Discussion Paper

Central and Western District Council Food, Environment, Hygiene & Works Committee Paper No. 77/2013

Central and Western District Council Food, Environmental, Hygiene and Works Committee

Water Supplies Department PWP No. 9347WF – Reprovisioning of Fresh Water Pumping Station

Purpose

1. The purpose of this paper is to seek Members’ support on the proposed works under PWP No. 9347WF – “Reprovisoning of Harcourt Road Fresh Water Pumping Station”.

Background

2. The existing site for the Harcourt Road Fresh Water Pumping Station (HRFWPS) of about 900 m2 is located at Harcourt Road near Citic Tower. It transfers fresh water received from Kowloon side to the Gardens Fresh Water Service Reservoir, Garden Road Fresh Water Pumping Station and Bowen Road Fresh Water Service Reservoir, which serve to provide fresh water supply to Central, , the Mid-level and Peak areas.

3. HRFWPS is located within the study area covered by the “Urban Design Study for the New Central Harbourfront” (the Study) completed by the Planning Department in 2011. After going through the comprehensive public engagement process, the Study recommended that the potential of further increasing the supply of office at a site currently occupied by the Red Cross Headquarters and HRFWPS should be explored. To pave the way for future implementation of the Site to cope with the sustained growth of the economic activities in , the HRFWPS would be relocated.

Scope of Works

4. The scope of works of the project is to:

(a) Construction of a new pumping station at the existing slope near Central Fire Station at Cotton Tree Drive; (b) Laying of approximately 1.5 km fresh water mains ranging from 700 mm diameter to 1000 mm diameter, primarily along , Cotton Tree Drive and ; and (c) Demolition of the existing HRFWPS upon commissioning of the new pumping station.

5. The proposed project layout plan is shown in Annex I.

Methodology of the Works

6. For the construction of the new pumping station, the existing slope near the Central Fire Station will be trimmed down to create open space to accommodate the new pumping station.

7. For mainlaying along the existing carriageway, typical open-trench technique will generally be adopted. For areas where serious traffic disruption and utilities conflicts may be encountered, trenchless technique, such as pipe-jacking will be adopted.

Land Matters

8. The new site at Cotton Tree Drive for relocating HRFWPS is currently a slope covered with greening which is not accessible to the public. The site is zoned as “Open Space” as it forms part of the outside perimeter of the Hong Kong Park. The location of the site is considered ideal in fulfilling the technical requirements and maintaining effective services mentioned in paragraph 2 above. Separately, any visual impact which would be brought to the public by the new pumping station could be minimized because of its natural sloping landscape and distant location from residential area. The construction of the new pumping station would also not affect any current public uses within the Hong Kong Park.

9. Subject to support of the District Council for the project, we will submit application under Section 16 of the Town Planning Ordinance to seek Town Planning Board’s permission to use the site for water pumping station.

Environmental Impact

10. The Project is a non-designated project under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499).

11. A Preliminary Environmental Review was carried for the Project. The key findings on water quality, noise, waste, air quality and cultural heritage were as follows:

(a) Construction of pumping station  Water quality assessment indicated that no unacceptable residual impact was expected.  No adverse air quality impact was anticipated.  Major activities associated with pumping station construction would include bored piling, excavation and concrete building works. Noise impact assessment predicted that with the adoption of appropriate mitigation measures during construction, these activities would comply with the noise criteria. No adverse noise impact was anticipated  No waste impact was anticipated  Heritage impact assessment was carried out. A portion of the stone wall of over 150-year old was found to fall within the site. The location of the wall is shown in Annex II. The stone wall will be reinstated at the same location after construction of the pumping station. The Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) has no objection to the Project.

(b) Mainlaying along carriageway  No adverse water quality impact was anticipated.  No adverse air quality impact was anticipated.

 Major activities associated with the mainlaying works would include trench excavation, laying of pipes and backfilling. Noise impact assessment predicted that minor potential noise impact to the residential buildings could be effectively minimised with the adoption of good site practices by the Contractor.  No cultural heritage impact was anticipated as no cultural heritage resource was identified along the alignment.

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment

12. We have carried out a tree survey for the Project. The survey has identified 116 affected trees, 40 of which would be preserved by transplanting to other areas within Hong Kong Park or WSD land allocations on . The remaining 76 trees will be removed for their low value or low suitability for transplanting.

13. We will confirm with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and District Lands Office the trees that need to be removed or transplanted. Upon completion of the works, we will provide compensatory planting according to the compensatory planting proposal.

14. Trees and other greening designs will be provided at the roof of the pumping station and within the site for beautifying the outlook and blending with the surrounding environment so as to minimise the landscape and visual impacts of the pumping station on the nearby area. It is assessed that the impacts of the proposed pumping station will diminish over time, particularly as the landscape planting matures. The plan and elevation views of the pumping station after construction are shown in Annex III and IV.

Traffic Impact Assessment

15. A traffic impact assessment (TIA) for this Project had been conducted to identify the potential impacts on traffic due to laying of the proposed water mains. The TIA indicated that traffic impact due to the mainlaying works could be mitigated with the proposed temporary traffic management schemes.

16. The mainlaying works across Cotton Tree Drive would be carried out by trench opening method at night to minimise the traffic impact as there were only commercial buildings in the vicinity of the areas.

17. Trenchless method would be adopted for mainlaying works along Cotton Tree Drive and across the road junction of Queensway and Queen’s Road East to mitigate the traffic impact.

18. The mainlaying works along Queensway will be carried out by open-trench method and in sections to reduce disruption to the traffic as far as possible. Before commencement of each section of works, the Contractor will submit details and the temporary traffic management measures to the Traffic Management Liaison Group, which comprises representatives from the various relevant government departments, for assessment and agreement.

Construction Programme

19. Subject to Town Planning Board’s approval to the application for water pumping station, construction works of the Project are tentatively scheduled to commence in late 2014 for completion in early 2019.

Members’ Comments

20. Members’ support was sought to our proposed works and any comments from the Members are most welcome.

Water Supplies Department September 2013