Shenzhen Western Corridor, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd.
• Components: Ecological survey, environmental impact assessment

The consultant described ecology, assessed impacts, and planned mitigation for a 5.3 km 6-lane cross-boundary bridge between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Ecological baseline studies included a twelve-month biodiversity survey, fixed-wing dolphin census, extensive literature review on bird collision, coastal bird census for the bridge over Deep Bay, location of Hong Kong’s only Ramsar site.

Feasibility Study for Additional Cross Border Links (Crosslinks), Stage 2, Hong Kong

• Client: Planning Department, Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: Mouchel Asia Ltd.
• Components: Baseline surveys, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of two major proposed bridge links between Hong Kong and Mainland China: a Zhuhai-Hong Kong bridge to cross the Pearl River (Zhu Jiang) Estuary and a Shenzhen-Hong Kong bridge to cross Deep Bay. The project also involves extensive coastal highways and bored tunnels on the Hong Kong side. Key ecological issues in the Pearl River are dolphins ( Sousa chinensis ) and inshore fisheries. Key issues in Deep Bay are mangroves, mudflats and migratory waterbirds. Ecosystems conducted 12 months of systematic field surveys covering key sites on land and in Deep Bay, provided input on siting and alignments to avoid ecologically important sites, and conducted a preliminary impact assessment for the project, including initial identification of mitigation measures. This study will be followed by separate EIAs for the individual infrastructure elements required on the Hong Kong side.

KCRC Western Corridor Railway, Hong Kong

• Client: Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
• Lead consultant: ERM-Hong Kong, Ltd.
• Components: Baseline surveys, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a proposed major rail transport link in North-west New Territories of Hong Kong. Ecosystems conducted 12 months of baseline field surveys and carried out the ecological impact assessment. Critical ecological issues for consideration included impacts to wetlands and dependent wildlife, given that a major section of the new line passed through an agricultural valley dominated by fish ponds and agricultural wetlands. The EIA assessed the ecological significance of habitats and species to be affected by the project, and developed workable impact mitigation measures, in particular wetland mitigation strategies, in consultation with Government. The cumulative impacts of this and other projects in this part of Hong Kong were assessed as part of the EIA, with a special focus on cumulative wetland loss.

Tseung Kwan O Development Phase III Road P2, Hong Kong

• Client: Civil Engineering Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: Scott Wilson (Hong Kong) Ltd.
• Components: Baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a road proposal for Tseung Kwan O, a New Town area under development in eastern Kowloon. The road would connect the New Town Centre with metropolitan Kowloon. Ecosystems conducted ecological baseline surveys and carried out ecological impact assessment. Key concerns were impacts to coastal and nearshore marine habitats. Assessed impacts and developed appropriate mitigation measures.

Improvement to Junction of Magazine Gap Road and May Road, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: Urbis Ltd.
• Components: Baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Feasibility study on improvement of a road intersection near the Peak, Hong Kong Island. Ecosystems Ltd. conducted baseline field surveys of the area to be affected, which was dominated by mature but fragmented woodlands utilised by protected wildlife species. Assessed potential impacts to woodland and dependent species, and developed impact mitigation measures.

Tolo Highway Widening, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: CES (Asia) Ltd.
• Components: Environmental impact assessment

Study on the feasibility of widening Tolo Highway, a major north-south transport link in Hong Kong’s New Territories. Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input to the environmental assessment. Key ecological concerns were potential impacts to coastal habitats affected by the road widening. The consultants developed mitigation measures including reprovision of coastal habitats lost to highway widening, and enhancement of the new coastal zone for waterbird feeding.

Kennedy Road Improvement, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: ENPAC Ltd.
• Components: Ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of road improvement and construction project on the urban fringe of northern Hong Kong Island. Key issues were potential impacts to mature, closed-canopy woodlands over most of the site, and consequent impacts to protected bat and bird species that forage and roost here. The consultants developed mitigation measures including reforestation with native tree species recorded on the original site, and provision of bat roost boxes.

Hiram’s Highway Improvement, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: ENPAC Ltd.
• Components: Ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of road widening and realignment project in Hong Kong’s Eastern New Territories. Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input, conducting surveys of mature natural woodlands to be affected by the project. The woodland in question was mature and supported plant and animal species of conservation interest. The ecological significance of the site in the local and territorial context was assessed, impacts of project construction and operation were predicted, and impact avoidance and mitigation measures (including woodland restoration along the new alignment) were proposed.

Fo Tan Road Widening, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: CES (Asia) Ltd.
• Components: Baseline ecological survey, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a proposal to widen a major urban/suburban road in Fo Tan, New Territories. Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input to the study. Key ecological issues were loss of roadside vegetation, including some woodlands. The ecological significance of the woodland sites along the alignment was determined, impacts of project construction and operation were predicted, and impact mitigation measures (including sensitive construction methods and woodland restoration) were developed.

Route 3 Highway (Detailed Design Stage), Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: CES (Asia) Ltd.
• Components: Baseline survey, environmental impact assessment, ecological monitoring

Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the final designs for the Route 3 Highway Project, North-West New Territories, Hong Kong. The Project is a key component of the strategic infrastructure development planned by Government to support the Port and Airport Development Strategy (PADS), and will connect the Chek Lap Kok Airport and Lantau Port directly to the western New Territories. Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input to the study.

