Once a drab musty-smelling nullah, the Tsui Ping River that has helped prevent flooding in Hong Kong’s Kwun Tong for decades has taken on a new life with the construction of a smart water gate and seven new pedestrian walkways, as well as the addition of mangroves and bird perches.
The revitalised watercourse, which stretches for 1km (.06 miles) along King Yip Street that connects the Tsui Ping area to Kowloon Bay, will officially reopen on Thursday after the completion of a four-year project by the Drainage Services Department.
The overhaul also boasts more recreational space and green areas with the addition of six new viewing decks and a wetland.
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“The revitalisation works have improved the environment, ecology and landscape of the previous King Yip Street nullah,” said Ian Wan Cheuk-keung, chief engineer of the department’s drainage projects division.
“Apart from improving the flood control capacities, the works were also aimed at turning the nullah into a vibrant river.”
The project, which cost about HK$1.34 billion (US$172.3 million), is part of the government’s Energising Kowloon East Conceptual Master Plan intended to turn the area into a core business district.
One of the new key facilities is a smart water gate, installed downstream, that rises and falls according to the tide, helping to stabilise the waterway so the riverbed is not exposed as it was previously.
The gate is also connected to a weather forecasting system and can be adjusted to allow floodwaters to drain smoothly into Victoria Harbour. The gate descends when tides recede, creating a waterfall effect.
“The purpose of the water gate is to stabilise the waterbody and also create an aesthetic effect with a little waterfall,” said Antony Wan Nam-fung, senior engineer of the drainage projects division of the department.
The catchment area of the river stands at about 520 hectares (1,284 acres), equal to about 27 Victoria Parks, with a maximum hydraulic capacity of around 150 cubic metres (5,300 cubic feet) per second.
To reduce flooding risks, the department has deepened an 800-metre (875-yard) stretch of the riverbed by between 20cm (7.87 inches) and 70cm, and built a 1.2-metre retaining wall to prevent the water from inundating roads.
Structures to divert polluted water from storm drains into the sewage system have also been installed to reduce pollution and odour.
Other new facilities include seven cross-river pedestrian walkways, and six viewing decks offering recreational spaces.
The area also featured a newly engineered wetland, designed for public educational purposes, Antony Wan said.
Vegetation and ecological features, including mangroves, bird perches, rock and tidal pools, have also been added to help support the river ecosystem and attract more species to the area.
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