Development at Cha Kwo Ling Kaolin Mine Site, Hong Kong

• Client: Territory Development Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR
• Components: Ecological survey, environmental impact assessment

Ecological survey and impact assessment for a proposed urban development at a site composed of a former detention centre and agricultural lands. The consultants identified ecological constraints, evaluated development options, assessed ecological impacts and proposed mitigation measures.

Development at Cha Kwo Ling Kaolin Mine Site, Hong Kong

• Client: Civil Engineering Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: EHS Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Feasibility study, ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Feasibility study of a high-density residential development and supporting road network on a former mine site in eastern Kowloon. Ecosystems Ltd. conducted multi-season ecological baseline surveys and ecological impact assessment for the project. The site was degraded by past mining activities, and the project offered opportunities for restoration of ecological value on degraded areas not directly required for housing or road construction. The consultants predicted the impacts of the development and proposed impact mitigation measures including habitat restoration on the edges of the site.

Development at Anderson Road, Hong Kong

• Client: Civil Engineering Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: CES (Asia) Ltd.
• Components: Feasibility study, ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Planning and engineering feasibility study for high-density housing development at an urban fringe site in eastern Kowloon. The study included an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to which Ecosystems Ltd. contributed ecological input. The consultants conducted multi-season baseline surveys, predicted impacts of project construction and operation, and developed mitigation measures. Mitigation measures proposed included habitat restoration on the edges of the site not required for development.

Development at Choi Wan Road and Jordan Valley, Hong Kong

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

Planning and engineering feasibility study for high-density urban development of an urban fringe site in eastern Kowloon. The site was partly vegetated, partly cleared and partly occupied by a quarry. The study included an Environmental Impact Assessment to which Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input. The consultants conducted a multi-season ecological baseline survey of the site, predicted ecological impacts of the project, and developed impact mitigation measures including habitat restoration.

Remaining Development in Tung Chung and Tai Ho, Hong Kong

• Client: Territory Development Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR
• Lead consultant: CES (Asia) Ltd. / Maunsell Environmental Management Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Feasibility study, ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Comprehensive feasibility study on additional urban and infrastructure development in the Tung Chung and Tai Ho New Town on Lantau, a part of the Airport Core Projects programme. The study was commissioned in response to a requirement to increase the New Town population from approximately 200,000 to over 300,000 by 2011 to keep pace with Hong Kong’s predicted population growth. The study included an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the additional development, to which Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input.

The requirement for additional study and assessment of the New Town site provided an opportunity to update the original ecological baseline surveys, conducted in 1990. Additional survey work in 1997-1998 highlighted resources of ecological importance that were either not identified or dismissed as of limited importance by the original study. Critical ecological issues associated with the project are identified as impacts upon sensitive coastal and estuarine habitats including mangroves and seagrass beds, upon streams documented as the richest in fish species in Hong Kong, and upon rural landscapes dominated by woodland and freshwater wetland mosaics which support diverse wildlife but which are rapidly declining in extent in Hong Kong.

The new findings engendered a fresh consideration of the New Town layout and resulted in dramatic changes to the original plan adopted in 1996. These changes made possible the protection of numerous habitats of documented conservation importance. The consultants also developed compensation and restoration measures, including stream restoration, mudflat re-creation and woodland restoration using native tree species.

Low-density Residential Development at Shuen Wan, Hong Kong

• Client: Private
• Lead consultant: CES (Asia) Ltd.
• Components: Ecological impact assessment, conservation area planning and management

Ecological survey and impact assessment of a site proposed for low-density residential development near Tolo Harbour, Central New Territories. Crucial ecological issues addressed included impacts to freshwater and brackish wetlands which are well documented as significant as waterbird habitat. Ecosystems Ltd. worked with the developer to fully consider alternative site layouts and approaches to development in order to avoid serious negative impacts. Cooperative efforts resulted in the development area being shifted away from a wetland of documented ecological importance, and development of a plan to protect the most ecologically valuable portion of the site as a privately endowed nature conservation area open to the public.

Intensification and Extension of Tseung Kwan O New Town

• Client: Civil Engineering Department
• Lead consultant: CES (Asia) Ltd. / Maunsell Environmental Management Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Feasibility study, environmental impact assessment

Study on the feasibility of further intensification of urban development at Tseung Kwan O, a New Town in south-eastern Hong Kong, in order to meet Hong Kong’s predicted population growth to 2011. The study includes an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to which Ecosystems provided ecological input. The study site lies largely on reclamation and is surrounded by greenbelt and Country Park areas. Ecological issues to be considered include impacts of development upon nearby Country Parks and upon coastal waters and inshore fisheries. Ecosystems Ltd. evaluated the importance of ecological resources to be affected by the development, predicted impacts of the project and advised on mitigation measures to offset significant impacts.

Low-density Residential Development at Lau Fau Shan, Hong Kong

• Client: Private
• Lead consultant: Wong Poon and Partners
• Components: Ecological baseline survey, ecological impact assessment

Study of a site proposed for low-density, low-rise residential development on Mong Tseng Peninsula, Deep Bay, Hong Kong. Ecosystems Ltd. surveyed bird community diversity, species abundance, and habitat preferences on and around the site. The purpose of the study was to determine the utility of the site as bird habitat during all seasons of the year, and from that information to predict potential impacts of the proposed development. The consultants also prescribed on-site and off-site mitigation measures to address ecological impacts of the project, including an off-site conservation management programme.

Low-density Residential Development at Sha Lo Tung, Hong Kong

• Client: Private
• Lead consultant: AXIS Environmental Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a residential development project in an upland rural area of the Central New Territories. Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input to the assessment. The project area was ecologically sensitive, harbouring a number of plant and animal species of extremely restricted distribution in Hong Kong. The consultants undertook extensive ecological surveys to identify areas for which protection and conservation were essential, predicted impacts of project construction and operation, and made recommendations on modification of project layout and other impact mitigation measures.

Low-density Residential Development at Ting Kok Road, Hong Kong

• Client: Private
• Lead consultant: CES (Asia) Ltd.
• Components: Ecological baseline surveys, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a low density residential development with horticultural and public recreation areas proposed for a site in the Central New Territories. Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input to the study. The project site was adjacent to a mangrove community which was a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). An ecological survey of the SSSI was conducted as part of the project assessment. The environmental assessment considered the environmental and landscape constraints to the development, and recommended preferred design options and control measures to mitigate impacts of construction and operation.

Expansion of Discovery Bay, Hong Kong

• Client: Private
• Lead consultant: AXIS Environmental Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the expansion of an existing residential development into a coastal valley area and associated highway tunnel. Ecosystems Ltd. conducted ecological baseline surveys and carried out ecological impact assessment. Key issues of concern included wooded hillsides, a small but diverse mangrove community and associated fauna, and nesting areas of bird species including Black-eared Kite Milvus lineatus and Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis , for which there are few breeding records in Hong Kong. The consultants proposed mitigation measures including redesign of the development to avoid the hillside woodlands and existing mangroves, and creation of a new mangrove area in a nearby inlet with similar site characteristics. Proposals were also made to time construction activities so as to minimise effects on breeding birds.

Residential and Recreational Development at Tai Long Wan, Hong Kong

• Client: Private
• Lead consultant: AXIS Environmental Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Environmental review and assessment

An environmental review of key issues related to residential and recreational development of an ecologically sensitive site surrounded by a Country Park and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The review identified issues which were considered likely to constrain the scope and form of the development. The review was followed by development of alternative conceptual designs to ensure minimal impacts to marine and terrestrial ecological resources and to the nearby Country Park and SSSI.