Hour TSP
|
AM3 - The
Victoria Towers Tower 1
|
At least once
every 6 days
|
152.4 μg/m3
|
260 μg/m3
|
|
1-Hour TSP
|
AM3 - The
Victoria Towers Tower 1
|
At least 3 times
every 6 days
|
280.4 μg/m3
|
500 μg/m3
|
|
24-Hour TSP
|
AM4 - Canton Road Government Primary School
|
At least once
every 6 days
|
152.6 μg/m3
|
260 μg/m3
|
|
1-Hour TSP
|
AM4 - Canton Road Government Primary School
|
At least 3
times every 6 days
|
278.5 μg/m3
|
500 μg/m3
|
|
24-Hour TSP
|
AM5 - Topside Developments at West Kowloon
Terminus Site
|
At least once
every 6 days
|
141.1 μg/m3
|
260 μg/m3
|
|
1-Hour TSP
|
AM5 - Topside Developments at West Kowloon
Terminus Site
|
At least 3
times every 6 days
|
275.4 μg/m3
|
500 μg/m3
|
|
Noise
|
Leq, 30 minutes
|
NM2 - The
Arch, Sun Tower
|
Weekly
|
When one
documented complaint is received from any one of the sensitive receivers
|
75 dB(A)
|
|
Leq, 30 minutes
|
NM3 - The
Victoria Towers Tower 1
|
Weekly
|
When one
documented complaint is received from any one of the sensitive receivers
|
75 dB(A)
|
|
Leq, 30 minutes
|
NM4 - Canton
Road Government Primary School
|
Weekly
|
When one
documented complaint is received from any one of the sensitive receivers
|
70/65 dB(A)^
|
|
Leq, 30 minutes
|
NM5 -Development
next to Austin Station
|
Weekly
|
When one
documented complaint is received from any one of the sensitive receivers
|
75 dB(A)
|
|
Landscape & Visual
|
Monitor
implementation of proposed mitigation measures during the construction stage
|
As described
in Table 9.1 and 9.2 of the EM&A Manual
|
Bi-weekly
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Note:
^70 dB(A) for schools
and 65 dB(A) during school examination periods.
The EM&A programme
for the Project require 5 air monitoring stations and 5 noise quality
monitoring stations located closest to the Project area. With regard to the
monitoring activities at M+ Museum and the Lyric Complex, three monitoring
stations had been considered, including AM1, AM2 for air monitoring, and NM1
for noise monitoring. In the context of the construction activities in Zone 2A
and Zone 2B & 2C, all other monitoring locations including AM3, AM4, and
AM5 for air monitoring; and NM2, NM3, NM4 and NM5 for noise monitoring, have
been taken into account. However, access to all these originally designated
monitoring stations was declined. Therefore, alternative monitoring stations
was identified and proposed.
With regard to air monitoring, alternative
monitoring locations (AM3A, AM4A, and AM5A) were identified at ground floor at
the Northeast corner of West Kowloon Station’s station box, at ground floor at
the Southeast corner of West Kowloon Station’s station box, and at ground floor
at the North of West Kowloon Station’s station box respectively. AM3A, AM4A,
and AM5A were set in same direction to the area of major construction site
activities in Zone 2A. These alternative air monitoring locations (AM3A, AM4A, and
AM5A) were approved by EPD on 29 September 2020.
For noise monitoring, alternative noise monitoring
location (NM2A) was identified at the ground floor in front of The Arch - Sun
Tower, which is at the same location as stated in the EM&A Manual for
consistency. This alternative noise monitoring location was approved by EPD on
29 September 2020. Other alternative noise monitoring locations (NM3A, NM4A,
and NM5A) were identified at the ground floor in front of the Xiqu Centre, at the ground floor next to Tsim Sha Tsui Fire
Station, and at the Pedestrian road (ground floor)
outside West Kowloon Station respectively. NM3A, NM4A and NM5A were set closer
to the construction site boundary with more direct line sight to the major site
activities and higher exposure to the construction noise with no disturbance to
the premises’ occupants during noise monitoring activities. These alternative
noise monitoring locations (NM3A, NM4A, and NM5A) were approved by EPD on 29
September 2020.
