The Land and Renewal Department plans to build a pollution sludge disposal facility in the waters west of Lamma Island, changing its name to a non-finless porpoise habitat

Documents submitted by the Civil Engineering and Development Department to the District Council show that the department intends to set up a sludge disposal facility in the waters west of Lamma Island.

The department pointed out that the existing sludge disposal facility is located in the waters east of Shazhou. Since its capacity is expected to be exhausted in 2027 and there is no space for expansion of the disposal facility in this water area, it plans to find another location to plan a new sludge disposal facility. facility.

The EAD applied for an EIA for the project as early as 2019. At that time, it pointed out that the research area was in waters where finless porpoises were infested, and that the excavation project might affect the water quality of the nearby Hung Shing Ye Beach and Lu Su Cheng Beach. However, in the latest document, the Department of Fang Gaikou pointed out that the site selection of the project is not the habitat where the finless porpoise is mainly infested, and it is expected that the disturbance to the marine ecology and the loss of habitat caused by the project are temporary.

Documents submitted by the Civil Engineering and Development Department to the District Council show that the department intends to set up a sludge disposal facility in the waters west of Lamma Island.

(file picture)

According to the CERD, due to maritime safety considerations, the seabed and riverbed sediments must be cleaned regularly in harbour channels and flood discharge channels to maintain their flood control capabilities, and the excavated sediments (commonly known as sea mud) must be unloaded at the designated disposal facility.

The department stated in the document that the Government commissioned a consultant to conduct a site selection study on the installation of sludge disposal facilities in Hong Kong waters in 1998. At that time, the waters west of Lamma Island were reserved as supporting facilities for the development of container terminals.

However, according to the "Hong Kong Port Development Strategy 2030 Study" published by the Government in 2014, the waters in this area are no longer reserved for supporting facilities for container terminal development. Therefore, the Department believes that the waters west of Lamma Island are suitable for the development of new sludge disposal facilities. facility potential.

A review of the documents shows that as early as 2019, the CET applied for an EIA for the project, and submitted a project brief stating that the research scope is in the waters where the finless porpoise is infested, and the EIA will assess the impact on the finless porpoise at different stages of the project.

Moreover, the excavation works will temporarily increase and disperse the concentration of suspended sediment in the water body, and may reduce the dissolved oxygen content. In addition to affecting the water body in the project area, it may also affect the nearby sensitive receptors, such as the flood water on the west coast of Lamma Island. Sheng Ye Beach and Lo So Shing Beach.

However, according to the latest District Council documents, the department hired a consultant in 2020 to conduct further research, pointing out that after considering factors such as marine ecological habitats, including finless porpoises, fishery resources, beaches, waterfront reserves or areas of conservation value, it is recommended that the A new sludge disposal facility has been installed in the waters west of Ya Island.

The proposed facility will consist of a number of independent sludge pits, which will be developed and operated in stages according to the actual disposal needs.

According to preliminary estimates, the service life of each sludge pit is about 3 years. Depending on the actual discharge demand in the future, the service life of the entire discharge facility will be close to 20 years.

The department revealed that in terms of operation, it will continue to adopt the effective operation mode of the existing dumping facilities, including the construction and use of sludge pits in stages, arranging on-site personnel to monitor dumping activities 24 hours a day, and allowing only valid dumping permits When each sludge pit is filled, it will be covered with clean sea mud to restore the original seabed habitat.

According to the latest District Council documents, the department hired a consultant in 2020 to conduct further research, stating that after considering factors such as marine ecological habitats, including finless porpoises, fishery resources, beaches, waterfront protected areas or areas of conservation value, it is recommended that Lamma A new sludge disposal facility has been installed in the waters west of the island.

(District Council documents)

The EIA indicated that the environmental impact of the proposed facility was at an acceptable level

The CED stated that the EIA of the project has been substantially completed, and the results show that the environmental impact of the proposed facilities is at an acceptable level, including that the impact of the project on water quality is only temporary, and it is expected that it will not affect the nearby beaches, Unacceptable impacts on fish farming areas and marine ecology.

In addition, the document states that the site of the project is not the habitat where the finless porpoise is mainly infested, and corals and benthic organisms found in the site are also common species. It is expected that the disturbance to the marine ecology and the loss of habitat caused by the project are temporary. sex.

The department also pointed out that the project site has been selected as far as possible from more important fishing operations and fishery production areas, and it is expected that eating seafood from the vicinity of the project area will not cause unacceptable health hazards.

Moreover, the site selection is at least 2.5 kilometers away from the relevant sensitive receptors, and it is expected that they will not be adversely affected.

The department emphasized that it has consulted the relevant fishermen's groups and environmental groups on the preliminary results and recommendations of the environmental impact assessment in the first quarter of this year, and has taken into account their opinions to appropriately strengthen the monitoring of fishery resources and water quality in the environmental monitoring and auditing plan. The goal is to start construction in 2024 and complete the first sludge pit as early as 2025, and will continue to listen to relevant stakeholders on the project.

Two beaches with 6 million cubic meters of contaminated mud disposal facilities planned to the west of Lamma Island may be affected

01 Community