COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Monday, September 23, 2013

MOTION NO. 10

MOTION: Councillor J. Hannon

That this Committee requests the Manager to now bring forward proposals for the development of the Dodder Linear Park on the lands west of the Oldbawn Bridge to Bohernabreena, as provided for in the Development Plan

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council Development Plan contains the following Policies and Objectives

South Dublin County Council Policy LHA29: Dodder Valley Linear Park

It is the policy of the Council to provide for the continued development of the Dodder Valley Linear Park, including:

• Continued development of a walkway along the River Dodder and extension of the network of pedestrian footpaths;
• Development of a heritage park located at Firhouse Weir, incorporating the historic weir, sluices, city watercourse and surrounding lands;
• Restoration of the Old City Watercourse from Firhouse Weir and along its length within the Dodder Valley Park, returning to the River Dodder in the vicinity of the new bridge over the river near Spawell;
• Enhancement of the waterfall and bridge at Oldbawn;
• Development and expansion of the Dodder Valley Linear Park in association with the development of the adjoining convent lands;
• Development and extension of the Dodder Valley Linear Park by securing public access along the river bank from Oldbawn to Bohernabreena and development of lands at Tymon South in the Dodder Valley for active and passive recreation;
• Take appropriate measures to ensure to protect and preserve the biodiversity value and significant landscape character of lands within the Dodder Valley;
• Provide for the regeneration of the natural habitat on the Dodder riverbank behind Spawell House and investigate the provision of a natural or minimal intervention access to this area and
• Provide an Ecoduct/Green Bridges at important locations to repair habitat fragmentation and to enhance the natural and human environment.

Specific Local Objective 86 Dodder Valley Linear Park

• Draw up an action plan for the extension of the Dodder Valley Linear park upstream from Oldbawn to Bohernabreena, such plan to identify and deliver public access to lands required for the purposes of the plan, within the lifetime of the Development Plan.

In line with the above Policy and working towards achieving Specific LocalObjective 86 South Dublin County Council has carried out the following actions in recent times:

Ecological Survey and Constraints Map:

Ecological surveys have been commissioned and a constraints map developed for the area upriver of the Oldbawn Bridge in 2012. This information is currently being assessed by the Heritage Officer and the Parks Section.

Dodder Regional Cycle Route Feasibility Study:

In 2012 the NTA requested South Dublin County Council to carry out a Feasibility Study for a new cycle and pedestrian route along the River Dodder between Grand Canal Square and Bohernabreena. The route traverses the functional areas of Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council. South Dublin County Council, as the nominated lead authority, appointed consultants to carry out Feasibility and Options Development in 2012.  The consultants were contracted to carry out the following:

• Engineering feasibility study for a cycle and pedestrian route;
• Options development including the preparation of an options report, a number of possible option layouts for the various sections, assessment of environmental considerations influencing options development, and an outline cost estimate for options.

The potential for a multifunctional pedestrian and cycle route along the Dodder corridor that can carry commuter and leisure cyclists was identified from the outset. As the project progressed the potential of this route as an international Greenway became increasingly apparent with the potential to create an 18 km route linking Dublin Bay to the Dublin Mountains Way at Glenasmole via parkland associated with the River Dodder. The full Dodder Regional Cycle Route Feasibility Study Report and maps will be the subject of a future briefing to elected members.

2013 progression:

Further projects underway in relation to the above policy and objective within Dodder Valley as follows:

1. National Transport Authority: €80,000 allocated to develop the Concept & Option Selection; Preliminary Design for a section of a pedestrian and cycle route in South Dublin County Council along the Dodder downstream from Firhouse Road (with links to theproposed Tallaght to Ballyboden Cycle Route) to the county boundary with Dublin City Council. The preliminary design stage has commenced. Concurrent processes are underway in Dublin City Council & Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
2. Dept of Transport Tourism & Sport: €25,000 has been allocated to carry out a feasibility study in relation to the economic, tourist and amenity potential of a Greenway route along the river Dodder. Currently at tender stage. Objectives are as follows:
   • To demonstrate the viability of the Greenway by presenting an evidence based link between investment and potential return; similar projects elsewhere should be referenced with a particular emphasis on relevant and demonstrably applicable economic information;
   • Identify and generally quantify all sectors of the local and regional economy for which there would be growth potential;
   • Identify opportunities for branding and marketing through tourism, business and government structures both in the Dodder Greenway's own right and in the context of the synergies with a network of regional walking and cycling routes such as Dublin Mountains Way and Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) cycleway;
   • Identify opportunities for related public and private investment on and adjacent to the Dodder Greenway;
   • Highlight any critical economic factors further to the Dodder Greenway Feasibility Study Report. In particular highlight those that might influence an implementation strategy.
3. The Heritage Officer and the Parks Dept have commissioned an architectural and archeological survey of the Firhouse Weir area. This is currently underway