Dredging licenses for Waterford harbours will require around 30 surveys and up to three years
Helvic Head. Picture Shannon Sweeney
More than 30 different surveys and environmental reports will be required to secure licensing for dredging at three West Waterford harbours.
That is according to the road’s director at Waterford City and County Council, Gabriel Hynes, at the January sitting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council.
The three sites are Helvic, Dungarvan and Abbeyside.
Mr Hynes said that the council will have to pay for the surveys and licenses, and assessments are expected to take between two and three years.
“So, it is our intention to progress that. It’s going to take three years to get these statutory approvals in place, and it is our intention to fund that under our own resources.
“In fairness to the minister, he was very clear that the department will not fund any works unless we carry out those surveys,” said Mr Hynes.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Mr Hynes was responding to queries from councillor Thomas Phelan, who requested an update and Cllr Damien Geoghegan, who queried the length of the timeline.
He said that the surveys are required to secure a Foreshore license and a WC license and must consider the environmental impacts of the work and where any dredged material will be moved.
Significant consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency will be required.
That is expected to take, at best, two years but may go into three.
“I’d say there are around 30 different surveys to be done. The material you are removing, is it hazardous and where can you put it,” said Mr Hynes.
NATURAL MATERIAL
In response, Cllr Geoghegan pointed out that the material being removed is natural silt run-off from rivers.
“We are not talking about anything environmentally damaging or compromised in any way. That is the reality, and those reports will show that. And it’s going to take forever,” said Cllr Geoghegan.
Mr Hynes pointed out that Dungarvan has a long history of industry and the council cannot be certain what the surveys might find.
“I’m not casting aspersions, but we had a lot of industry in this town and there is a possibility that in the past, councillor, there may have been some hazardous discharge, said Mr Hynes.
Cllr Geoghegan said that the harbour has been dredged two or three times since the factories closed, before Cathaoirleach Niamh O’Donovan asked that they move onto the next topic.
