COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

MOTION NO.1

MOTION: Councillor E. Fanning

Cathaoirleach's Business

"That the Chief Executive agrees a plan to upgrade Dodder Valley Park from the rear of Old Bawn Shopping Centre to the Dodder Bridge, to include upgrading/ replacement of paths in a substandard condition, the construction of new paths giving access to the Dodder Bridge, the cutting back of planting/shrubbery and new landscaping as required"

REPORT:

"The proposal for more formalised access to the Dodder on the southern bank of the river between Old Bawn Bridge and the new Dodder Bridge would be problematic for a number of reasons.  The area is within the Dodder Valley proposed Natural Heritage Area at a location where, currently, access is informal and results in a relatively low level of disturbance when compared to other parts of the river in the same vicinity.  Recent surveys of the biodiversity resource in this section were undertaken as part of the Dodder Greenway project, confirming the presence of protected mammal species.  

Constructing formal paths here would therefore significantly impact on the specialised riverside woodland habitat in this area.  The increased level of disturbance on wildlife that would result from more walkers and from dogs off leash would be particularly problematic for the mammal species still living in this area.  The impact on protected species and habitats would need to be assessed and an application for licences to disturb these species would need to be made to National Parks and Wildlife Service.  It would not be guaranteed that these licences would be forthcoming, particularly as the northern bank of the river is currently already available and is well used for amenity purposes, while the southern bank would be regarded as an important quieter refuge for wildlife in a busy location.

Options to provide new routes and extend existing routes within this area were considered at the preliminary design stage for the Dodder Greenway, which is the subject of a recent Part 8 public consultation process. That process involved an intensive consideration of a number of factors in relation to those route options within Dodder Valley, including the proposal for a route on the southern side of the Dodder River to formalise the existing informal access arrangement.  Unfortunately due to a number of constraints it was deemed to be inadvisable, the primary constraint is the existing ecological and biodiversity resources within this section of the proposed Natural Heritage Area within the Dodder Valley. There is a decreasing number of relatively undisturbed areas within the urban parts of the Dodder Valley that allow for protected species to nest, travel and forage along the ecological corridor.

Consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Section of the OPW (who play a role in the protection of proposed Natural Heritage Areas) highlighted their concern about the impact of increasing and intensifying use within these relatively undisturbed areas and providing routes on both sides of the river at certain locations was not recommended.  Formal access does intend to intensify use and brings with it a requirement to manage and cut back much of the vegetation that provides refuge and shelter to wild life.  The impact would not be just limited to incursion by pedestrians and increased maintenance requirements but would also involve construction of  a new route which would also have a detrimental impact on the existing ecology.

It is acknowledged that informal access does occur, however the informal access is less invasive and has less impact than a formalised access. The ecological impact assessment process for the Dodder highlighted the fact that use is already intensified on the northern side of the river within this section of the Dodder Valley and it would be beneficial if that remains as the main route for pedestrians. While it is not intended to preclude informal access it would be beneficial if access remains informal for the above reasons.  The proposed Natural Heritage Area has the potential to regain its sand martin species and in that regard a sand martin bank was formed as part of the recent works within the park.  It would be hoped during the Greenway works (should the Part 8 be approved) that such initiatives could be further developed along the southern bank of the river.

Finally, parts of the river bank along the section in question are structurally unstable and are eroded away during the Dodder’s flooding events.  Due to the significant level differences the proposed access to the existing bridge would entail significant engineering works to ensure footpaths have appropriate gradients. During the construction works for the pedestrian bridge it was discovered that the southern bank of the Dodder River is quite sandy and foundation works for new footpaths along the steep slope would likely involve significant construction and be quite costly. It should also be noted that the proposed access point at Old Bawn Bridge is currently mapped as an area with invasive species present.  An Invasive Species Management Plan would be required to ensure any proposed works would not result in the spread of these species further along the Dodder."