Arklow wastewater treatment plant moves a step closer to reality
THE long-awaited Arklow wastewater treatment plant is moving ever closer to fruition as Irish Water has published notice of the planning application to be lodged with An Bórd Pleanála.
The €60 million project has been the subject of much work to date including public consultations and it is hoped that if approved, works will then start at the old Wallboard site on North Quay.
Irish Water has also published notice of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the project.
According to John Joyce, Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead, eliminating raw sewage flowing into the Avoca River, has been a priority for Irish Water since the utility took over responsibility for water services in 2014.
‘Progressing the planning application is a vital step in this process. The proposed new WwTP will have huge benefits for the residents and businesses in Arklow and the tourists that visit the area as it will improve the water quality in the River Avoca and enable future economic growth in the area. Irish Water will continue to keep the community up to date on the project,’ he said.
The project includes the capacity for future growth in the area up to a population of 36,000.
The provision of a wastewater treatment plant for the town is a requirement under both European and national legislation and without it, housing and industry will not be able to develop.
An Bord Pleanála will assess the planning application and a seven week statutory public consultation will commence on Thursday, 20 September 2018 running until Friday, November 9.
The planning application and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) may be inspected free of charge or purchased on payment of a specified fee during public opening hours at the Offices of An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin, Wicklow County Council, County Buildings and Arklow Municipal District, Castlepark from Thursday, 20 September 2018 until Friday, 9 November 2018.
The application may also be viewed/ downloaded from Thursday, 20 September 2018 on the following website: www. arklowwastewater.ie
Members of the public and interested parties can make observations and submissions on the planning application directly to An Bord Pleanála up until 5.30 p.m. on Friday, November 9, 2018.