11.14 Another possible way of obtaining fill for reclamation would be by lowering platforms already formed in the area. One such platform is shown on Drawing 5 and would yield about 140,000 cu. yds. of which 50,000 cu. yds. is estimated would be mainly rock. The estimated cost of this material is $4.00 per cu. yd. including transportation to the Terminal site.
11.15 If land at Texaco Peninsula is formed to the full extent shown on Drawing 15, it would be worth about $40 million for industrial use after roads and services have been provided. This is based on an anticipated unit value of $30 per sq. ft., which is considered reasonable by the New Territories Administration, together with a 60% ratio of saleable to gross usable land excluding the trunk road.
11.16 Most of the area proposed for the Texaco borrow area is already zoned for industrial use and it is understood that if sites are formed on the remaining area they could probably be used for industrial purposes also. No attempt has been made in the study for this Report to estimate the cost of providing internal roads and services, but it is apparent that a considerable net financial return to Government could be expected if sites are formed at Texaco peninsula as proposed.
11.17 The total volume of filling material required for all three stages of the four-berth Con- tainer Terminal is estimated to be 6.3 million cu. yds. of which 3.1 million may be rock. The total of 6.3 million could be produced by the Mainland borrow areas but the quantity of rock, mostly from the Texaco borrow area, would be higher than the rock-dump capacity of the reclamation. Also the excavating of this rock would be slower than the excavating of soft material and its presence in this proportion would mean that tendered rates for the "all-in" excavation in the site-formation works would be correspondingly higher.
11.18 It is apparent therefore that consideration should be given to part of the fill requirements being met from other sources where more soft material is available. If this is done, there should be a general raising of planned formation levels in the Texaco borrow area or possibly the omission of some of the more rocky platforms to reduce the rock quantity. The nearest other area where filling material could be obtained is Tsing Yi Island.
Borrow Areas on Tsing Yi Island
11.19 Since the two Mainland borrow areas will be insufficient to meet the demand for soft filling material, two areas on the island of Tsing Yi have been reserved as further borrow areas. These are both in the northern portion of the Island and their locations are shown on Drawing 5. The east Tsing Yi borrow area is in Tsing Yi Planning Area's 15 and 33 which are zoned for industrial use. The north Tsing Yi borrow area comprises Government housing sites and a Waterworks reserve which are both in Area 13. It also includes the hill to the west of this which is in a "Green Belt" zone.
11.20 These borrow areas are zoned for specific uses and if the demand for such land in the Tsuen Wan/Kwai Chung district rises enough, their development could become a distinct possibility. It is therefore suggested that they be reserved for 5 years at the end of which period the situation be reviewed to ascertain if the land is required for development.
11.21 The east Tsing Yi borrow area is convenient to the sea for barging across to the Container Terminal area. Within it there are several small agricultural lots and one very small undeveloped building lot, but it is anticipated there would be no difficulty in negotiating clearances.
11.22 There should also be no clearance problems in the north Tsing Yi borrow area which has been planned to avoid encroaching on agricultural land. The hill to the west in the "Green Belt" area has been included as there are also no clearance problems here and its appearance suggests it as a good source of soft fill.
11.23 The north Tsing Yi borrow area is less suitable than the eastern area as it is further away from the Container Terminal site and a long access road would have to be provided to give access to the sea. These factors would add to the cost of fill from here.
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