Irish Water has welcomed the decision this week by An Bord Pleanála to approve an amendment to the original grant of planning to progress work on the sewer network on the north side of Cork Lower Harbour.
The Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project will result in significant improvements to water quality in Cork Lower Harbour by ending the current practice of the discharge of raw sewage directly into the harbour.
With 20,000 homes and businesses set to be connected to the new scheme on completion, this project is important in terms of protecting the environment, facilitating economic development and providing for a growing population.
Significant progress has been made to date including the delivery of a new wastewater treatment plant at Shanbally, which commenced operations in December 2016, and is now treating waste from Carrigaline, Crosshaven and Shanbally. Work has also recently started on the repair and upgrade of the sewerage network on the south side of Cork Lower Harbour including Carrigaline, Monkstown, Passage West and Ringaskiddy. Delivery of the project will end the discharge of raw sewage to Cork Lower Harbour by 2019.
All wastewater from these areas is scheduled to be diverted to the new wastewater treatment plant by early 2019 ensuring full treatment before its discharge to the sea.
In order to progress work in towns on the north side of the harbour, Irish Water made an application to An Bord Pleanála for a proposed alteration to the approved grant of planning to reflect the finalised location of pumping stations, pipelines and estuary crossing under section 146b of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006.
An application for a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) was also lodged to facilitate the acquisition of land for the development of pumping stations and wayleaves for the sewer network on the north side of the harbour.
Irish Water has confirmed that both applications have now been granted by An Bord Pleanála and work is scheduled to commence in Cobh in 2018.
Project Manager Déaglán Healy welcomed the decision, saying:
“Significant progress has been made on developing the wastewater network on the south side of Cork Lower Harbour, with the Shanbally Wastewater Treatment Plant now accepting waste from Carrigaline, Crosshaven and Shanbally and the construction of the new mains in Passage, Monkstown, Ringaskiddy and Carrigaline under way. The granting of this planning permission and CPO will allow us to progress with plans for further work on the north side of the harbour.”
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