Shimna Flood Alleviation Scheme
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Shimna River Flood Alleviation Scheme Environmental Statement – Non-Technical Summary Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Rivers August 2018 49 Tullywiggan Road Loughry Cookstown BT80 8SG Shimna River Flood Alleviation Scheme Environmental Statement – Non-Techncial Summary 1. Introduction The Environmental Statement (ES) is a detailed report of the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. In particular, it predicts the environmental effects that the Proposed Scheme would have, and details the measures proposed to reduce or eliminate those effects. It is a statement that includes such of the information referred to in Schedule 2A to the Drainage Order 1973, as substituted by The Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017, that is reasonably required to assess the environmental effects of any proposed drainage works and which the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) - Rivers can, having regard in particular to current knowledge and methods of assessment, reasonably be required to compile. This shall include a Non-Technical Summary (NTS) of the information provided under points 1 to 9 below: 1. a description of the Proposed Scheme; 2. a description of the reasonable alternatives studied by the Department; 3. a description of the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment, including the ‘Do- Nothing’ scenario. 4. a description of the factors likely to be significantly affected by the Proposed Scheme; 5. a description of the likely significant effects of the works on the environment 6. a description of whether the likely significant effects would be direct and indirect, secondary, cumulative, transboundary, short, medium and long-term, permanent and temporary, positive and negative; 7. a description of the forecasting methods or evidence used to identify and assess the significant effects on the environment; 8. a description of the measures envisaged to avoid, prevent, reduce and where possible, offset any identified significant adverse effects on the environment and, where appropriate, of any proposed monitoring arrangements; and 9. a description of the expected significant adverse effects of the works on the environment deriving from the vulnerability of the works to risks of major accidents or disasters. The NTS is provided at the beginning of the ES, and presents a concise overview of the contents of the ES and the key environmental issues associated with the Shimna River Flood Alleviation Scheme (‘the Proposed Scheme’). 2. Background Following severe flooding in August 2008, a post flood investigation of the Burren and Shimna Rivers was undertaken by RPS. This examined the source, causes and flooding mechanism of the fluvial flood event of 16th and 17th August 2008, and identified the properties affected by that flood and the extent of fluvial flooding at the properties. The performance of the Burren Flood Alleviation Scheme during the flood event was also assessed. Following on from this, possible outline solutions to reduce future fluvial flood risk were identified, and costs outlined. The Flood Investigation Report (RPS 2009) showed that areas protected by the Burren Flood Alleviation Scheme could still be flooded from the Shimna River, with water travelling through Islands Park then over and along Bryansford Avenue. Flood water can then flow over the Bryansford Avenue Road bridge and flood properties within the Burren catchment, along the Shimna Road and in Shimna Vale. Subsequent to this, RPS prepared the Shimna River, Newcastle Feasibility Study for Flood Risk Investigation’ (2015), in which a computer model was constructed to assess the risk of flooding from the Shimna River. The calibrated river model was run to determine water levels for a range of storm events for both the present day and future scenarios. Flood maps were created to form the basis for the outline design of a flood protection scheme and the economic assessment of flood risk and the benefits of such a scheme. Prepared for: Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Rivers AECOM 1 Shimna River Flood Alleviation Scheme Environmental Statement – Non-Techncial Summary Due to the scale and nature of the development, an EIA has been carried out and reported in the Shimna River Flood Alleviation Scheme ES. This has been prepared to assess the potential impacts resulting from the Scheme. The ES also considers the significance of these impacts, offers mitigation measures where necessary and discusses residual effects (i.e. those effects which remain following the implementation of mitigation measures). 