A SURVEY that will have an impact on the eventual location of a controversial sewage treatment plant proposed for North Dublin is taking place in the Irish Sea over the next two weeks.
As part of the Greater Dublin Drainage Project, Techworks Marine Ltd, on behalf of Fingal County Council, is undertaking dye trace and drogue (cone-shaped device towed behind a boat) tracking surveys off the coast of North Dublin, to monitor the currents and directions of sea flows.
The fluorescent dye may be visible in the Irish Sea in the general vicinity of the outfall areas.
The cone shaped drogues will be fitted with radar reflectors and flashing beacons to aid avoidance by other navigators and will be recovered following each track.
A spokesperson for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project said the information gathering is part of robust studies being carried out on the three emerging preferred sites for the new plant.
“The works are expected to last two weeks, subject to suitable weather conditions,
? the spokesperson told Northside People.
“While the dye and drogues will be released within the outfall study areas, they will not remain confined to these areas and are likely to be circulated further afield due to tides and currents.
The three preferred sites for the plant, identified in May, are Annsbrook and Newtowncorduff (both in Lusk) and Clonshaugh.
Dublin North East TD Sean Kenny (Lab) has welcomed the survey.
“I believe it will strengthen the case that Clonshaugh is quite simply not an appropriate location for the plant,
? he said.
“There are more than 2,500 residential buildings within 0.5-1km of the Clonshaugh boundary site, including Clonshaugh, Priorswood, and Darndale housing estates, as well as the Burnell Court apartment development at Northern Cross.
“Building a sewage treatment plant on the doorstep of these estates would be unacceptable.
“It must be noted that the local authority making the decision is Fingal County Council, while the residents affected by a decision in favour of Clonshaugh live in the Dublin City Council area.
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Deputy Kenny said the proposal to route the outfall from the Clonshaugh site to the sea north of Ireland’s Eye through a pipeline under Baldoyle Estuary is of grave concern from an environmental viewpoint.
“On the other side of Baldoyle Estuary the pipeline would go through the Portmarnock Dunes and the popular Portmarnock Velvet Strand Blue Flag Beach,
? he added.
“I will be conveying my opposition to the proposed Clonshaugh sewage treatment site to the Fingal County Manager.
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Anyone with any queries regarding the trace and tracking surveys can contact info@greaterdublindrainage.ie, Lo Call 1890-445567 or visit www.greaterdublindrainage.ie for more information on the project.