Fears B’Bhuírne flood plan may be scuttled
‘LOCALS ARE SCEPTICAL THIS PROJECT WILL EVER MOVE TO FULL DESIGN, LET ALONE COMPLETION’
THE lack of progress on the Baile Bhuírne/Balymakeera flood relief scheme has left frustrated locals in limbo as the project appears to be stuck in a “planning quagmire.”
That’s according to Cork North West TD Aindrias Moynihan, who said he was “deeply concerned” at the fact that no progress had been made on the project over the past two years.
His comments came after Deputy Moynihan asked OPW Minister Séan Canney what steps the government was taking to advance the design stage of the project and when work on it might finally commence.
“Residents saw exhibitions in 2011 and draft designs were advanced in 2014. Two years later and we are stuck in the same place. At this stage, local residents are sceptical that this project will ever move to full design, let alone construction phase,” said the Fianna Fail deputy.
“Houses are being repeatedly flooded in the absence of these defences and people need to see progress. They need peace of mind and protection from these floods,” he added.
Minister Canney said since 2014 and environmental impact study had been undertaken to establish the status of the freshwater pearl mussel in the River Sullane and the likely impact that works would on that.
The Minister said that following the submission of a report on the study, the commissioner of public works had advised him the scheme was at outline design stage and the preferred options of the scheme were being finalised.
He went on to say that in light of this, a second public information day and a public exhibition of the preferred scheme would be held at some point in 2017.
However, Minister Canney did not say when these would take place or when commencement works on the scheme would get underway.
“When these stages are successfully completed, the scheme can be progressed to detailed design stage and confirmation, following which, if considered viable, construction can commence,” he said.
“This one is moving ahead and I look forward to it starting on site,” he added.
Deputy Moynihan said locals found it difficult to understand why progress on the scheme was so slow, particularly given the fact that planning permission had been granted for a wind farm and associated works on the river bank “without the difficulties posed by the pearl mussel”.
He asked Minister Canney to ensure the project was given priority and that the information day and public exhibition take place early in 2017 and were “not allowed to be put on the long finger.”
“We need to get defences in place to give residents peace of mind that flood waters will not be coming in around their ankles at night and that they will not constantly have to rebuild their lives after floods,” said Deputy Moynihan.
“As a local TD, I will be lobbying hard for the project to move to full design as soon as the public exhibition has been completed.”