Living Islands Movement | Enhance the quality of life with a sustainable environment

Time 2021-06-13 12:50:11

Web Name: Living Islands Movement | Enhance the quality of life with a sustainable environment

WebSite: http://www.livingislands.org.hk

ID:183026

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Living Islands Movement Enhance the quality of life with a sustainable environmentThe Hong Kong Government has an ongoing project in Mui Wo for over 15 years that is called the Mui Wo Facelift . Learn about the history and the latest phase via the official website www.facelift-muiwo.com The latest phase is focused on the area that includes the Cooked Food Market, Public Transport Interchange, Bike Parking and the Promenade and Cargo Wharf. Information about the proposal by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) for the Remaining Phase can be found at www.facelift-muiwo.com/eng/Remaining%20Phase.html Following discussions with CEDD and CEDD presenting to members via an online webinar, LIM has prepared their comments on the proposal and shared this with CEDD. You may read the submission via www.livingislands.org.hk/submission-to-cedd-on-mui-wo-facelift-on-20210328-by-limWe look forward to hearing your comments on our suggestions and do also make you own submission to CEDD via email to hkg-muiwofacelift@jacobs.com within April 2021.The Town Planning Board has published four Outline Zoning Plans in Mui Wo North, Sha Lo Wan and San Tau, Sham Wat and San Shek Wan, and Pui O Au in early January 2021.To have a better understanding of the latest DPA and OZP planning on Lantau Island, Designing Hong Kong, Living Islands Movement and Save Lantau Alliance co-organised an online workshop on Tue 9 Feb 2021 to introduce the rationale and nature of the plans, the present situation of the zoning areas and ways of engagement. Following the initial round of submissions in August 2018, including LIM s objection, the applicant provided some additional information so LIM made a further objection in October 2018 to TPB Application number A/I-SKC/1, as we still had a number of concerns around the “Proposed Minor Relaxation of Maximum Building Height Restriction for Permitted Integrated Waste Management Facilities”.This is the incinerator project that has been approved next to Shek Kwu Chau Island on the South of Lantau Island.The updated GIST from the applicant includes the above image and other images, read the full GIST.Read our full submission either as text below or via the PDF document sent to the Town Planning Board.SecretaryTown Planning Board15th Floor, North Point Government Offices,333 Java Road,North Point, Hong KongSubmission by email to tpbpd@pland.gov.hk11 October 2018Objections to Planning Application No. A/I-SKC/1Proposed Minor Relaxation of Maximum Building Height Restriction for Permitted Integrated Waste Management FacilitiesDear SecretaryLiving Islands Movement (LIM) continues to object to the proposed minor relaxation of maximum building height restriction for permitted Integrated Waste Management Facilities (IWMF) following the submission of further information by the Applicant on 11.09.2018.  Further to our objections submitted in our letter dated 10 August we would like to make the following points.The 9.2% increase in the height of the main building facade will result in unacceptable visual impact for residents of South Lantau and recreational visitors.  The visual impact has not been adequately or accurately assessed by the Applicant.  It is not sufficient or acceptable for the Applicant to make unproven assertions such as the minor relaxation of the Main Process Building will not lead to adverse or unacceptable visual impact and the effect on the visual experience of the Visual Sensitive Receivers is slight and nearly negligible without any detailed consideration of the impact.  The glibness of these unproven assertions suggests a hastily prepared submission and adisregard for the cumulative visual impact of the IWMF on the residents and recreational visitors of South Lantau.1.1  The Applicant has chosen to completely ignore and disregard the visual impact findings documented in some detail in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).  Seven of these are described as moderate and one is described as moderate/substantial , so it is not credible that an increase of height of 6.5 meters would not lead to an increased cumulative impact.  Therefore it is a false conclusion to state that the increased height would not lead to adverse or unacceptable visual impact .1.2  The 14 photomontages submitted on 11.09.2018 are inaccurate and misleading:the base photographs were taken in 2010 and do not reflect the current landscape conditions e.g. loss of trees following typhoons Hato and Mangkhut.there is no evidence that the Applicant has actually visited the 14 Visual Sensitive Receivers to make an up-to-date assessment of the impact.The photomontages are not realistic because they do not depict an accurate rendition of the actual architectural design of the IWMF, e.g. no viewing platform is shown on the chimney and a concrete seawall and breakwater is shown instead of naturalistic clockwork of subtle and harmonised colour tone resembling the beige and gold granites of the Hong Kong coastline .the Applicant does not disclose that the 14 photomontages submitted on 11.09.2018 show the proposed visual impact after 10 years of mitigating planting and rooftop and vertical greening, rather than an unmitigated version or the appearance on Day 1 of operation, as were included in the EIA.1.3  The Applicant demonstrates a lack of respect to the residents and recreational visitors to South Lantau.the 14 VSR s have not been reassessed since the preparation of the EIA in 2010 in fact the Applicant shows no evidence of having even visited themthe Applicant does not consider that the population of the villages most affected by the unacceptable visual impact of the IWMF has significantly increased since the EIA was prepared.  