Mitigation measures will be taken during the implementation of the Lung Mei Beach works project to minimise the adverse effect construction work may cause to the marine environment in the area.
The Leisure & Cultural Services Department made the statement today in response to suggestions by environmental concern groups.
A thorough Environmental Impact Assessment on the Lung Mei Beach works project has been conducted, and it has been issued with an Environmental Permit by the Environmental Protection Department.
It said the project was launched in response to the recommendation of the Tai Po District Council and to meet the needs of local residents. The Tai Po area is currently served by only Tai Po Swimming Pool. There is no public beach swimming facility in the area and the adjacent North District.
The nearest public beach is Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung, 17km away. The local community is therefore very supportive of the Lung Mei Beach project and looks forward to its early materialisation, the department said.
The Government attaches great importance to the ecological impact of the construction works. It conducted ecological surveys and revised the beach design by reducing the reclamation area.
Mitigation measures will be taken to minimise the adverse effect construction works may cause.
Before conducting the sand filling process, workers will carefully remove the rocks and other objects in the intertidal zone where living species can live. At this stage, most of the fish species in water will migrate to new habitats. For species less movable, government departments will capture them and relocate them, along with the other three fish species of conservation importance, to other suitable reception sites.
On water quality, the Drainage Services Department is building a new sewerage network to collect sewage from villages and deliver it to the Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works for treatment before discharge.
After the completion of the new sewerage system next year, water quality in the vicinity of the Lung Mei Beach will improve, and will comply with the water quality standards required for beaches.
On the recommendation for building an ecological swimming pool in place of a bathing beach, the Government's preliminary view is that given the paramount consideration to retain the existing Lung Mei coastline as suggested by the
environmental concern groups, the land available for the suggested development is not adequate for the development of a sizable public swimming pool, and its transportation and ancillary facilities.
The beach project has gone through years of planning as well as consultations. It has been scrutinised and approved in accordance with the statutory procedures by the Advisory Council on the Environment, the Town Planning Board, and the Legislative Council on various aspects of the project, including ecological environment, transportation, town planning, and funding issues.
