‘Grave concerns’ over pipe plan

Tipperary Co Council has raised “grave concerns” over Uisce Éireann’s controversial plan to pump Shannon water to Dublin.

Welcomed by all councillors to speak on the matter at a meeting in Nenagh this week, the council’s submission is one of over 70 that have been made to An Coimisiún Pleanála on the Water Supply Project – Eastern & Midlands Region.

“While the project delivers significant strategic benefits at national level - principally securing a sustainable water supply for the Eastern and Midlands Region - the Mid-West Region and Tipperary will not directly benefit from the supply,” the council’s submission reads. “The concentration of benefits in the eastern region, combined with the absence of direct water supply advantages for Tipperary, is inconsistent with the principle of balanced regional investment.”

An Coimisiún Pleanála was informed of “substantial concerns” over the relationship between the Water Supply Project and the ESB abstraction and impoundment licensing process for the Parteen Basin. The council stated that the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement prepared as part of the planning application “rely heavily on mitigation measures that, in many instances, lack sufficient specificity, clarity, and enforceability. This raises concerns about the practical implementation of mitigation relating to water quality, biodiversity, hydrology, and construction-phase controls. More robust and unambiguous commitments are required to ensure that environmental effects do not exceed those predicted.”

‘RISKS TO AGRICULTURE’

“The project also poses risks to agriculture, including the potential spread of bovine tuberculosis as a result of interference with badger setts, and long-term impacts on land use within the pipeline wayleave,” the council stated in its submission, which runs to over 100 pages accompanied by appendices. “Concerns are also identified in relation to access design, sightline compliance, potential damage to the road network, and the adequacy of proposed mitigation for road closures and construction traffic.

“Further issues are noted regarding tourism and visual impact, particularly the raw water intake and pumping station at the Parteen Basin, which requires more detailed visual assessment.” The council also raised concerns over waste management obligations and “the need for clear protocols to address infrastructure failures, including leak detection and emergency response in ecologically sensitive areas”.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

In the event of permission being granted for the project, the council recommended a series of conditions including the establishment of a ‘Community Benefit Scheme’. This it said should be a “long-term, adequately funded” scheme, rather than one limited to the five-year construction phase envisaged. “The absence of clarity regarding the scale of the fund, the responsibilities placed on the local authority as fund administrator, and the restrictive geographical and temporal scope, all limit confidence in the scheme,” the council submitted.

“Tipperary County Council have grave concerns regarding the completeness of the application submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála. This report requests that An Coimisiún Pleanála must be satisfied, in arriving at its decision, that Uisce Éireann have provided substantive evidence-based data which clearly demonstrates that the proposed development complies with all legislative requirements and that the proposed development will not have a detrimental impact on this sensitive ecological water body, or the people and communities that live within its catchment.”

‘ENOUGH TO KNOCK IT’

The council’s submission was roundly praised at Monday’s meeting. Several speakers noted that it was unusual for the council to be united on such a major issue.

Cllr Roger Kennedy hit out at a “shoddy planning application” from Uisce Éireann and said the questions raised in the council’s submission would be “enough to knock it”.

Cllr Séamie Morris maintained that there is “no shortage of water in Dublin” and that alternative solutions to the regions’ future needs – particularly Poulaphouca reservoir – have not been adequately assessed. However, the Water Supply Project would create a “massive shortage of water in the Mid-West”.

Cllr Michael O’Meara was critical of the absence of timelines for dealing with water shortages in areas around the pipeline, such as Rathcabbin. Cllr Joe Hannigan criticised the spending of €10 billion on the project when no funding could be found for upgrading treatment plants in villages like Ballycommon, Borrisokane and Silvermines.

Cllr JP O’Meara was of a similar view and said the idea of piping water from the Shannon to Dublin had never made sense to him. Cllr Pamela Quirke-O’Meara described the Water Supply Project as a “recipe for ecological collapse and a legal minefield”.

‘TOXIC WATER’

Cllr Phyll Bugler said invasive species present in the Shannon – namely the Zebra and Quagga mussels – would cause a build up of bacteria in the water that would have to be treated with chlorine, but which would lead to the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs), which are known to pose health risks to humans, including cancer. People in Dublin should be aware that they could be drinking “toxic water”, Cllr Bugler exclaimed, adding that there is in any case not enough water in the Shannon during summer months to supply Dublin in the manner envisaged. Desalination is now less expensive and should be considered as an alternative, Cllr Bugler suggested.

Cllr Fiona Bonfield praised her and Cllr Morris for taking the lead in opposing the pipe project for almost 20 years. Cllr Máirín McGrath agreed that the project was “madness”, a view shared by several more speakers from around the county.

ORAL HEARING

Senior Planner Jonathan Flood said An Coimisiún Pleanála is likely to call an oral hearing over the plan. Cllr Morris said Clare Co Council has joined Tipperary in stating opposition to the plan and Limerick would follow suit.

Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan wanted the reference to community gain removed from the council’s submission; “there is no gain for anybody in Tipperary,” she said.

However, Chief Executive Sinéad Carr cautioned against this move, saying the council would not want to jeopardise potential benefit to local communities in the event of the project going ahead. Cllr Bugler asked for a requirement for Uisce Éireann to meet with the council on this issue, should planning be granted. Cllr Morris said the council should also mindful of development levies due in such an event.

Cllr Michael O’Meara said all of Tipperary should benefit from the community gain fund, if there is to be one. “We’re united as a county against it,” he said of the Tipperary council’s position on the pipeline.