Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Report

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028

With regard to Douglas and Togher, the Flood Risk Management Plan identifies the following key measure:  Progress a Flood Relief Scheme for Douglas, including Togher Culvert (Status: Stage IV: Implementation/Construction) Project is being carried out in 3 Phases: Phase 1: Main Douglas Project, Construction of direct flood defences and conveyance improvement measures along the Ballybrack Stream, Grange Stream and Tramore River. The direct defences proposed include flood walls with the conveyance improvements consisting of channel widening, channel deepening and the replacement of culverts. Phase 2: Togher Culvert Service Diversions contract - Diversion of services on the L-2452 Togher prior to final phase. Phase 3: Togher Culvert main project -Construction of conveyance improvement measures, including a flood wall, along the Tramore River and replacement of culverts along the L-2452 Togher. With regard to Glanmire, the Flood Risk Management Plan identifies the following key measure:  Progress a Flood Relief Scheme for Glashaboy FRS, Sallybrook/Glanmire (Status: Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation) The proposed Glashaboy (Sallybrook/Glanmire) Flood Relief Scheme includes construction of new walls, construction of earthen embankments, upgrades and construction of new culvert, replacement of existing bridge with new reinforced bridge at Hazelwood Shopping Centre, clearance of bridge eyes at Riverstown Bridge and associated drainage works. The proposed scheme is expected to provide protection against a 100-Year fluvial flood (1% Annual Exceedance Probability). With regard to Tower, the Flood Risk Management Plan identifies the following key measure:  Maintenance of the Existing Defences Undertake maintenance of the existing flood defences in Tower / Blarney. The provision of flood protection measures can significantly reduce flood risk. However, the Ministerial Guidelines require that the presence of flood protection structures should be ignored in determining flood zones. This is because of risks relating to failure and severe flood events that exceed design capacity (the risk of severe events is exacerbated with climate change). Notwithstanding this, new development can proceed in areas that are at elevated levels of flood risk subject to the Justification Test provided for by the Guidelines being passed, which takes into account proposals to manage flood risk, such as the development of defences. Although insurance can be challenging to attain in these instances. Various rivers and their banks and culverts in the City are maintained by the Office of Public Works/Cork City Council. The Plan provides various provisions for the protection of water courses and riparian zones, for example Development Management Paragraph Nos. 11.218 “Development proposals should incorporate an appropriately-sized buffer zone to maintain natural fluvial processes and to protect the water environment.…” and 11.219 “Development proposals should protect watercourses in accordance with Inland Fisheries Ireland’s “Planning for Watercourses in the Urban Area” including the protection of riparian sections of rivers and streams, where possible, as set out below. Existing development will be taken into account. (1) Protection of the streamside zone, (within 15m of riverbanks); (2) Utilisation of outer riparian buffer zone (>8m) for treatment and reduction of stormflow runoff; (3) Minimal disturbance of the corridor 15-30m from the river; (4) Explore opportunities for river corridors for access and use as local amenity; and (5) Encourage riparian buffer strips on agricultural land. Such protection will, in combination with the direction of development within the existing footprint of developed areas will help to safeguard flood plains from development throughout the City. Met Éireann currently issues flood warnings for Cork City. Met Éireann, in collaboration with the OPW, is currently engaged in the establishment of a National Flood Forecasting and Warnings Service to forecast for fluvial and coastal flood events.

CAAS for Cork City Council