THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1982
CHECK ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
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MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM) TOOK TIME OFF THIS WEEK TO SEE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE CASTLE PEAK POWER STATION DEVELOPMENT AT TAP SHEK KOK.
IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, CONSULTANTS COMMISSIONED BY THE POWER COMPANY PRESENTED TO EPCOM A LANDSCAPE VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE 'B' STATION, CONSTRUCTION OF WHICH IS SHORTLY TO COMMENCE FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE 'A' STATION.
THE VISIT TO THE SITE WAS UNDERTAKEN AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE PRESENTATION, TO SEE WHETHER THE LANDSCAPE PLANS OUTLINED
IN THE PAPER WERE CAPABLE OF TRANSLATION INTO FACT AND TO OBSERVE THE WORK ALREADY COMPLETED ON THE SITE.
THE PLANTS, NOW BEING BUILT ON A SITE CUT FROM THE COASTAL HILLS AND SET IN A RURAL ENVIRONMENT, COULD HAVE BEEN AN EYE-SORE TO THOSE WHO LIVE NEARBY AND PASS BY AT SEA. IN ADDITION, THE EMISSIONS FROM SUCH COAL FIRED STATIONS, UNLESS PROPERLY CONTROLLED, COULD HAVE HARMFUL EFFECTS UPON THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO CONTROL THESE POTENTIAL POLLUTING EMISSIONS, SUCH AS SMOKE, COAL DUST AND PULVERISED FUEL ASH (PFA), THE RESIDUE LEFT AFTER COAL IS BURNED IN THE BOILERS, WERE CLOSELY EXAMINED BY EPCOM MEMBERS.
THE COMMITTEE EXPRESSED THEMSELVES GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY SAW, ALTHOUGH THEY NOTED THAT FIRM ARRANGEMENTS HAD STILL TO BE MADE TO ASSURE THE DISPOSAL OF PFA FROM THE 'B' STATION WHEN IT COMES ON STREAM IN SEVERAL YEARS' TIME. THE COMPANY IS IN DISCUSSION WITH GOVERNMENT ON THESE ARRANGEMENTS.
IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE COMPANY WOULD BE MONITORING THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT VERY CLOSELY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE CONTROL ON THE EFFECTS OF THE DISCHARGE OF WATER USED IN THE STATIONS' COOLING SYSTEM.
TURNING TO THE LANDSCAPING OF THE SITE, MEMBERS NOTED WITH APPROVAL THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THE COMPANY TO PRESERVE THE PUBLIC BEACH TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE SITE AND TO SCREEN IT EFFECTIVELY BY MEANS OF A HIGH EMBANKMENT PLANTED WITH SHRUBS AND PLANTS.
MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED THAT THIS AMENITY SHOULD BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED AFTER THE COMPANY'S RESTORATION AND PLANTING WORK HAD BEEN COMPLETED IN ORDER THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD ENJOY THE FACILITIES. THE PROVISION OF WHICH HAD BEEN CAREFULLY PLANNED THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POWER STATION SITE.
MEMBERS PARTICULARLY NOTED THE NEED FOR ADEQUATE PARKING FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED AT THE BEACH AND FOR THE BEACH ITSELF TO BE SAFEGUARDED AGAINST ANY POSSIBLE COMPETING CLAIMS FOR LAND USE IN THIS DEVELOPING AREA.