COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 17, 2021

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor M. Duff, Councillor P. Kearns, Councillor Alan Edge

GI 2. Add Objective: To reduce the degree of habitat fragmentation caused by road construction with the incorporation of green bridges and wildlife underpasses where feasible.

REPORT:  

The issue of wildlife crossings including bridges and underpasses is addressed in Chapter 4 Green Infrastructure.  Table 4.1 Strategic Green Infrastructure Corridors includes the following objectives (Core Areas and Stepping Stones are components of Green Infrastructure):

For Core Areas:

‘To investigate EU funding mechanisms for nature-based solutions to climate change, exploring the feasibility of developing or retrofitting an eco-bridge or eco-tunnel across the M50 to provide ecological connectivity between both sides of Tymon Park for both biodiversity and for local communities.’

In addition, Stepping Stones have been identified where it is required to:

‘To investigate EU funding mechanisms for nature-based solutions to climate change, exploring the feasibility of developing or retrofitting an eco-bridge or eco-tunnel across the M50 to provide ecological connectivity between Collinstown Park and Green space at Cloverhill Road’.

 

Finally, under Strategic Corridor 6 for Rural Fringe, the following is required:

 

‘To investigate the feasibility of developing or retrofitting an eco-bridge or eco-tunnel across the N7 roadway and the M4’.

In response to Motion 71082, it was recommended that a new objective should be included within Policy SM4 Strategic Road Network to reflect the objectives with Chapter 4 Green Infrastructure, as follows:

‘To incorporate, where feasible, wildlife crossings including bridges and underpasses into the designs for new road infrastructure and where possible, incorporation of such measures into the existing road network’.

It is considered that this recommended new objective satisfies the concerns of the motion.

RECOMMENDATION:   It is recommended that the motion is adopted with amendments, to include a new objective within Policy SM4, as follows:.

Include a new objective within Policy SM4 Strategic Road Network as follows:

‘To incorporate, where feasible, wildlife crossings including bridges and underpasses into the designs for new road infrastructure and where possible, incorporation of such measures into the existing road network’.