SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
The Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040 has been developed by the National Transport Authority in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council with the aim of supporting an efficient transport network for the Cork Metropolitan Area. The CMATS seeks to actively promote and support improvements to the transport networks which will encourage greater use of sustainable transport, reduce car dependency and support new development in locations where sustainable travel choices can be encouraged and facilitated through existing and upgraded infrastructure and other measures. The Strategy envisages a €3.5 billion investment in transport infrastructure and mobility in Cork and aims to prioritise sustainable transport, reduce car dependency, and to provide a high level of public transport connectivity including a new Light Rail System (LRT) from Ballincollig to Mahon, via the City Centre and Docklands. Planned investments under CMATS include a high frequency bus service (BusConnects), the development of a light rail network, the expansion of commuter rail and investment in local route improvements including new orbital routes. The CMATS incorporates other transport strategy plans such as the Cork Walking Strategy 2013-2018 and the Cork Metropolitan Cycle Network Plan 2017. 4.11.10 Water Services 4.11.10.1 Wastewater From January 2014, Irish Water became responsible for all public water services, involving the supply of drinking water and the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater. Irish Water is also responsible for the treatment and disposal of the sludge that is generated from both its water and wastewater treatment plants. The Council is an agent of Irish Water for operations and remains the designated Water Authority for the assessment and approval of on-site wastewater treatment systems and is responsible for surface water drainage in the City. Cork City Council currently operates water services on an agency basis for Irish Water as part of a Service Level Agreement in the pre-2019 City boundary area, while Cork County Council continues to manage water and wastewater services in the extended boundary area 50 .
The provision of well-maintained quality wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential to facilitate sustainable development of the City in line with the Core Strategy while also protecting the environment and public health. Irish Water is now responsible for the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater where public wastewater facilities exist in towns and villages. In unserviced areas and outside the main towns and villages, the main method of sewage disposal is by means of individual septic tanks and proprietary wastewater treatment systems. The EPA’s 2020 report ‘Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2019’ identified that:
Wastewater treatment at 19 towns and cities (including Cork City ) did not meet European standards for the treatment of urban wastewater in 2018; Raw sewage is released into the environment from 35 urban areas; Wastewater from 48 areas (including Cork City ) is the main significant pressure on waters at risk of pollution; Wastewater contributed to poor quality bathing waters at three beaches in 2019; Discharges from 13 areas must improve to protect freshwater pearl mussels; Irish Water must complete assessments of the impacts of wastewater discharges on 26 shellfish waters to inform the need for any improvements; and Seven wastewater collection systems (including Cork City) have been found non-compliant with European Union requirements. Cork City is listed as Priority Area, where improvements are required to resolve urgent environmental issues with respect to wastewater treatment.
Cork City Council will work alongside and facilitate the delivery of Irish Water’s Water Investment Plan to support and facilitate the delivery of new or improved wastewater treatment plants in the City. Wastewater plans and projects for Cork City include proposed upgrades to the Carrigrenan WWTP (which serves much of the Plan area including City suburbs, Little Island, Glanmire and Glounthaune areas) treatment process to allow compliance with its Waste Licence and to cater for future population growth 51 . There are separate treatment plants serving the urban towns of Ballincollig, Blarney/Tower and Kileens, as well as a number of smaller treatment plants serving settlements in the City’s hinterland. In unserviced areas and
50 Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022 - 2028 51 Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022 - 2028
CAAS for Cork City Council
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