COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
HEADED ITEM NO.12
Japanese Knotweed & Other Invasive Species
This matter was last reported on to this area committee at the September meeting this year, that report is copied below. The current position is as follows.
The surveying and mapping exercise has continued and is well advanced, but not yet completed. Some areas along the Dodder when visited were found not to be accessible to the surveyors. These areas, mostly upstream of Old Bawn bridge, will be addressed and surveyed/mapped in the Spring of 2018.
The surveying and mapping of areas along the Owendoher River and Whitechurch Stream has been successfully completed, and all of these areas have now been treated. Signage has been erected at 10 of the sites where it was considered necessary to inform the public of the matter.
The number of sites in the Rathfarnham/Templeogue-Terenure area affected by Japanese Knotweed has risen from 30 in September to 43 currently, and as stated above it has not been possible as yet to complete the survey so that number will rise further.
Two staff continue to be assigned to this project on a full time basis and this will remain the case in 2018, with additional staff to be assigned as required. Based on the information gathered over the past 6 months it is expected that this will be sufficient to complete the survey and treat all areas twice during 2018. The programme to survey, map and treat Japanese Knotweed will continue until such time as we are satisfied that the matter is under control.
September 2017 report
The surveying and mapping of Japanese Knotweed and other invasive species in the County recommenced on July 10th, the public realm section have assigned 2 experienced members of staff to this exercise on a full time basis at the present time. Surveying to date has focussed on the following areas -
- Main watercourses in the County including the Owendoher River, Whitechurch Stream, Dodder River, Camac River and the river Liffey.
- Public parks in the County including lakes and streams etc.
- Locations which have been reported, both public and private, where Japanese Knotweed and other invasive species are believed to be present.
Surveying and mapping is continuing and good progress has been made on this exercise over the summer months. Treatment has commenced on areas considered to be high priority and this treatment programme will continue through the months of September and October and as long as conditions permit. Information signs have been placed on order and are expected to be delivered into stock during the current week and these will be erected at locations where it is considered necessary.
The following is data extracted from the invasive species database broken down by species type, including Japanese Knotweed, showing numbers of sites found to date across the County as well as the breakdown for the Rathfarnham/Templeogue-Terenure area. Treatment information is being added to the database as work progresses however it cannot be made available as yet. Future reports on the matter will include treatment information.
|
Local Electoral Area |
Total Number of Sites |
|
Rathfarnham |
115 |
|
Templeogue - Terenure |
100 |
|
Clondalkin |
16 |
|
Lucan |
36 |
|
Tallaght - Central |
85 |
|
Tallaght - South |
15 |
|
Full County |
11-Sep |
||
|
Description: |
Number of sites |
Sum of site size (sq.metres) |
Max. site size (sq.metres) |
|
Total number of sites captured: |
366 |
34,597.96 |
9,588.02 |
|
Total number of Gunnera |
14 |
304.21 |
68.11 |
|
Total number of Himalayan Balsam |
32 |
4,057.29 |
803.00 |
|
Total number of Giant Hogweed |
5 |
9.73 |
4.94 |
|
Total number of Japanese Knotweed |
96 |
14,463.81 |
4,501.89 |
|
Total number of Buddleia |
240 |
14,039.68 |
3,405.26 |
|
Site Details: Adjacent to Private Property |
19 |
4,206.51 |
3,405.26 |
|
Site Details: Open Space |
100 |
4,800.19 |
2,591.72 |
|
Site Details: Other |
60 |
16,021.11 |
9,588.02 |
|
Site Details: River Bank |
131 |
7,004.15 |
803.00 |
|
Site Details: Roadside |
47 |
1,747.50 |
379.49 |
|
Site Details: No Details Entered |
9 |
818.50 |
517.90 |
|
Rathfarnham |
11-Sep |
||
|
Description: |
Number of sites |
Sum of site size (sq.metres) |
Max. site size (sq.metres) |
|
Total number of sites captured: |
115 |
5,443.31 |
2,591.72 |
|
Total number of Gunnera |
3 |
64.75 |
48.72 |
|
Total number of Himalayan Balsam |
11 |
181.67 |
72.79 |
|
Total number of Giant Hogweed |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
Total number of Japanese Knotweed |
30 |
1,310.27 |
331.99 |
|
Total number of Buddleia |
77 |
4,474.03 |
2,591.72 |
|
Site Details: Adjacent to Private Property |
5 |
90.60 |
37.07 |
|
Site Details: Open Space |
27 |
3,163.17 |
2,591.72 |
|
Site Details: Other |
4 |
37.42 |
27.09 |
|
Site Details: River Bank |
70 |
1,782.45 |
331.99 |
|
Site Details: Roadside |
7 |
313.74 |
179.08 |
|
Site Details: No Details Entered |
2 |
55.92 |
55.73 |