‘I DON’T THIS PEOPLE REALISE THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS. THE IMPLICATIONS ARE HUGE’
THE future viability of communities along the length of the River Blackwater depends on the controversial ruling preventing major developments along the river being reversed.
Last week The Corkman revealed that the main channel of the Munster Blackwater has been re-designated as an EU Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for the freshwater pearl mussel – two years after a similar designation was lifted by the Government after representations to the EU Commissions, following the intervention of Cork County Council.
The reversal came after a legal challenge against a 95-unit housing project in Mallow was upheld, effectively banning any major housing, commercial and agricultural developments along the river indefinitely.
Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG) warned this would “cause the sterilisation” of development land along the Blackwater from the Kerry border, through the heart of Duhallow and North Cork as far as Youghal, as well as tributaries and streams flowing into river.
The issue was discussed at great length during last Friday’s April meeting of the Kanturk/Mallow committee meeting, with councillors unanimously agreeing all efforts must be made to urgently reinstate the 2018 ruling.
Cllr Murphy told the meeting that, unless this happens, every significant planning application along the river would now be shot down by council planners. By way of putting this into context, he pointed out the expansion of the Dairygold plant in Mallow and the development of its cheese facility in Mitchelstown would not have been possible had SAC designation been in place.
“I don’t think people realise the magnitude of this. The land mass impacted is as big as two or three other counties. The implications are huge. Plans by the Southern Assembly and the County Development Plan would have to be changed, as in their current form they would not be able to meet population or indeed jobs targets for towns and villages,” said Cllr Murphy.
He proposed that the Council write to Minister Josepha Madigan before the formation of the next government to renegotiate the ruling with the EU Commission and have it reversed to the 2018 status.
“If a Government is formed and the new Minister decides they are not going to engage with the EU, it’s all over,” he warned.
Cllr Murphy’s proposal received the full support of his council colleagues with committee chair Bernard Moynihan (FF) citing plans for 19 new houses in Boherbue as an example of developments that could moth-balled.
“We have 64 applicants on the housing list looking for these houses. The future viability of villages like Boherbue depend on these kinds of housing developments. This current situation has massive implications for rural Cork and has to be urgently addressed,” he said.
“It should be pointed out that this situation has arisen through no fault of the Council,” he added.
Cllr John Paul O’Shea (FG) agreed the council had to move quickly on the issue, pointing out that the process of having the previous ruling overturned in 2018 had been a protracted and “onerous” task.
“This won’t be overturned overnight, so we have to get discussions going as soon as possible. A lot of emphasis, quite rightly, has been on addressing COVID-19 as well as the formation of new Government. We need to raise the profile of this issue so it does not slip down the agenda,” said Cllr O’Shea.
“If North Cork is stunted in terms of economic growth, it will cost the region dearly in the long term,” he warned.
Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said it was vitally important for jobs within the construction sector once the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted that ruling be reversed without delay.
County Mayor Cllr Ian Doyle (FF) said the serious nature of the issue should not be underestimated.
“This letter needs to be drafted and sent to the Minister straight away,” he said.
Council senior executive officer Mary Hayes said that, following the meeting, she would meet with divisional manager James Fogarty and consult with him before coming back to the councillors with a definitive plan of action.