PLC Planning, Lands and Works Panel Meeting on 10 September 1998
Information Paper
West Kowloon Reclamation
- southern area phase 4 and remaining roadworks stage 2
Background
1. Following the decision in 1989 to build the new airport at Chek Lap Kok, the West Kowloon Reclamation (WKR) became one of the ten Airport Core Programme (ACP) projects. Works on the WKR project have been carried out under a number of major contracts. Areas reclaimed have been handed over in stages to other project offices since 1993 for the construction of the Western Harbour Crossing, West Kowloon Expressway, Airport Railway and other developments. ACP works on WKR were substantially completed in June 1997 while the remaining works will be completed progressively up to year 2006.
2. The parent item 332CL - West Kowloon Reclamation - main works (remainder)�was included in Category C of the PWP in April 1989. The scope of 332CL comprises reprovisioning of waterfront facilities, reclamation, construction of roads, drains and roadside landscaping on WKR.
3 We upgraded 332CL to Category B in November 1989 and have upgraded various parts of the project to Category A over the past years. We will complete the remainder of 332CL in further stages.
Proposal
4. We now propose to upgrade part of 332CL to Category A to cover:-
- construction of seawall and reclamation of approximately 12.7 hectares of seabed;
- construction of about two kilometres of roads and three footbridges;
- construction of associated drainage and sewerage works; and
- landscaping works.
5. The cost estimate of the proposed works is about $745 million at December 1997 prices. We will submit a paper for consideration by PWSC on 23 September 1998.
6. In order to provide land and adequate transport linkage in time for developments in the WKR, we need to commence the construction of the proposed works in December 1998 for completion in phases by December 2001.
Need of the Project
7. The WKR project will provide 340 hectares of land along the West Kowloon waterfront from Yau Ma Tei to Lai Chi Kok. We have completed most of the reclamation works. We need to proceed to the last phase of the reclamation works to provide 12.7 hectares of land in the southern area of WKR for the West Kowloon Station of the West Rail, residential and commercial developments, open space and road network.
8. Apart from the reclamation, we need to construct a complementary road network (namely, Roads D13 west of Road P1, P1 northbound between D12 and D13, SR6, SR8, R and S, and three footbridges across Roads D13, SR6 and SR7) and associated drainage and sewerage works to serve the developments in the southern part of the WKR. We plan to dispose of the commercial sites adjacent to Road D13 and the housing sites on the reclamation in 2000-01. To cater for the traffic growth, especially after the opening of the new airport, we also need Roads S and R to provide direct access to the public cargo area to supplement the existing roads.
9. We also need Road L5 to provide direct access to the Cheung Sha Wan west public rental housing estate, the private sector participation scheme housing site and Urban Council Complex in Tung Chau Street. We plan to commence population intake of the Cheung Sha Wan west public rental housing estate in February 2001.
Public Consultation
10. We consulted the Yau Tsim Mong Provisional District Board on the proposed reclamation works, and the Yau Tsim Mong Provisional District Board and the Sham Shui Po Provisional District Board on the proposed roadworks. Members supported the proposed works.
11. We gazetted the proposed reclamation work under the Foreshore and Seabed (Reclamations) Ordinance and roadworks under the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance. We subsequently obtained the authorization for the proposed works.
Environmental Implications
12. We studied the proposed reclamation work and roadworks in the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Construction of West Kowloon Reclamation�and the West Kowloon Reclamation Comprehensive Traffic Analysis Review and Environmental Impact Assessment. The studies concluded that the proposed works would have no long term environmental impacts. For short term impact during construction, we will control noise, dust, water quality and site run-off nuisance within established standards and guidelines through the implementation of pollution control measures in the works contracts.
Attachment
Site Plan
Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau
September 1998
