This article is from page 6 of the 2007-04-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
THE Department of the Environ- ment has raised concerns about fur- ther development on a floodplain on the outskirts of Ennis. Department officials were reacting to a planning application to Clare County Council by Gareth Kelly.
Mr Kelly has applied for plan- ning permission for a water supply scheme to facilitate the develop- ment of lands at Bunnow, Doora, Skehanagh and Clareabbey.
Officials say that major develop- ment in this low-lying coastal flood- plain area is likely to require up- graded flood defences in the future.
According to the department, this will raise the likelihood of addition- al negative impacts on the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and on sensitive species and wetland sys- tems in the area.
Mr Kelly has applied to have a total of 150 acres of land rezoned from low density housing to resi-
dential, commercial and to remove the flood risk designation.
In response, the council has stated that there is no identified need for additional zoning for development to meet the needs of the plan.
The Department of the Environ- ment has called for a detailed ex- amination of the Kelly application, through the drawing up an Environ- mental Impact Statement (EIS).
“The proposed development is located in and near Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conser- vation (SAC) and on its own and in combination with other plans and projects in the area is likely to have significant negative impacts on the SAC and its conservation objec- tives, including a range of species protected under Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive.
“Significant impacts on the SAC and on Annex II species, including otter, salmon, Lesser Horseshoe Bat and Marsh Fritillary are likely as a result of habitat loss, fragmentation
and degradation, including as a re- sult of changes 1n hydrology and wa- ter quality and a result of increased noise, light and disturbance.
“The proposed development be- cause of its nature, size and location and its association with other major developments in this area — pro- posed, permitted and under con- struction — is likely to have a signifi- cant impact on the environment.”
It goes on, “The site and associat- ed proposed development lands are low-lying and are known to flood extensively.
“A hydrological assessment and flood risk assessment will be re- quired to assess the likely cumula- tive impacts on the hydrology of the area and the need to redevelop or upgrade the flood defence work and the tidal barrage at Clarecastle in the future.”
Officials warn that “the flood risk assessment should be based on ex- treme flood events taking climate and sea level changes into account.”