COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, May 25, 2020

MOTION NO. 5

MOTION: Councillor K. Mahon

"Can the Chief Executive update regarding the plans for community infrastructure at lands off Treepark Road by Ned Kelly Park Kilnamanagh? Many potential uses have been suggested including a potential wetland and the increased utilisation of the River Poddle in the area."

REPORT:

The Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project seeks to improve water quality in County Dublin and promote water quality improvement in urban areas in Ireland and Europe by making it quicker and cheaper to carry out domestic misconnection inspections using a GIS-based approach. Domestic misconnections are caused by incorrectly plumbed washing machines and dishwashers which discharge to the rainwater drainage network which flows to the river rather than the foul sewer network. This causes water pollution and reduces the habitat value of our rivers and streams and reduces our potential to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021.

This project will also build integrated constructed wetlands at five strategic locations in South Dublin County. These natural water retention measures will improve the quality of receiving river water and promote biodiversity and the relationship between green infrastructure and public wellbeing.

This unique project is a collaboration between South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the EU LIFE Programme. The project is estimated at €2.54 million with the EU providing 50% funding and will take four years to complete. South Dublin County Council is the project lead and more details can be found at www.dublinriverlife.ie or email durl@sdublincoco.ie .

The option to build an integrated constructed wetland (ICW) at Kilnamanagh is currently moving through the stages of build assessment by the Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE (DURL) project. This should be complete by mid-July 2020.

The placement of a wetland in Kilnamanagh would treat and purify water from the local stream as it exits the existing stormwater outfall adjacent to Ned Kelly Park. It should be noted there is no plan by the LIFE project to alter existing access to that stream. Once the assessment stage of the project's ICW work has been completed this information will be brought to Elected Member's attention through Area Committee Meetings.