XN000022-1993-11-17 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1993

НВ SAID THE FULL BIA FOR BOTH STAGES I AND II OF THE PROJECT WOULD TAKE SOME 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE IN ORDER TO COVER THE POSSIBLE CHANGES IN HYDRAULIC SITUATIONS IN THE FOUR SEASONS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE ECOLOGY OF MAI PO.

HOWEVER, THE BIA CONSULTANTS WILL BE SUBMITTING A PRELIMINARY REPORT SIX MONTHS AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE STUDY, HE SAID.

MAY WELL BE

AT THAT STAGE, IT

POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACCEPTABILITY OF THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE AND CONFIRM THAT THE STAGE I WORKS CAN PROCEED.

IF SO, THE DESIGN OF STAGE I CAN BE FINALISED AND, SOUGHT ARE KNOWN, FUNDING APPROVAL WILL BE PROJECT COSTS FINANCE COMMITTEE TO ENABLE THE STAGE 1 WORKS TO PROCEED.

ONCE THE

FROM THE

"DESPITE OUR INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE, IT IS SIMPLY NOT FEASIBLE TO COMPLETE ALL THE PREPARATORY WORKS AND HAVE THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTED IN MID-1994.

"BUT IF WE CAN BRING COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROJECT FORWARD AT ALL, WE WILL, HE SAID.

F

MR EASON SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD LONG ACCEPTED THAT A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME OF RIVER TRAINING WORKS AND DRAINAGE CHANNEL PROJECTS WAS REQUIRED.

WAS

THE TERRITORIAL LAND DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL STRATEGY STUDY COMMISSIONED IN NOVEMBER 1988 AND PHASE I OF THE STUDY COMPLETED IN 1990 RECOMMENDED A SERIES OF FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS AND MEASURES FOR THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN NT.

CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS AND RESOURCES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED SINCE THEN TO IMPLEMENT THESE PROJECTS.

HE SAID THE RECENTLY COMPLETED PHASE II OF THE STUDY HAD FURTHER RECOMMENDED A THREE-TIER APPROACH IN TACKLING FLOODING:

PROACTIVE FLOOD MITIGATION MEASURES, INCLUDING RIVER

TRAINING AND CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPING STATIONS;

REACTIVE FLOOD MITIGATION MEASURES, INCLUDING FLOOD PROOFING, FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM AND EMERGENCY DRAINAGE CLEARANCE SERVICES; AND

IMPROVED LAND USE PLANNING AND CONTROL.

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