The population of Tong Fuk and Shui Hau increased by 20% (from 1965 to 2526) between the census in 2011 and the census in 2016.  In this time, 3 significant housing projects have been developed in Cheung Sha, and 3 more government sites have been gazetted for residential development.the Applicant does not consider that recreational visitors to South Lantau have substantially increased following the preparation of the EIA and will continue to be stimulated by the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint.The Applicant is not justified in seeking to vary the planning or tender conditions for a project so recently awarded.  The successful tender submitted by the Applicant was based on the reference design considered in the EIA and approved by TPB but commenced the process of seeking a variation only 3 months after the tender was awarded.2.1  This is unfair on the unsuccessful tenderers as all tenderers were required to submit workable designs within the approved restrictions.  We suggest that EPD and TPB must reassure the public that the tender requirements have been honoured, and that the tenderer is not gaining a financial benefit from a relaxation of the tender conditions.2.2  The application to vary the approved project restrictions and controls sets a dangerous precedent and calls into question the adequacy of planning for other aspects of the project and including emissions, environmental impact and safety.A Variation to Environmental Permit is required for this requested change to planning controls and contemptuous disregard for the approved EIA.  The application appears to be a hastily prepared attempt to circumvent the controls already in place.  Multiple reasons are given for the request to increase the height e.g. enhance safe and environmentally acceptable operation of facility; optimise heat recovery; speed building process.  When these are considered together with the looseapproach and lack of evidence to substantiate the claim of no adverse or unacceptable visual impact , they are not convincing or persuasive.Therefore we urge the Town Planning Board to reject this application(A/I-SKC/1).RegardsLiving Islands MovementShare this:FacebookEmailTwitter LIM made an objection to TPB Application number A/I-SKC/1, based on a number of concerns around the Proposed Minor Relaxation of Maximum Building Height Restriction for Permitted Integrated Waste Management Facilities .This is the incinerator project that has been approved next to Shek Kwu Chau Island on the South of Lantau Island.Read our full submission either as text below or via the PDF document sent to the Town Planning Board.SecretaryTown Planning Board15th Floor, North Point Government Offices,333 Java Road,North Point, Hong KongSubmission by email to tpbpd@pland.gov.hk10 August 2018Objections to Planning Application No. A/I-SKC/1Proposed Minor Relaxation of Maximum Building Height Restriction for Permitted Integrated Waste Management FacilitiesDear SecretaryLiving Islands Movement (LIM) strongly objects to the captioned Planning Application (A/I-SKC/1) in its entirety.We have 4 main reasons for objecting which are:The proposed increase of 5.5m to the height of the principal building of the IWMF is not a minor relaxation of the approved development proposal it is a material change to the building specification already approved.The planning application is misleading in stating that the increased building height represents only 7.2% of the overall site area of the entire artificial island including the sea walls, decking, flat platforms and amenity access areas.  In fact it represents approximately 33% of the Main Process Building, the principal structure of the entire IWMF.  A more precise percentage cannot be given because this planning application omits to include accurately drawn to scale layout visuals.This material change to the approved development proposal is apparently necessary to ensure fundamental safety features for operations staff; fire safety issues, ventilation and smoke extraction.  None of these are minor considerations in a mass-burn incinerator.  This suggests a very significant late addition to the approved building design, and gives rise to considerable concern about the overall safety of the approved building design and incineration process.The increased building height is also required in order to accommodate a very significant change to the building process.  