Scheme will ‘open up’ Gorey and hinterland
THE completion of the wastewater treatment plant in Courtown will have benefits for Gorey into the future.
‘It’s a top rate job,’ said local councillor Robbie Ireton who got a look around the facility last week. ‘It’s definitely a step in the right direction. It will open up Gorey and its hinterland for development.’
‘It’s the first time in a long time that infrastructure has been put in place before developments, because for a long time, developments happened first and infrastructure followed,’ he added.
He said it will give the councillors more leverage when it comes to zoning lands for development in the new Gorey Area Plan.
The new scheme was also warmly welcomed by Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin. ‘ The completion of this critical infrastructure project marks a significant upgrade to wastewater treatment facilities in Gorey and the surrounding areas,’ he said.
‘As well as serving our most basic and essential human needs, it will also have economic and tourism benefits, meeting the immediate needs of the community as well as providing for future growth and development.’
‘Courtown has Blue Flag accreditation and much of its tourist trade is based on coastal recreation activities,’ he said. ‘ The two mainstays for tourism in the Courtown were always the dance hall and the beautiful beach. The dance hall is long gone, and unfortunately it’s a battle a day against nature to retain the beach. Tourism is of great importance to the area.
‘ This investment will also sustain and enhance the environment by improving water quality in the Banogue River and ensure that bathing water quality is fully compliant with the national and European statutory requirements,’ he stated.