47 needed to occur with minimal field changes permissible so as not to change the compression factor one way or the other. “There are kilometres of piping, both for drainage of the landfill and to convey methane, that had to be accounted for. All of these come to the surface in some fashion or another and are locally called ‘expressions’. Much of this pipe has to be relocated and all of the expressions relocated so they can be brought to the new surface and hidden within landscape areas of the golf course. Unlike landfills in many other countries, this one is permitted to have trees. Many of the trees are protected, further limiting the routing of the golf holes. One section, which is about a hectare in size, is a roosting area for a protected species of birds and could not be touched. Additionally, there were several heritage trees that could not touched and/or had to be relocated and not removed.” Straka further explained that no surface water can run off-site and into the adjoining Tolo Harbour, so the course’s design captures all the runoff, in every situation except for a major typhoon. The water is then used for irrigation. “Plover Cove is a wholly created landscape,” he says. “It will sit well once we are done with it, but we are creating something magical out of literally nothing, other than the striking off-site views of the harbour, cityscape and mountains beyond. Very fortunately, and unlike landfills in other countries, we are permitted, and even required, to re-landscape the site. Thousands upon thousands of trees, shrubs, ground covers and other plants will be brought into the site. It is going to be a magnificent transformation.” (Read more about Plover Cove on page 72.) Photo: Plover Cove Golf Club Plover Cove in Hong Kong is being built on a site that was used as landfill for over 20 years
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