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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

MOTION NO. 6

MOTION: Councillor Shane Moynihan

To ask the Chief Executive to undertake remediation works in Collinstown Park to prevent flooding in parts of the park and improve drainage

REPORT:

In January/February 2021 extensive pruning works were undertaken in the park in the vicinity of the park entrances. The works unfortunately coincided with a very heavy period of rainfall in January where 95.8 mm was measured at Casement. It was the wettest January in the past four years and well above the monthly mean for winter months. This led to saturated soils and combined with the movement of vehicles involved in pruning works, some paths in the park became flooded. This problem was seasonal in nature and has since resolved itself.

Improvement works were carried out to a footpath in the north east corner of the Collinstown Park where flooding issues were present a number of years ago. The path was raised and diverted to alleviate this problem. There is an area approximately 1,600 square meters in size that remains uncut due to the wet ground conditions. As a result of this area not being cut wildflowers have colonised the area and currently Cardamine pratensis (Lady’s Smock or Cuckooflower) is flowering well on this site. This perennial plant favours marshy ground and damp grassland and demonstrates that the presence of damp areas in a park facilitates habitat diversity.

The Public Realm Section is not aware of any other areas within the park that required drainage intervention. However, should such areas arise during the wetter winter months the matter of drainage can be examined if it is considered necessary.