HK$200bil Going Into Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Projects

Jan. 15, 2013 - PRLog -- The Hong Kong government’s increased commitment to environmental and social sustainability planning can be seen though its increasingly rigorous approach to the HK$200bil it has committed to infrastructure development in projects to be discussed at the Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Conference Hong Kong 2013 (http://www.urbaninfraexpo.com/) on 30 January. Apart from reducing the environmental impact of infrastructure developments, government departments are additionally looking to develop more sustainable working relationships as they deliver projects through the adoption of partnering methodologies and new contract forms.

The multi-faceted aspects of delivering a sustainable urban environment will be seen when the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD)’s chief Geotechnical Engineer, Dr Samuel Ng discusses Hong Kong’s plans to take advantage of its underground space to locate infrastructure and utility support facilities, such as the planned Shatin sewage treatment plant in caverns. Also underground the Drainage Services Department (DSD) will discuss its exploits down below to divert run-off water into a large storage tank under Happy Valley racecourse.

Meanwhile the Airport Authority, Deputy Director, Projects, Kevin Poole will discuss how it also created more environmental-applause-winning space in their mid concourse project, while looking to expand further, yet sustainability, with their third runway.

Two of the most high profile re-development projects in Hong Kong will also be discussed: the West Kowloon Cultural District and the Kowloon East / KaiTak redevelopment. These projects are at a stage that illustrates the creative approach taken to sustainability re-develop and reenergise existing sites, while also showing the interconnectivity that is required for durable, integrated communities.

Public transportation infrastructure growth is one of the necessary prerequisites to sustainable, integrated urban growth and so the MRT will take delegates through its latest plans to connect the old and new developments. As one of Hong Kong’s most significant infrastructure owners, the MTR is also a leader in the green construction and developing partnership arrangements its contractors and suppliers.

Overseeing the event as a whole Mr Thomas Ho, JP, President of the Hong Kong Construction Association will keynote on Hong Kong Construction Industry Vision 2020 – Building a city, building a society showing how not only will Hong Kong tackle the supply of land and its use sustainability but how the industry itself will redevelop for the better.

Supported by a broad cross-section of industry associations such as RICS, HK Institute of Architects, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, Association for Project Management, HK Institute of Planners, AIA and the HK Institute of Landscape Architects along with environmental crusaders, the Business Environment Council and China based Econet,  the conference will emphasise Sustainability, which  is now a prerequisite in Hong Kong infrastructure projects with practical implications stemming from initial the initial environmental assessments and public consultations through to on site.