Planning application for flood relief scheme in north Mayo town
NEWS that Mayo County Council is to submit a planning application for the proposed Ballina Flood Relief Scheme to An Bord Pleanála later this week has been welcomed by Minister Dara Calleary.
The application is due to go to the board on April 17.
The proposed flood scheme is very substantial and comprises primarily of flood walls and a raised public realm area at Cathedral Road, and a combination of culvert renewal, new culverts and embankments on four tributaries, Minister Calleary explained.
It also includes four new (sub-surface) pumping stations and a new stormwater collection network along the River Moy quays.
Said Minister Calleary: “This is great news for the Ballina Flood Relief Scheme.
“Just last month I secured a commitment from the Minister for the OPW, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, of €55 million for the delivery of the scheme, which when complete will provide a standard of protection for the 1 in 100 year fluvial and the 1 in 200 year coastal flood events to a combined 297 properties, of which 228 constitute existing residential properties.
“I am very happy that the local authority has moved quickly to submit the planning application and look forward to it moving through the process quickly.
“I am advised that the planning documentation (scheme proposals) will be on display at Ballina Civic Office and Aras an Chontae for a period of six weeks from April 28.”
Planning documentation will also be available for viewing online at consult.ie and An Bord Pleanála.
Ballina experiences regular flooding from the River Moy and its tributaries through a combination of river bank overflow and wall seepage.
In 2018, following the government’s introduction of Flood Risk Management Plans, Mayo County Council, with funding from the OPW, appointed RPS Engineering and environmental consultants to design a flood relief scheme for Ballina.
The scheme design consists of the construction of flood defence walls, construction of embankments and culvert upgrades along the River Moy and the following tributaries, Quignamanger, Bunree, Brusna, Tullyegan and Knockanelo.
Minister Moran said the announcement is the outcome of very detailed engineering analysis, environmental assessments and engagement with the public on the sources of flooding from Ballina’s rivers and the options to protect the town.