Environmental Impact Statement

Work has commenced on the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement in relation to the proposed Balbriggan/Skerries Waste Water Treatment Scheme – Phase 2 (Expansion of the Barnageeragh Treatment Plant)

This involves an assessment of the environmental impacts of the expansion of the treatment plant, which includes the construction of two additional process tanks and an ultra violet disinfection unit. An information day will be held on:

Wednesday, 8th March, 2006
at
The Old School / Skerries Community Centre (1:00 to 6:30pm)

All interested parties/bodies are invited to attend, view the display and participate in this public consultation process. Members of the project team will be present to answer any queries. If you are unable to attend, an information sheet is available from Niamh McDonald, Senior Executive Engineer, Fingal County Council. Telephone 8708452 / 8708460 or email Niamh.mcdonald@fingalcoco.ie

On completion of the Environmental Impact Statement, it will be submitted to An Bord Pleanala for assessment. The EIS will at that stage, go on formal public display for the required statutory period.

More details below:

Balbriggan/Skerries  - Waste Water Treatment Scheme - Project Update No. 5 – February 2006

PIPELAYING WORKS

Pipelaying works for this contract are virtually complete. The main work left to do is the road crossing for the sea outfall at the end of Kelly's Lane in Skerries,  which will require a road closure. Local residents will be notified of diversions etc. There is also a deep pipe connection to be made at Quay St in Balbriggan which may also require a temporary road closure. Following this, the contractor will start on the permanent road reinstatement in all areas where pipelaying was carried out.  Sewer upgrades for both Balbriggan and Skerries will be carried out as a separate contract.

MARINE WORKS:
The construction of the long sea outfall was severely hampered over the last six months mainly due to weather/sea conditions. The pipes are being welded together and stored at the green on Channel Rd in Rush, by Rogerstown Estuary.  They are then rolled into the estuary and floated around to Skerries. Weather permitting, the residents in Rush will hopefully see the last of the pipes being floated away in the next 8 weeks.

TREATMENT WORKS AND PUMPING STATIONS
Progress at the main treatment works site is on schedule. The civil construction works are almost complete and the mechanical and electrical installation has started. We envisage that the plant will be accepting sewage by the summer. At Quay St pumping station in Balbriggan, construction works are near completion and the car park reinstatement will commence in the next few weeks. As there will still be mechanical and electrical work to complete, this section of the car park will not reopen to the public until May.  There has been some delay at the pumping stations in Hampton Cove, Balbriggan and Rush Rd in Skerries, however these should both be commissioned by May.

PHASE 2 EIS- PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Due to the rate of development in the Balbriggan and Skerries areas, we envisage that the treatment works will be near full capacity when it is commissioned this summer. Because of this we are planning the phase 2 expansion.  This will basically involve the construction of two additional process tanks and a UV disinfection unit. We have prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement for this and are planning to have an informal information day on Wednesday 8th March. This will be at the old school attached to the community centre in Skerries.  An information bulletin will be delivered to residents in Kelly's Lane and Kelly's Bay before this date giving further information. There will also be a notice in the papers.  Following this, the EIS will be finalised and submitted to An Bord Pleanala. The EIS will then go on formal public display for 6 weeks.

Fingal County Council, would like to thank residents for their patience and co-operation during these works.

Please click here for photographs

Regards, Niamh McDonald  Tel 870-8460/ 870-8452