€8.2m for Kanturk floodingdi
MORE than €8 million has been set aside by the Office of Public Works (OPW) for a programme of flood relief works aimed at eliminating the threat of surface water flooding in
Kanturk towncentre.
It is understood that the project would augment existing flood defence measures installed in Kanturk during the 1980s.
The works would involve building new pumping stations along the River Blackwater, a long awaited new water storage facility on the Dalua River and new flood defence walls and embankments on both the Dalua and
Allow Rivers.
The overall aim of the works is to ensure that rising surface water is not allowed to pool in the town
Ultimately, this will eliminate the potential for flooding and the damage that could cause to local buildings and road surfaces.
A consultant is to be appointed to the project in the near future, followed by a public consultation process.
IT has emerged this week that more than €8 million has been allocated by the Office of Public Works (OPW) for a plan of flood relief works in Kanturk.
It is understood that Kanturk is one of a number of locations across Cork identified by the OPW for flood protection works under its Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme.
Local county councillor John Paul O’Shea (FG) told The Corkman that OPW minister Kevin ‘ Boxer’ Moran had confirmed to him that Kanturk had been included in the programme for Cork at a projected cost of €8.2m.
Cllr O’Shea said that the works will incorporate the provision of new flood protection measures at key points on approaches to the town and the upgrading of existing defences in the town centre.
“The last set of flood prevention works in Kanturk were undertaken during the 1980’s and have proven to be very successful in protecting the town centre from the threat of flooding,” said Cllr O’Shea.
“However, if there is an extended spell of rainfall significant surface water can gather in the town and has difficulty flowing into the Blackwater if the river is running too high.”
He said that in order to combat the problem, the proposed flood works would incorporate the provision of pumping stations along the River Blackwater to manage surface water run-off in order to prevent potential flooding the town in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall.
The work will also include a new water storage area on the Dalua River upstream of the town, the construction of new flood defence walls and embankments on both the Dalua and Allow Rivers and the shoring up of exciting flood defence barriers.
“The overall aim of the works is to ensure that surface water is not allowed to gather in the town, thus eliminating the potential for flooding and the damage that could cause to buildings and road surfaces in Kanturk town,” said Cllr O’Shea.
He said he was confident that consultants would be appointed in the near future to ensure the works are undertaken within the 10-year cycle of the current CFRAM programme.
“Once this happens there will be a consultation process with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the general public, to ensure that all interested parties are given the opportunity to view the scheme and make suggestions before the project goes to tender,” said Cllr O’Shea.
“Cork County Council will be working closely with the OPW to ensure that this project will be commenced within the time-frame of the current CFRAM programme,” he added.