Marram grass is to be planted at Rosses Point
“MANAGED retreat” of Sligo Golf Course is the solution to rising sea levels of up half a metre by 2040 at the second beach in Rosses Point.
Councillors Hubert Keaney and Declan Bree, both tabled motions calling on the Council to protect the coast at the beach.
They were told by Director of Services Tom Kilfeather that the dunes fronting the second beach at Rosses Point were owned by County Sligo Golf Club.
He said that the Council was “not responsible for the coastal protection of this or any other private property fronting shorelines.”
However, because it fronts onto Rosses Point Second beach, which is our only International Blue Flag beach, any works to protect the dunes by the Golf Club that “have a negative effect on the size,conditions and safety of the beach would be of serious concern to the Council.”
A Council-funded study in 2016 of the coast proposed a 475m long rock revetment but the OPW will not fund this as it will only have to be removed in 30-40 years.
The Council is now looking at natural methods of installing sand trap fencing and planting Marram grass in an effort to stabilise the dune system.
Cllr Bree said: “the future does not augur well with global warming. This is an issue we’re going to have to address.”
“It’s also obvious there’s going to have to be significant changes to the lay out of the golf course,” he said. Cllr Keaney asked if there was anything the Council could do to enhance the dunes at Rosses Point.
Mr Kilfeather said replanting Marram grass under an OPW funding scheme looked like the best short term solution.
“We’re dealing with the impact of climate change. It’s not easy. There’s challenges there in terms of layout of the course. There’s a good working relationship with the Golf Club. They know the implications,” he said.