THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1993
10
THE AWARD OF THIS CONTRACT BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ACP CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AWARDED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO 29, WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF OVER $30 BILLION.
$9.7
+
TOGETHER WITH THE FOUR MAJOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS VALUED AT BILLION, AWARDED BY THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, AND THE $5.7 BILLION CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARDED BY THE WESTERN HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY LIMITED, THE TOTAL VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR THE ACP, ALL WITHIN BUDGET, IS AROUND $45.4 BILLION.
MORE HELP TO LIVESTOCK FARMERS
* *
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A REVISED LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME WHICH WILL PROVIDE MORE ASSISTANCE TO LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN MEETING THE ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENT OF A LICENSING SYSTEM.
THE LICENSING SYSTEM WAS FORMULATED AFTER EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF LIVESTOCK FARMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE REVISED SCHEME AIMS TO STEP UP CONTROL OVER LIVESTOCK FARMS AND TO REDUCE POLLUTION CAUSED BY LIVESTOCK WASTE TO RIVERS AND STREAMS THAT POSES HEALTH HAZARDS.
UNDER THE REVISED SCHEME, THE LEVEL OF CAPITAL GRANT FOR SETTING UP WASTE TREATMENT FACILITIES WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY TO REFLECT THE MARKET COST OF INSTALLING THESE FACILITIES.
INCREASED
SUBJECT ΤΟ FUNDING APPROVAL BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE CAPITAL GRANT WILL BE INCREASED FROM $120 TO $225 A SQUARE METER FOR INSTALLING FACILITIES FOR TREATING PIG, CHICKEN, DUCK AND GOOSE WASTE.
FARMERS, WHO HAVE OBTAINED A CAPITAL GRANT, CAN RETAIN WITHIN ONE YEAR THE OPTION TO AN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE PAYABLE TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO CEASE THEIR BUSINESS. THE CASH PAYMENT WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE AND THE CAPITAL GRANT.
ΤΟ ENABLE FARMERS TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING THEIR NEW TREATMENT FACILITIES EFFECTIVELY, THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO MEET THE ULTIMATE WASTE DISCHARGE STANDARD IN THREE PHASES.
THESE WILL BE OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD FROM THE DATE A LICENCE IS ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WHO MUST BE SATISFIED THAT A PROPER WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM IS IN PLACE AND OTHER LICENSING CONDITIONS ARE MET.
IN TECHNICAL TERMS, FARMERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET INITIALLY THE BOD (BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND): SSD (SUSPENDED SOLIDS DISCHARGE) STANDARD OF 250:250. THE STANDARD WILL BE RAISED TO 100:100 AND ULTIMATELY TO 50:50 IN TWO SUBSEQUENT PHASES.
TO AVOID INCOMPATIBLE LAND USE, THE REVISED SCHEME WILL EXPAND THE EXISTING PROHIBITION AREAS WHERE SETTING UP OF NEW LIVESTOCK FARMS AND RE-START OF FARMS ALREADY CLOSED WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
/EXISTING LIVESTOCK