Because the building of the IWMF is already more than 10 years behind schedule, a sudden increase in building height has been requested in order to speed the building process by pre-assembling major equipment off-site while the reclamation work is in process.  This late change in building process to save construction time will result in an unacceptable permanent visual impact on the landscape.  It also raises questions over the credibility of the original construction process at a time when the people of Hong Kong are already very concerned by anomalies in construction processes of major infrastructure projects such as Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge; MTR stations; high-speed railway line; Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities.The planning application is very casual in its assessment of the visual impact of the significant increase to the height of the building.  In the EIA Report, 14 visual sensitive receivers ( VSRs ) were considered; however in this application to make a substantive change to the size and appearance of the IWMF only two VSRs are mentioned (Tong Fuk beach and travellers to Macau and Zhongshan).  In the EIA Report, the Magnitude of Change to these two identified VSRs was assessed as Intermediate .  The increased building height will have a substantive impact on many additional VSRs, and therefore the EIA assessment of visual impact needs to be amended before consent can be given to this planning application.  55 photomontages of potential visual impacts were provided in the EIA Report, but only two of inferior quality are provided with this application.  This suggests a highly disdainful attitude to the many people of Hong Kong and overseas visitors that enjoy the many recreational facilities that will be blighted by this poorly planned and ill-conceived eyesore in an area of outstanding natural beauty.Therefore we urge the Town Planning Board to reject this application(A/I-SKC/1).RegardsLiving Islands MovementShare this:FacebookEmailTwitter It is amazing and disheartening to see the Pui O Wetland being destroyed while government officials appear to sit by and let it happen.Yes basically before submissions to the Town Planning Board on Application number A/SLC/148 have all been made public and well before a decision by the TPB the land owner appears to be preparing their land for further Agricultural use!!!So to express our dismay we have written a letter to the Chief Executive of the HKSAR which we hope will be taken seriously for a number of important reasons outlined in our letter.Chief ExecutiveGovernment of the HKSARTamarHong KongSent by post and email (ceo@ceo.gov.hk)30 December 2017Continuing Destruction of the Pui O WetlandDear Chief Executive,I write on behalf of Living Islands Movement and our membership across Hong Kong, to express our considerable concern and dismay about a fresh round of landfilling that is taking place on the pristine and precious wetland habitat of Pui O on Lantau Island.Living Islands Movement (LIM) is a non-affiliated, local group dedicated to the sustainable environment of Hong Kong’s outlying islands – with a focus on Lantau http://www.livingislands.org.hk/about-us/I know this matter will be of concern to you because of your comments in the policy address about conserving and protecting the Pui O wetlands for future generations of Hong Kongers.  These comments, mirrored by those in the Lantau Blueprint have been welcomed by local residents, NGOs and International Conservation groups as a sign that the Hong Kong Government is giving proper consideration to conservation and the Government commitments under international agreements such as the Convention on Biodiversity.WWF-Hong Kong rate the Pui O wetlands as one of Hong Kong’s more significant areas of wetland, a habitat rich in biodiversity and home to Hong Kong’s only feral herd of water buffaloes.  The only Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted for this area, in 2001, concluded that the ecological value was high and that over the subsequent 20 years the area would grow into an important wetland if left alone.Today, many visitors, especially from the urban areas of Hong Kong, enjoy this rural idyll, a chance to recharge the batteries away from the hustle and bustle of city life.  A very necessary green lung that the vast majority of Hong Kongers want to preserve.Given you clearly agree with these sentiments it seems bizarre that your own Environmental Protection Department (EPD) would sign an ‘acknowledgement’ for further landfilling to take place in this beautiful place. This directly contradicts your stated policy intent.  It is even more troubling given that a Judicial Review which challenges the basis on which these ‘acknowledgements’ are given was heard in September 2016 with the judgement now imminent.We conducted a site visit with officials from relevant departments yesterday, 29th December, and were informed that the landowner commenced landfilling before the EPD’s acknowledgement had been given.  Although the EPD are now intending to prosecute the landowner, they have told us that they are powerless to stop the landfilling continuing. This site is also subject to a Town Planning Board Application which submissions only closed on Wed 27 December (Application number A/SLC/148).You won’t be surprised to hear that our members are incredulous that this could be the case.  