BLACKWATER PLANNING CRUX ‘COULD LAST FOR YEARS’
THE long-running saga over the presence of the Freshwater Peal Mussel in the River Blackwater looks set to rumble on, possibly impacting on planned developments along its length for years to come.
Last year it emerged the main channel of the Munster Blackwater had been re-designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for the freshwater pearl mussel – two years after a similar EU designation was lifted by the government following the intervention of Cork County Council.
The move, which arose following a successful High Court legal challenge against the ruling, raised fears among councillors that it would effectively block major residential, commercial and agricultural developments along the river.
These fears were heightened when the Council refused permission for a 95-unit housing development in Mallow, citing its potential to “contribute to adverse effects” on the Blackwater SAC and interfere with its objectives, including those for the Freshwater Pearl Mussel.
Following representations by Cork County Council in relation to a proposed survey of Pearl Mussel numbers in the river, junior heritage minister Malcolm Noonan has written to the authority saying there were currently “no plans” to revisit the proposal to remove the Munster Blackwater main channel from the European Environmental Objectives (Freshwater Pearl Mussel) Regulations (2009).
He said earlier population estimates for the Pearl Mussel in the Blackwater and length of its habitat in the river had been “significantly” underestimated, leading to the conclusion that its population may be far higher than previously thought.
Mr Noonan said his department, Covid restrictions permitting, was now planning on undertaking a more extensive survey of the river, to be undertaken over the course of 2021 and 2022 to “better assess” the situation.
He wrote that in the meantime all public bodies, including Cork County Council, had responsibility to ensure “the exercise of their functions, including consent functions or decision making” does not cause any deterioration to the Freshwater Peal Mussel habitat in the River Blackwater.
The response has angered North Cork county councillor John Paul O’Shea (FG) who said it has effectively stifled any developments along the Blackwater, “possibly for years to come.”
“This survey could take years to complete. I am calling on the Department to fast-track this study, as residential and commercial developments along the entire Blackwater catchment area will be effectively stifled in the interim,” said Cllr O’Shea.
He said the community in north Cork could not afford to stand by and let the department tell them they will do a study in a year or two “or possibly even longer given the current Covid situation”.
“There are huge consequences as a result of this letter and it is the responsibility of national government to respond to this now in a meaningful way which will allow development of North Cork to continue while also being cognisant of the presence of Fresh Water Pearl Mussel in the Blackwater river,”
“I am also calling on the Government to allocate funding to Irish Water to expedite upgrades of waste water treatment plants adjacent to the Blackwater that need urgent attention as they are causing unknown damage to the ecology of the river in their current condition,” he added.