The consultants identified the key ecological issues associated with the project, including loss of wetlands in the North-west New Territories. Wetlands in this part of Hong Kong are of particular ecological importance as feeding areas for waterbirds including herons and egrets. Seasonal habitat use and spatial distribution of colonially nesting birds were investigated to determine potential impacts of highway construction upon these species. Wetland creation and restoration measures were proposed to mitigate habitat losses, as well as measures to manage wetlands for wildlife. Protected plant species identified within the works boundary were transplanted off-site. To compensate for losses of woodland, off-site planting of native tree species was carried out on eroded areas in the vicinity of the project site.

Cumulative impacts of this and other infrastructure developments in the immediate area were also a concern of the EIA, as the North-West New Territories are under intense and growing ecological pressure due to infrastructure development and urbanisation.

Ecological monitoring throughout the construction phase and in the first three years of project operation were undertaken to assess impacts of the development on key receivers, including breeding waterbirds in the area. Operation-phase monitoring also included design and supervision of the restoration of a stream valley damaged during the construction process; the consultants directed the restoration process and acted as liaison between Government authorities, the project proponent, and interested non-governmental environmental organisations. Monitoring has followed the progress of stream restoration efforts and beginning in wet season 2000 will assess the success of these efforts.

Route 3 Highway, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: Freeman Fox Maunsell
• Components: Ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Route 3, a major highway link to connect the new international airport at Chek Lap Kok to the North-west New Territories. The project included a bridge over Rambler Channel and a tunnelled section passing under Tai Lam Country Park. Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input, including detailed baseline surveys of the project area. Intensive surveys were conducted of vegetation, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians along proposed road alignments. Key ecological issues included potential impacts of highway construction and operation to wetland habitats including the Kam Tin River, fresh water fish ponds and wet agricultural lands. The EIA considered shifts in alignment, elevation and construction methods to mitigate ecological and other impacts.

Castle Peak Road Widening, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: CES (Asia) Ltd.
• Components: Baseline ecological survey, environmental impact assessment

Feasibility Study of a proposed road widening project for an important and intensively used transport corridor in the western New Territories. Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological expertise to the project. Key ecological issues addressed were potential impacts of road widening upon areas of natural vegetation and rocky shores. Alternative alignments for different sections of the project were assessed and ranked in terms of ecological impact. Recommendations were made on which alignments should be adopted for each of ten sections of the road to be widened, and impact assessment was conducted following selection of a preferred alignment for each section.

Access Road Widening, Hong Kong

• Client: Private
• Lead consultant: AXIS Environmental Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Ecological impact assessment

Pre-feasibility study for a road widening project to provide access to a proposed residential site in Tseung Kwan O, East Kowloon. Ecological survey focused on vegetation at and near the road site, which was dominated by grassland with some tree plantations and orchards. A habitat map was generated for the study area and the different habitats were assessed in terms of ecological value. Impacts from construction and operation of the project were predicted and evaluated, and mitigation measures (including vegetation restoration and habitat enhancement) were developed to offset unavoidable impacts.

Route 3 Fill Disposal, Hong Kong

• Client: Dragages et Travaux Publics
• Lead consultant: Woodward-Clyde International
• Components: Ecological impact assessment

Ecological assessment of a proposal to dump excess fill from the construction of the Route 3 tunnel in valleys near the construction site. The project was a part of Hong Kong’s major Port and Airports Development Strategy (PADS), and its timely completion was critical to the successful operation of the PADS group of projects as well as to easing traffic congestion in the North-west New Territories. Ecosystems Ltd. conducted field surveys and impact assessment. The sites targeted for fill disposal were surveyed for occurrence of rare or protected species and alternative sites were ranked in terms of ecological value in order to aid selection of a final site for fill disposal. Given the occurrence of useful wildlife habitat and the presence of plant species of conservation interest in the valleys proposed for filling, the consultants strongly recommended that alternative disposal sites be sought. In the end the valley disposal option was rejected and a conventional fill disposal site was identified.

Fill Disposal for Ting Kau Bridge and Approach Viaduct, Hong Kong

• Client: Ting Kau Bridge Contractors Consortium
• Lead consultant: Binnie Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Ecological impact assessment

Ecological survey of a site proposed for disposal of fill from a highway improvement project in the North-west New Territories of Hong Kong. The site consisted of partially wooded hillslopes and part of a stream valley. Ecosystems Ltd. surveyed the site, predicted the ecological impacts of fill dumping, and developed proposals for habitat restoration following completion of works should the site be selected. Based in part on predicted ecological impacts, the decision was made not to use this site for fill disposal.

Ting Kau Bridge, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: Golden Ace Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Environmental impact assessment

Survey of marine, fresh water aquatic, avian, and terrestrial flora and fauna for a major bridge project in Hong Kong. Ting Kau Bridge will span Rambler Channel as part of the Route 3 link between Chek Lap Kok airport and Yuen Long. The project is a transport component of PADS (Port and Airport Development Strategy), a major Government infrastructure development strategy. Key issues identified through initial surveys were potential impacts to the adjacent Tai Lam Country Park and to mature woodlands near the Park boundary.

Route 5 Highway, Hong Kong

• Client: Highways Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: AXIS Environmental Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Ecological baseline surveys, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a section of Route 5, a highway link in the western New Territories of Hong Kong. The purpose of the study was to predict impacts from the extension and upgrading of the existing Route 5 to a high-speed throughway. Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological expertise. The ecological component of the study included field surveys of flora and fauna and prediction and evaluation of ecological impacts of the project. The consultants developed mitigation measures including enhancement of habitats along the alignment which had historically suffered from wildfire and erosion.