1 INTRODUCTION

This is a Landscape and Visual Audit conducted to fulfill the requirements of the EIA during the Operational Phase of the project, and is based on the procedures and requirements as set out in the Environmental Monitoring and Audit Manual prepared under Agreement No. CE98/98 Preliminary Design and Ground Investigation for Widening of Yuen Long Highway between Lam Tei and Shap Pat Heung Interchange.

Under the Environmental Impact Assessment for the above, the proposed mitigation measures included both the compensatory planting works and treatment to structures. As stated in paragraphs 5.3.2 & 5.3.3 of the EM&A Manual, all landscape mitigation measures undertaken by the Contractor during the first 12 months of the Operational Phase shall be audited on a bi-monthly basis to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the mitigation measures.

2 SCOPE OF AUDIT

The broad scope of the audit on mitigation measures is as detailed below:

2.1 Compensatory Planting

Operation Phase:

· Monitoring of the maintenance operations to ensure all plants are well developed and grow during the Establishment Period.

3 INSPECTIONS

3.1 Summary of Inspection – 12^th June 2008

3.2 Planting Works and Maintenance Operations

General Observations:

· It was basically observed that no landscape maintenance operations were carried out by the Contractor over the last 2 months, except for the grass cutting of slope feature no. 6NW-D/F18.

· An additional 30 more trees were observed dead, with a couple of more trees leaning / fallen over since the last inspection.

· A detailed summary of the inspection was noted on the drawings enclosed under Appendix A.

Woodland Mix Planting:

· Replacement planting of missing tree and shrub species as specified in the Woodland Mix was outstanding.

· Planting of Woodland Mix for the few slope areas identified to be devoid of plants at the last inspection was outstanding.

Amenity Tree Planting:

· Rectification of a number of planted trees to locations as shown on drawings was outstanding.

· Replacement planting for over 270 dead trees, more than 110 trees of wrong species, and over 250 trees unaccounted for at the last inspection was outstanding.

· Replacement planting of Schefflera heptaphylla trees for all the incorrectly planted Schefflera actinophylla tree species was outstanding.

· Replacement planting of Bauhinia variegata trees for all the incorrectly planted Bauhinia purpurea or Bauhinia blakeana tree species was outstanding.

Amenity Shrub Planting:

· Replacement planting for all missing shrubs and groundcovers plants was outstanding.

Berm Planters:

· Replacement planting for all incorrectly planted tree species and 104 missing trees in berm planters was outstanding.

· Replacement of over 20 dead trees planted in all berm planters as identified at the previous inspection was outstanding.

· Replanting of whips, shrubs, and climber plants of Berm Planter Mixes for all the berm planters was outstanding.

Transplanted Trees:

· Revised drawings to show actual locations of some of the transplanted trees were outstanding.

Existing Retained Trees:

· As noted in the last inspection where existing trees to be retained as shown on Dwg. No. 01206/1630L was missing, the Contractor had now transplanted 10 trees back into locations of existing trees to be retained. The Contractor was requested to provide documentation that instruction from RE was obtained for transplanting of those trees to allow for the works and its subsequent re-instatement.

3.3 Recommendations

· The Contractor was strongly recommended to perform all landscape maintenance operations as stipulated in the General Specification and Particular Specification to ensure the healthy establishment of all the trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants, i.e., cutting of overgrown grass and removal of weeds on all slopes; replace all dead trees; replant all missing trees, seedling trees, shrubs and groundcover plants; re-staking all trees with broken / leaning tree stakes; pruning of die back tree branches; fertilizing of plants, etc.

· The Contractor was reminded to replant altogether over 600 new trees as replacement for all dead trees, trees of wrong species planted, missing trees, and any other trees found to be in poor conditions prior to the next site inspection.

· The Contractor was reminded to rectify all woodland mix planting areas through infill planting for all missing trees and shrub species to the specified quantities. Also, the Contractor was reminded to carry out planting of woodland mix plants to the outstanding areas.

· The Contractor was reminded to rectify all shrub amenity planting areas by re-planting all missing shrubs and where the actual quantities are less than that specified.

· The Contractor was reminded to carry out regular inspection of all tree stakes, especially trees on berm planters where it could be easily blown over in strong wind conditions, and rectify all defects as soon as possible.

· The Contractor was reminded to re-plant all ‘Berm Planter Mixes’ plants in the Berm Planters.

· The Contractor was requested to clarify the status of all missing retained trees.

· The Engineer was reminded to revise the drawings to show the actual locations of transplanted trees.

4 AUDIT SCHEULE

4.1 Bi-monthly Audit Schedule during Establishment Period

The next bi-monthly audit is schedule to be conducted on 14^th August 2008.