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Strategic Environmental Assessment. “Back to the Future” By Dr Anne F Kerr 18 June 2005. Contents of Talk. SEA concept Ingredients Purpose Communication of the findings and assessments Case studies. Strategic Environmental Assessments. S uitable for E very A pplication ?.
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Strategic Environmental Assessment “Back to the Future” By Dr Anne F Kerr 18 June 2005
Contents of Talk • SEA concept • Ingredients • Purpose • Communication of the findings and assessments • Case studies
Strategic Environmental Assessments • Suitable for Every Application ?
Essential Ingredients • Definition of robust baseline conditions • Identification of applicable assessment tools • Application of relevant key performance indicators
Purpose of an SEA • Essentially to identify impacts at a macro level • To allow rationale decisions to be made whether to take a project or development forward or not • To provide a powerful tool to communicate the implications of a development project or strategy in terms of the community at large and specific groups of sensitive receptors.
Example 1 : SEA for the Relocation of the Airport from Kai Tak • Taking a step back into the future – how was the site at Chek Lap Kok selected? Kai Tak Airport Chek Lap Kok Airport
SEA for PADS - The Process Coarse Screening Fine Screening Strategy Evaluation 100’s of options and components 6 Options Environmental Modelling including: Air, Water Quality, Noise, Ecological Assessment 3 Strategies Detailed Air Quality and Water Quality Modelling Environmental (and other) Assessment using performance indicators Environmental Assessment and testing against performance indicators Preferred Option
Processes Involved • Integration of the environmental planning aspects into the overall planning, land use, transport and engineering studies. • SEA was an integral component in the decision making process. • The option ultimately selected was optimal from an environmental perspective, which could be demonstrated through the findings and interpretation of the SEA.
Solution to All Problems? • Location at Chek Lap Kok increased journey time for many to and from the airport • Changed the location of the emissions from one airshed to another • Required major infrastructure to be constructed, New Towns, Highways, Lantau Link etc.
Environmental Components incorporated into the Overall Development Plan • Natural coastline of Lantau retained by inclusion of “Sea Channel” in overall plan • “Sea Channel” also crucial to preservation of water quality in East Tung Chung Bay • Mangrove stands and ecological resources flourish in Pak Mong Lake through inclusion of “Sea Bridges” into the NLH design
Does the SEA model as applied to the Airport apply to other cases?
HK2030 • Ongoing study • 4 phased approach • Link to the websitehttp://www.info.gov.hk/hk2030/hk2030content/home_eng/2030_e.htm
What are the desired outcomes for HK2030? • A development plan? • A list of proposed infrastructure requirements? • Is the outcome fixed or flexible?
HK2030 Scenarios • Must be flexible • Able to respond to change • Assist in the wider planning context taking account of the influences of the PRD
Need to provide a robust assessment of the implications in terms of air quality etc. • Not just comparison of results of modelling with the criteria • A real in-depth understanding of the implications of changes to assumptions upon which the scenarios are based
Back to the Future • Need to have robust modelling tools • Need also to interpret the data • Need to understand the implications of actions – development, assumptions etc. • Need to be able to update the assessments given new developments, technology, targets for sustainability etc.
Back to the Future • Don’t forget basic principles of interpreting data • Don’t forget to play with the data and results to fully understand the implications – not just pretty illustrations • Presentation is essential BUT needs to be totally supported by understanding.
