SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
Flood risk management provisions would contribute towards the protection and management of human health, biodiversity, flora and fauna, cultural heritage, water status and existing infrastructure and services. Flood risk management infrastructure (if required) has the potential to result in significant adverse environmental effects during construction and operation on most environmental components. These types of infrastructure are often constructed in ecologically and visually sensitive areas and adjacent to the banks of rivers and streams. Potential adverse effects will be mitigated both by measures which have been integrated into the Plan (including those identified at Section 9 of this report) and by measures arising from lower tier assessments. Waste Management provisions incorporate circular economy principles that are supported in the RSES. Various provisions in this Chapter contribute towards the framework for the development of energy. These Policies Objectives would contribute towards achieving various government objectives and targets including those relating to climate mitigation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the amount of energy to be consumed from renewable sources. The development of renewable energy would have the potential to adversely impact upon the environment, if unmitigated. Further general commentary on the types of potential effects arising from a range of renewable energy types is provided below. Solar Energy Positive Effects: Contribution towards renewable energy and minimisation of greenhouse gases targets Potential Negative Effects, if unmitigated: Potential impacts on architectural heritage – including the context of this heritage – at micro scale Potential impacts on habitats and species and micro scale Large scale installations may have visual impacts – these would depend on perception of the relevant area Wind Energy Positive Effects: Contribution towards renewable energy and minimisation of greenhouse gases targets Potential Negative Effects, if unmitigated: Potential impacts include those associated with construction and operation of the turbines and ancillary facilities and infrastructure (including roads and electrical infrastructure) Potential human health impact: shadow flicker, noise, and impacts arising from landslides Potential impact upon designated and non-designated biodiversity and flora and fauna including birdlife and marine habitats Potential interactions leading to change in structure of soil and geology and changes to drainage Potential impacts on water status during construction – this could interact with drinking water sources and biodiversity Potential impacts upon the context of protected archaeological and architectural heritage – including the context of this heritage – as well as unknown archaeological heritage Potential impacts upon traffic during construction due to transportation of turbine components Changes to the character of areas would be likely to occur however visual impacts would depend on various factors including the size, number and spacing of the turbines, perception of the relevant areas and any cumulative effect arising from multiple wind farms Geothermal Energy Positive Effects: Contribution towards renewable energy and minimisation of greenhouse gases targets. Potential Negative Effects, if unmitigated: Potential impacts upon the status of waters and ecology contained within, especially arising from changes in the temperature of groundwater which can impact upon the structure and ecology of the aquifer and any dependent surface waters - this could interact with drinking water sources Potential interactions leading to change in structure of soil and geology Potential impacts upon archaeology, including unknown underground archaeology Potential impacts upon on site water services Potential impacts upon context of archaeological and architectural heritage arising from surface installation Bio-Energy Positive Effects: Contribution towards renewable energy and minimisation of greenhouse gases targets. Can provide for the use of agricultural and other wastes Potential Negative Effects, if unmitigated: Potential impact upon designated and non-designated biodiversity and flora and fauna arising from changes in vegetation. Soil structure may also be impacted upon. Changes in farming practices may lead to changes in drainage and runoff which could impact upon biological and chemical status of waters - - this could interact with drinking water sources and biodiversity Potential human health impact: odour and noise from operation of plants Potential impacts upon traffic during operation due to transportation of fuel to plants Fuels derived from bio-mass still produce emissions however these are less than those derived from fossil fuels Changes to the land cover of areas could occur however visual impacts would depend on perception of the relevant area; Biomass plants may have visual impacts - these would depend on perception of the relevant area Hydro-Energy Positive Effects: Contribution towards renewable energy and minimisation of greenhouse gases targets Potential Negative Effects, if unmitigated: Depending on the scale and location of the development there is potential for impacts to occur on biodiversity, in particular aquatic biodiversity Potential to impact upon the morphological, biological and chemical status of waters - this could interact with drinking water sources (in freshwater) and biodiversity Potential interactions leading to change in structure of soil and geology and sediment regimes in rivers Operation could impact upon flood risk elsewhere Potential impacts upon archaeological heritage or nearby architectural heritage, including context Changes to the character of locations may occur however visual impacts would depend upon, inter alia, the size of the installation, ancillary facilities and the perception and visibility of the relevant area Provisions under the headings of Water Quality, Air Quality, External Lighting, Noise and Seveso would primarily contribute towards the protection and management of the environment, with all environmental components benefitted.
CAAS for Cork City Council
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