Appendices
Including SEA, AA and SFRA
Submission from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (submission 395)
Issues / Recommendations / Observations
Chief Executive’s Response & Recommendation
The Flood Risk Assessment for the recent proposal for a 1,100-unit residential development in the South Docks area (ref. 309059) stated (p. 35) that: “Given the planned scale of development in docklands, … it is clear that Cork City Council … will have no alternative but to invest in raising the polder defences to ensure that they can continue to act as the primary line of flood defence ..., as sea level rise takes place.” Objective 10.34 allows for this. However, there may be a long-term limit to this, and on p. 38 of the above Flood Risk Assessment, it was also accepted that, as sea- level rise exceeds 1m: “it is considered likely that a harbour wide solution such as a tidal barrier or barrage may become necessary and/or viable”, barrier options have recently been technically assessed by ARUP for the OPW, including one off Carrigrennan, which would affect the Douglas Estuary part of the SPA5. With increasing frequency of use, and consequent changes to tidal processes, the operation of such a barrier is likely to have significant adverse effects on mudflat / sandflat ecosystems of Douglas Estuary and Lough Mahon. Given that development in the City Centre and the City Docks flood risk zones is planned to continue on an exceptional basis, it is recommended that the NIR assesses the impacts of such an apparently likely downstream tidal barrier at sea level 1.0m above current levels and c.2 °C higher global temperatures on the following:
The Natura Impact Report (NIR) identifies policies and objectives which address species and habitat fragmentation issues, which includes the introduction of barrier effects. Furthermore, there are policies and objectives to ensure future developments will have safeguard protected sites, such as: • Objective 6.23: To protect and enhance designated sites and areas of natural heritage and biodiversity and the habitats, flora and fauna for which it is designated, and to protect, enhance and conserve designated species Recommendation: (i) The AA Natura Impact Report will be updated to provide additional consideration of Objective 10.34. (ii) Amend Objective 10.34 updated to include the following text: “ All future developments with potential to interact with the hydrodynamics of the tidal stretches of Cork Harbour must demonstrate clear and precise mitigation measures to ensure none of the qualifying interests of the Great Island Channel SAC [001058] or the special conservation interests of the Cork Harbour SPA [004030] will be significantly affected. These must be sensitively designed to ensure they do not undermine any of the site-specific conservation objectives. ”
5 ARUP (2017) Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme. Supplementary Report – Option of Tidal Barrier. Report to Office of Public Works.
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