Reply - Sean Walsh Park ecological survey

COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, December 20, 2021

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor M. Duff

'Could the Manager make a report to this Area Committee regarding the recovery works that took place on the Wetlands in Sean Walsh Park. How successful were those works and is the recovery of the Wetlands being continually monitored by the Council?'

REPLY:

The Council engaged a consultant ecologist to assist in carrying out a detailed examination of the site south of the ponds at Sean Walsh Memorial Park. This work included carrying out ecological services for the surrounding areas of ponds and grasslands as well as the site in question, ecological surveys and providing advice and assessment in relation to the rehabilitation of a habitat and potential to encourage re-colonisation of the area.

This report was completed and forwarded to the National Parks and Wildlife Services for review. Below sets out the plan of works:

Site investigations to establish depth of water table/nature of water-holding capacity on site and adjacent to site
Drawing up of Alien Invasive Plan Species Management and Control Plan for the area
Management and conservation plan for Mentha pulegium
Habitat rehabilitation plan; drawing up and implementation
Comprehensive ecological baseline survey of area and environs of the site
Drawing up and implementation of Biodiversity and Habitat Management Plan for the survey area and environs
Ecological Monitoring

In their response NPWS endorsed SDCC proceeding with the works as outlined above and also recommended our carrying out interim measures to create a number of small pools, just south of the existing pond, to provide additional breeding areas for the common frog. Four shallow pools were excavated on the site for this purpose in 2020, supervised by the Local Authority Heritage Officer. These pools remain in-situ and have hosted frogs and frog spawn in recent years. Small scale investigation works have been completed and have established the water table on the site; which will further inform the rehabilitation options for the site. Ecological consultants have recently completed the second round of ecological surveys. The consultants report that the area is successfully regenerating. The management plans for the site are currently being finalised and include on-going monitoring.