Fury over sewage plant decision

TWO Northside communities are reeling after their areas were among the three shortlisted sites for the construction of a controversial sewage plant.

Last week the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme announced Annsbrook, Newtowncorduff and Clonshaugh as the preferred site options for the regional wastewater treatment plant.

Annsbrook and Newtowncorduff are located less than two kilometres apart in Lusk. The selection of these two sites has incensed the local community.

Lorcan O’Toole, a spokesperson for Lusk Waste Watch, told Northside People:

“Yet again Lusk has been selected as a site to solve problems.

“It’s an absolute disgrace that these two sites, which are in such proximity to one another, are two of the three sites on the shortlist.

“Newtowncorduff is within sight of a major housing estate and it is upwind on both sides which means that any odours emanating from the plant will be directly rafted over Lusk.

?

Mr O’Toole warned Fingal County Council to expect large crowds of angry residents at each of the four open days planned on the controversial proposal.

“We haven’t yet considered how we’re going to escalate our campaign but one thing’s for sure: we will escalate it,

? he added.

The anger in Lusk has been replicated in Clonshaugh.

John McLoughlin, who has lived in Clonshaugh for 30 years, believes the plant would be better placed in an isolated area, far from residential properties.

“I absolutely oppose the plant being built in Clonshaugh and I will be seriously examining the proposals and reasons put forward by those working on the project,

? he told Northside People.

Declan Cahill, from Riverside, Clonshaugh, described its inclusion on the shortlist of sites as an

“incredibly bad decision

?.

“It seems to me that certain areas have more clout than others and Clonshaugh is bearing the brunt of its lack of clout,

? he stated.

“I’m not a negative person or one to say

‘not in my back yard’ but I do think there is something very peculiar about the selection of these sites.

“I strongly believe that there needs to be a cost benefit analysis of the sites made available to the public and that the case put forward for each of the sites is open and transparent.

?

According to Peter O’Reilly, Project Engineer for Fingal County Council, the preferred site on which planning permission will be sought

“needs to be a combination of the best location for the wastewater treatment plant, the new sewer and the marine outfall.

“We’re looking for the option that is best for the project, the one that will have the least impact on people and the environment,

? said Mr O’Reilly.

“These three preferred sites all have merits. Therefore, in order to decide on the site that is most suitable for all three elements of the project, a lot more detailed technical studies will have to be carried out.

?

“Since last December, after the eight weeks of the last non-statutory public consultation on the nine large land parcels identified by the project team, our technical experts have been engaged in a step-by-step qualitative process to identify the three emerging preferred site options.

“Using technical and environmental criteria, detailed surveys, consultations and workshops, they believe they have now identified the three sites on which the project will have the least impact and we will now consult with everybody on these sites.

?

Mr O’Reilly added:

“The feedback we get will be reviewed and considered by the technical team as they move towards selecting a preferred site, orbital pipeline route and marine outfall location.

?

Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan (Lab) described the selection of Clonshaugh as a potential site for the sewage plant as

“outrageous, cynical and completely unjustifiable

?.

“I believe that the proposed possible location of a sewage plant at the Clonshaugh site poses a significant environmental threat to the Velvet Strand, Portmarnock, Baldoyle Bay and the Malahide Estuary by any proposed southern outfall from such a plant,

? he stated.

Dublin North East TD Seán Kenny (Lab) echoed his party colleague’s sentiments.

“There are more than 2,500 residential buildings within one kilometre of the Clonshaugh boundary site, including Clonshaugh, Priorswood, and Darndale housing estates, as well as the Burnell Court apartment development at the Northern Cross,

? he stated.

“Building a sewage treatment plant on the doorstep of these estates would be unacceptable.

?

Dublin North East TD Terence Flanagan (FG) said he had been contacted by Riverside Residents’ Association who have serious concerns about the possibility of the wastewater site being located in Clonshaugh.

“One of the mains concerns is that the plant will be located less that one kilometre from a densely populated area,

? he stated.