Therefore, 3 air quality monitoring stations and 4
noise impact monitoring station were confirmed for the impact monitoring for
construction activities in Zone 2A and Zone 2B & 2C.
2.2
Environmental Mitigation Measures
Environmental
mitigation measures have been recommended in the EM&A Manual. Summary of
implementation status of the environmental mitigation measures is provided in Appendix
C.
In accordance with the EM&A Manual, impact
monitoring has been conducted in the reporting quarter. Meteorological data for
the reporting quarter have been extracted from Hong Kong Observatory and
presented in Appendix D.
Monitoring data with graphical presentation for the reporting quarter are shown
in Appendix E. A
summary on the monitoring results is presented in Table 3.1.
Table 3.1: Summary of
Monitoring Data
|
Parameter
|
Monitoring Location
|
Minimum
|
Maximum
|
Average
|
|
Air Quality
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 hour TSP
|
AM3A
|
34
|
77
|
50
|
|
1 hour TSP
|
AM4A
|
33
|
73
|
50
|
|
1 hour TSP
|
AM5A
|
33
|
76
|
49
|
|
24 hour TSP
|
AM3A
|
31
|
62
|
49
|
|
24 hour TSP
|
AM4A
|
32
|
64
|
48
|
|
24 hour TSP
|
AM5A
|
32
|
68
|
49
|
|
Construction Noise
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leq(30min)
|
NM2A
|
62
|
63
|
63
|
|
Leq(30min)
|
NM3A
|
60
|
61
|
61
|
|
Leq(30min)
|
NM4A
|
58
|
59
|
58
|
|
Leq(30min)
|
NM5A
|
63
|
64
|
64
|
Summary of the exceedances in the reporting quarter is
tabulated in Table 3.2.
Table 3.2: Summary
of Exceedances
|
Monitoring Station
|
Parameter
|
No.
of Exceedance
|
Action
Taken
|
|
Action Level
|
Limit Level
|
|
Air Quality
|
|
|
|
|
|
AM3A
|
1 hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
24 hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
AM4A
|
1 hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
24 hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
AM5A
|
1 hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
24 hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
Construction
Noise
|
|
|
|
|
|
NM2A
|
Leq(30min)
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
NM3A
|
Leq(30min)
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
NM4A
|
Leq(30min)
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
NM5A
|
Leq(30min)
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
All
1-hour TSP monitoring was conducted as scheduled in the reporting quarter. No
Action/ Limit Level exceedance of 1-hour TSP for Air Quality was recorded.
All
24-hour TSP monitoring was conducted as scheduled in the reporting quarter. No
Action/ Limit Level exceedance of 24-hour TSP for Air Quality was recorded.
All construction noise monitoring was conducted as
scheduled in the reporting quarter. No Action/ Limit
Level exceedance of Noise was recorded in the reporting quarter.
All
landscape and visual impact inspections were conducted as scheduled in the
reporting quarter. No adverse comment on landscape and visual aspects were recorded.
4.1
Zones 2A, 2B & 2C (Contract No.: CC/2023/2B/095)
As advised by
the Zones 2A, 2B & 2C Contractor, 6109.66 tonne and 0.0 tonne of inert C&D material were disposed
of as public fill to Tseung Kwan O Area 137 and Tuen Mun Area 38 respectively in the
reporting quarter, while 223.54 tonne of general refuse were disposed of at SENT landfill. 119.23 tonne of
metals, 0.0 tonne of paper/cardboard packaging, 0.0 tonne of plastics and 0.0
tonne of timber was collected by recycling contractors in the reporting
quarter. 0.00 tonne of inert C&D material were reused on site. 0.0 tonne of inert
C&D material was imported for reuse at site and 9513.14 tonne of inert
C&D material were reused in other projects. 18.42 tonne of inert C&D
material was disposed to sorting facility and 0.0 tonne of chemical waste was collected by
licensed contractors in the reporting
quarter.
