COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

MOTION NO. 7

MOTION: Councillor D. Ó Brádaigh

"To ask the manager to arrange for an inspection of the new wetlands area in Griffeen Park, with a view to determining any necessary works and introduction of further signage, to allay safety concerns that have arisen recently from the inability of park users (particulary children) to distinguish between the bank and the wetlands pond itself."

REPORT:

The Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) is designed to treat and improve surface water quality, before discharging it into the River Griffeen. The ICW is comprised of two shallow, interconnected, emergent-vegetated surface-flow wetland compartments. The ICW has been designed with safety in mind and the sides of the wetland have a slope gradient of a minimum 1:5. This gentle slope ensures that anyone who enters the ICW will not encounter deep water at the margins.  The vegetation which is growing in the ICW treats the water and further restricts access while enhancing the biodiversity in the surrounding area.  The surrounding vegetation in the park has been left uncut to enhance the biodiversity and offer connectivity to insects in the area.

In lieu of providing further signage at the ICW the physical intervention of adjusting mowing practice will be implemented.   This will take the form of maintaining a mowing strip around the margin of the ICW.  This will delineate the edge of the ICW and allay any concerns while assisting park users to distinguish between the ICW and the park.