Is the Government of Hong Kong powerless to stop one landowner who seeks to destroy a piece of pristine habitat in order to make a few dollars from renting out shipping containers which have already been placed on the land in question?  If so then the Government would appear to have lost the ability to govern.We have assured our members that this cannot be the case and that our Chief Executive would not allow this to happen if made aware.  This letter is to ensure you are aware and that you can take the necessary steps to prevent this madness from continuing.Like you, we are concerned about what we hand on to the children of Hong Kong.  Destruction of the Pui O wetland cannot be allowed to continue and we await your response with hope and anticipation.Your SincerelyDr Merrin PearseChairman of Living Islands MovementEmail: info@livingislands.org.hkCC. (by email) Chief Secretary for Administration, HKSAR Government cso@cso.gov.hk Secretary for the Environment sen@enb.gov.hk Director of CEDD shlam@cedd.gov.hk Director of AFCD dafcoffice@afcd.gov.hk The Ombudsman ombudsman@ombudsman.hkShare this:FacebookEmailTwitter Dear Members and Friends,Many of you will have seen or read that yet another section of the Pui O wetlands is now being filled with construction rubble.  This despite there being an outstanding Judicial Review which challenges the legal basis on which the Government are allowing this to happen.  The Government’s assurances in their ‘blueprint’ for Lantau that the Pui O wetlands will be conserved now seems very hollow.In this instance the landowner has also applied for planning permission to the Town Planning Board (TPB) to fill the land for agricultural use.  We do not accept that this land is suitable for that purpose or that the Board should counternance such land use within a Coastal Protection Area.Please take less than 5 minutes to make a written objection via the following link, deadline is the end of December 27th:http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/en/plan_application/A_SLC_148.htmlA two-sentence objection is fine. The main objection points are:1.      We do not accept that the subject lot is suitable or viable for the purposes of farming as suggested in the application.2.      This location is zoned as a Coastal Protection Area, within which haphazard developments and landfilling are prohibited.3.      The landfilling will seriously damage and erode a valuable and delicate wetland ecosystem.4.      The landfilling will seriously damage the habitat of Lantau’s unique feral water buffaloes.5.      The landfilling will create an eyesore, forever despoiling a picturesque and visually beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty.6.      It would directly contradict the stated policy of the Government, contained in the Lantau Blueprint, which states that the Pui O wetlands will be conserved.7.      It would contradict the CE’s statement in the policy address that money will be made available for conserving the Pui O wetlands.Please make your objection before the end of 27 December either online viahttp://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/en/plan_application/A_SLC_148.htmlor by emailing tpbpd@pland.gov.hk quoting application number A/SLC/148RegardsThe LIM CommitteeShare this:FacebookEmailTwitter It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Tom Masterson, one of of the founding fathers of the Living Islands Movement, who passed away in Hawaii last week.Living then in DB, Tom made huge contribution to the early battles which LIM fought and won, particularly the proposed Hei Ling Chau superprison, and all of us on Lantau owe him a great debt.With his passing, not only have we lost a great champion for Lantau, but we have lost a very nice man a true gentleman and a good friend.He is sorely missed, and the Committee of Living Islands Moment extend our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to his family.Share this:FacebookEmailTwitter Green Groups’ joint response to “Sustainable Lantau Blueprint” released by the Government on 3 June 2017 via www.lantau.gov.hkThe letter begins with this 1st point:The undersigned green groups are deeply concerned over the proposed “Sustainable Lantau Blueprint” (the Blueprint) released by the Government on 3 June, 2017. Although the Blueprint has a planning vision of ‘balancing development and conservation’, it seems to continue the approach of “Space for All” launched in January 2016 which is a development-orientated proposal. We regret that the Blueprint still fails to provide adequate protection and conservation of important sites and habitats on Lantau. We reiterate that conservation should be the planning premise for Lantau before any developments is proposed.Read the full letter JGG Response to Bluepeint Jun2017 final co-signed by:Designing Hong KongGreen Lantau AssociationGreen PowerGreeners ActionHong Kong Bird Watching SocietyHong Kong Dolphin Conservation SocietyLiving Islands MovementSave Lantau AllianceSociety of Hong Kong Nature ExplorersThe Conservancy AssociationWWF-Hong KongShare this:FacebookEmailTwitter

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