The actual amounts of different types of
waste generated by the activities of construction works at Zones 2A, 2B & 2C in the reporting quarter are shown in Appendix F.
There was no breach of Action or Limit Levels for Air Quality (1-hour
TSP and 24-hour TSP) and Noise in the reporting quarter.
One complaint was received
in the reporting quarter. No notifications of summons and successful
prosecutions were received in the reporting quarter.
On 13 January 2025, the
WKCD hotline received a complaint from Mr. So, who was calling from the
security control room of The Harbourside. The complaint was regarding noise
issues arising from construction activities and vehicles between the Xiqu Centre and M+ in the afternoon on 11 January 2025
(Saturday) with no specific time mentioned. After the investigation, the major
construction activities for Zone 2A, 2B & 2C Sites were carried out between
7:00 a.m. and 19:00 p.m. which is compliant with the statutory requirement.
Preventive and mitigation measures are well-deployed and maintained by the
Contractor, including noise enclosure on concrete breaking work, noise
enclosure for RCD as well as noise barrier hanging on top of hoarding. Prompt actions are
taken after receiving a complaint notification, such as installing noise
barrier shielding to isolate the drilling works from the public, and
constructing noise enclosures around the motor parts of the plants. Regarding
the regular noise monitoring results, the results were well below the
action/limit levels. It was concluded that the concerned environmental impacts should might be due to the construction works,
especially the drilling works for grout curtains adjacent to the Austin Road
West, at Zones 2A, 2B & 2C Sites. On-site mitigation measures have
already been implemented and maintained, and prompt actions have been taken. We
will keep maintain good practice on site, and strengthen the implementation of
mitigation measures to further reduce impacts on the nearby neighbors.
The cumulative statistics on complaints,
notifications of summons and successful prosecutions were provided in Appendix G.
6
Comments, Recommendations and Conclusion
Based
on the observations made during site audits and landscape inspections, and construction
dust and noise monitoring results, no non-compliances and exceedances of air quality
and construction noise were recorded in the reporting quarter.
Reviewing
the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures in the EM&A
Manual, it was observed that they were effective and efficient in controlling
the potential impacts due to construction of the project during the reporting
period. Review of the effectiveness and efficiency of the EM&A programme
will continue, and recommendations will be provided to remediate any potential
impacts due to the project and to improve the EM&A programme if
deficiencies of the existing EM&A programme are identified.
The
EM&A programme as recommended in the EM&A Manual has been undertaken.
The construction works and EM&A programme for Zone 2A (Contract No.:
GW/2020/05/073) was commenced on 03 October 2020 and handed over on 31 March
2023; while the construction works and EM&A programme for Zone 2B & 2C
(Contract No.: CC/2020/2B/088) was commenced on 30 September 2021 and handed
over on 05 July 2024. The construction works and EM&A programme for Zones
2A, 2B & 2C (Contract No.: CC/2023/2B/095) was commenced on 05 July 2024.
Monitoring
of air quality and noise with respect to the Project is underway. In particular,
the 1-hour TSP, 24-hour TSP and noise level (as Leq,
30 minutes) under monitoring have been checked against established Action and
Limit Levels. There was no breach of Action or Limit Levels for Air Quality
(1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP) and Noise in this reporting quarter.
One complaint was received in the reporting
quarter. No notifications of summons and successful prosecutions were received
during the reporting quarter.
Weekly
construction phase site inspections and bi-weekly landscape and visual impact
inspections were conducted during the reporting quarter as required. It was
observed that the Contractor had implemented all possible and feasible
mitigation measures to mitigate the potential environmental impacts during
construction phase works.
