COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, June 11, 2012
MOTION NO.6
MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy
That the Council notes that in reply to a Parliamentary Question (Ref.No. 24716/12) on 17th May 2012, the Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Jan O Sullivan TD, stated : "I am fully supportive of the protection and enhancement of the Liffey Valley as an amenity. In 2009, my predecessor requested the relevant authorities (South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council) to consider the evaluation of lands to be the subject of further Special Amenity Area Orders. Responses were received from these authorities, but no decision on issuing a direction or directions was made by my predecessor prior to leaving office. Given the time that has elapsed since the relevant planning authorities responded I am considering writing to them again to seek their views/intentions in relation to further Special Amenity Area Orders, However I do not propose to issue any directions to the planning authorities concerned at this time. A number of years ago the Office of Public Works commissioned a strategy document Towards a Liffey Valley Park, which set out recommendations for the creation of a process towards the establishment of a park with a management for the Liffey Valley area. The matter of the implementation of these recommendations, or similar steps is one for the local authorities concerned." That having regard to the Minister of State's reply, particularly the last sentence therein, this Council supports the establishment of a Liffey Valley Park, and requests the Manager to provide an updated Report on measures being considered by the Council, in cooperation with adjacent local authorities, or independently, to implement the recommendations in Towards a Liffey Valley Park, and if she will make a statement on the matter.
REPORT:
The response of the Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government a Parliamentary Question is noted.
The Office of Public Works (OPW), in association with Dublin City Council and Fingal, Kildare and South Dublin County Councils, commissioned ERM Consultants to draw up a strategy for the Liffey Valley. The report, Towards a Liffey Valley Park, was published by the OPW in November 2006.
The following summarises the strategy document commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Towards a Liffey Valley Park, in 2006. It is noted that the study area extended from the source in Wicklow to the city at Kilmainham, and that the boundaries of the strategy corridor which extends from Dublin City through Fingal and South Dublin into Kildare and Wicklow, include an extensive area of land on either side of the river, and includes the entire area of the current SAAO within the Liffey Valley.
“The overall aims of this Strategy are twofold;
- to provide an integrated management framework for the Liffey Valley as a viable river valley space and
- to create a process towards the establishment of a Liffey Valley Park that would be composed of a necklace of publicly owned spaces within this area.” (Page 36)
This Strategy presents a Vision for the Liffey Valley as a corridor of regional scale in its own right but also sets a series of objectives to realise the Vision through building up the public parks and spaces in the Liffey Valley. It proposes this through a series of identified actions and priorities. These are required in order to establish the Liffey Valley as a recognised asset for the benefit of the populations in the surrounding areas. The strategy represents the first comprehensive strategy for the River Liffey and its adjacent lands.
“The Strategy Vision is:
The Liffey Valley will be a high quality, vibrant and attractive environment, securing the protection of its natural resources and cultural heritage.” (Page 36)
“The strategy recognises that Liffey Valley comprises a series of public parks and mixed land uses located along and within the river floodplain. There are considerable opportunities at both a regional and local level for recreation, tourism, economic development and habitat creation along the Liffey Valley. The Vision for the future is to maintain, and enhance the unique river valley as a natural asset whilst meeting the development and open space needs of the catchment population therein. The Strategy reinforces the Vision and as such the Strategy can guide the administration, management, allocation of resources and development control functions of the Office of Public Works, other State bodies, and the four Local Authorities in whom the future of the Liffey Valley is entrusted.” (Page 36)
“Whilst the overarching objective is to maintain the integrity of the Liffey Valley and provide essential recreational space for the wider region, sensitively designed and appropriate development in certain areas will provide an opportunity or means to bring further areas into public ownership and some financial resources to the ongoing running of the Park.”(Page 36) [Underlining emphasis added] “The Strategy is a contribution to the policy making process in regard to the management of the Valley. As such, it will help inform the State and Local Authorities responsible for the Valley. (Page 4)
“The purpose of this Strategy is to clearly demonstrate the need to create a management framework for the whole Liffey Valley in one of the few remaining major regional green space areas within the Dublin/Mid-East Regions. The surrounding Metropolitan Area has seen extensive population growth in the past decade with a range of community and recreational facilities provided to support this development. There is however now an urgent and pressing need to ensure that the valley can function and contribute to regional green space with recreational opportunities for the wider area. In addition, the Strategy provides for a framework and process that will lead to the delivery of a Liffey Valley Park along the majority of its length.” (Page 3)
“Local Authorities are central to the success of the river Valley strategy. Theirs is the task of managing the environment, controlling development and implementing policy. Local Authorities will be the driving force behind the Vision and the future of the Liffey Valley. Objective two is aimed at the creation of a steering group to oversee the implementation of the strategy. A new Steering Group is recommended to be established to oversee the delivery of the strategy. The Steering Groups role would be to work through the Local Authorities and relevant State agencies, to deliver the Strategy. Furthermore, the Office of Public Works has indicated a readiness be represented on a Steering Group possibly in a leadership and coordinating role.”
The Steering Group would be responsible for overseeing the implementation of this Strategy and its integration with national policy and Local Authority initiatives. They should monitor and where appropriate address the non delivery of the actions set out in the Strategy. Ultimately, they should take responsibility for reviewing the Strategy having regard for the actions set out.
It is important to acknowledge that the Local Authorities will have to liaise with property owners along the Liffey Valley and that development can provide a means of acquiring further land in public ownership or accessibility. The Planning and Development Act 2000 makes provision for financial contributions as part of development activities and there may be opportunities to permit sensitive and appropriate development in certain sections of the Liffey Valley whilst ensuring there is real community gain for the wider population, principally through land transfer.” (Page 40) [Underlining emphasis added]
A Steering Group recommended in the report has not yet been established and the Liffey Valley Management Advisory Committee has not met for some time. It is not clear what role the Office of Public Works are now prepared to undertake in respect of the proposed strategy as they have not sought or engaged with any follow-up with respect to the report. The Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area also did not propose action in respect of the report. It is considered however that there is potential for the strategy outlined in the report to be advanced by both the Dublin and Mid East Regional authorities in conjunction with the constituent authorities to ensure a holistic approach to the entire Liffey Valley in a regional context. This could be undertaken in the context of the next review of the Regional Planning Guidelines. In the interim a copy of this Motion and report could be forwarded to the Regional Planning Guidelines office.