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Following is a question by the Hon Lee Wing-tat and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (May 9) :
Question:
With regard to the anticipated traffic noise nuisance caused to residents of Rambler Crest in Tsing Yi upon the opening of Route 8's slip roads, which are under construction, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the reasons and justifications for deciding not to install noise barriers at the road sections concerned; and
(b) given that the site of Rambler Crest was planned for commercial use when the relevant environmental impact assessment study was conducted, and the Town Planning Board had subsequently approved an application to change the planned use of the site to "hotel and service apartment", whether it will reconsider installing noise barriers at the road sections concerned in the light of this change in land use?
Reply:
Madam President,
The developer of Rambler Crest had given due consideration in its environmental impact assessment to the noise impact of the nearby existing roads and the proposed slip road of Route 8 on Rambler Crest before submitting the planning application for the development of serviced apartments to the Town Planning Board (the Board) in accordance with section 16 of the Town Planning Ordinance in 1999. The developer also undertook to provide the apartments with central ventilation and proper insulating glass as noise mitigation measures. The Board subsequently approved the planning application of Rambler Crest based on this condition.
The Lands Department issued a certificate of compliance upon the confirmation by the concerned departments on the completion of the noise mitigation measures undertaken by the developer. At present, we do not have any plan for installing additional noise barriers on the section of the slip road of Route 8 passing Rambler Crest.
Notwithstanding this, the Highways Department (HyD) has planned to surface the concerned road section with low-noise materials and minimise the number of road joints required for the section. HyD will continue to closely monitor the traffic condition along the road section and ensure that the road joints are as smooth as possible, so as to reduce the noise generated by passing vehicles.
Ends/Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:35
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