Despite the many challenges encountered in the planning and design of the site formation and infrastructure works development at Choi Wan Road and Jordan Valley, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) was committed to protecting and enhancing the environment, the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Chai Sung-veng, said today (March 24).
Addressing the Community Planting Day Ceremony of the project, Mr Chai said that the enhancement works in Jordan Valley included the planting of about 40,000 trees and 200,000 shrubs and flowers.
In addition to planting along the roadside, the department also expanded the greening area, including growing trees, shrubs and creepers at planters on slope berms and ensured proper growth of the plants in order to provide a green environment.
He hoped that through direct participation, the community planting day could raise public awareness of environmental protection and people could get involved in enhancing the environment and conserving natural resources.
Speaking about the effort to reduce and recycle construction waste of the project, Mr Chai said, "We removed about 9 million cubic metres of excavated materials off site to the former Kai Tak Airport via a 1600-meter long conveyor belt, thus significantly reduced the environmental impact of the works on nearby residents. "
"All the excavated materials were reused in other engineering projects. They were used in seawall construction, as construction materials or for horticulture."
"In addition to the conveyor belt, we implemented a number of mitigating measures to reduce the environmental impacts. These measures included use of low-noise mechanical plants, proper maintenance of service plants and vehicles, installation of temporary noise barriers, frequent watering of access roads, material stockpiles and blasting areas, hydro seeding of temporary slopes, control of the speed limit of site vehicles and installation of vehicle wheel cleaning facilities," Mr Chai added.
The development project near Choi Wan Road and Jordan Valley will provide about 11,000 public rental housing units to accommodate about 35,000 people as well as seven schools, open space and government/community facilities.
CEDD is responsible for site formation and infrastructure facilities, including formation of platforms of about 20 hectares, provision of new roads, bridges, footbridges, sewers, drains and associated landscaping works and improvement of existing road junctions. The total project cost is about $2 billion.
Site formation works started in November 2001 and the associated platform and main roads have been substantially completed. The remaining infrastructure works are expected to complete by mid-2009.
Mr Chai thanked the Kwun Tong District Council, district organisations and local community for their advice and support during the design and construction of the project, as well as their help in solving the various problem that arose.
He also thanked Kwun Tong residents for their forbearance to the inconvenience and disruption caused as well as their understanding of the difficulties encountered by the government and the contractor.
The officiating guests of the community planting day ceremony included the Chairman of Kwun Tong District Council, Mr Chan Chun-bun; District Officer of Kwun Tong, Ms Pauline Wong; Chairman of Kwun Tong West Area Committee, Mr Chan Kim-yau; and Project Manager (Kowloon) of CEDD, Mr Kwan Pak-lam.
Ends/Saturday, March 24, 2007