3. The Proposed Scheme 3.1 Objective of the Proposed Scheme The primary objective of the scheme is to provide flood protection, to the 312 properties which are currently at risk of flooding, during a 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP)) flood event, as indicated within the Flood Risk Management Plans for Northern Ireland (2015), under the EU Directive on managing floods. The Proposed Scheme would be designed to provide protection to properties for the 1% AEP flood event, with allowance for climate change. 3.2 Summary of the Proposed Scheme The Proposed Scheme would require the construction of flood alleviation measures to reduce the risk of flooding from the Shimna River to protect existing properties in the town. The works would extend both upstream (into Tipperary Wood) and downstream (into Islands Park) from New Bridge on the Bryansford Road, as shown on Figure 1. The proposed works would include: · Demolition of a number of property boundary walls and fences; · Felling of a number of mature trees; · Relocation of one drainage ditch; · 1430m of brick/concrete clad sheet piles or sheet pile core embankments; · Construction of a new pathway; · Realignment of existing pathways; and · Erection of one floodgate. The road bridge on the Bryansford Road (New Bridge) is the hub point of the scheme. The scheme proposes construction of four separate flood defences, each starting at the bridge (as shown on Figure 1). On the north bank of the Shimna River, there would be construction of a flood defence from Bryansford Road Bridge (New Bridge), running parallel to the Bryansford Road for approximately 115m, then turning and running perpendicular to the road, for approximately 70m. Also on the north bank of the Shimna River, there would be construction of a flood defence from New Bridge, running downstream and parallel to the Shimna River within Islands Park over approximately 250m. On the south bank of the Shimna River, there would be construction of a flood defence from New Bridge, running downstream and parallel to Shimna River over approximately 645m across to Beers Bridge. Also, on the south bank of the Shimna River, there would be construction of a flood defence from New Bridge, running upstream, parallel, then perpendicular to the Shimna River for approximately 290m. 4. Alternatives Considered A number of options were progressed through the screening process, identifying which could potentially resolve flooding issues from the Shimna River. These options are outlined below. 4.1.1 Do-Nothing Scenario In this scenario no action is taken to sustain, maintain or improve existing flood defences. If no works were undertaken, the threat of overtopping of the banks of the Shimna River would remain, resulting in the possibility of frequent flooding damage to property in addition to causing considerable anxiety to local residents. The Do-Nothing Scenario was used as a base-case against which the other options are compared. Prepared for: Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Rivers AECOM 2 Project Title N SHIMNA BRYANSFORD ROAD FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME NEWCASTLE, CO. DOWN Client FLOOD GATE NEW GRASS EMBANKMENT Drawing Title NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY PEDESTRIAN ACCESS SHIMNA RIVER FLOOD ALLEVIATION EXISTING PATH SCHEME SHIMNA RIVER KEY RELOCATION OF DRAINAGE DITCH NEW SHEET PILE WALL REALIGNED PATHWAY NEW FLOOD GATE SHIMNA RIVER RELOCATED DRAINAGE DITCH TIPPERARY WOOD NEW PATHWAY REALIGNED PATHWAY NEW PATHWAY EMBANKMENT BRYANSFORD ROAD NEW FENCE ISLANDS PARK Scale @ A3 1:2000 AECOM Internal Project Number 60556684 This document has been prepared in accordance with the scope of scope the with accordance in prepared been hasdocument This AECOM's appointment with its client and is subject to the terms of that of terms the to subject is and client its AECOM'swith appointment BRYANSFORD ROAD SHIMNA RIVER appointment. AECOM accepts no liability for any use of this document this of use any for AECOMliability no appointment. accepts other than by its client and only for the purposes for which it was it which for purposes the for only and client its by than other prepared and provided. Only written dimensions shall be used. be shall dimensions written Only provided. and prepared © AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UKLimited Environment & AECOM© Infrastructure NEW GRASS FIGURE 1 EMBANKMENT AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited TULLYBRANNIGAN RIVER The Studio, Cleaver House 1-3 Donegall Square North Belfast G:\DOCUMENTS\60556684 - SHIMNA RIVER FAS\900_CAD_GIS\910_CAD\01-WIP\ENVIRONMENT\EIA DRAWINGS\FIG_4.1_SHIMNA_FAS SCALE BAR TULLYBRANNIGAN RIVER BT1 5YE 0m 20m 40m 60m 80m 100m T: +44 (0)28 9060 7200 www.aecom.com Shimna River Flood Alleviation Scheme Environmental Statement – Non-Techncial Summary 4.1.2 Provision of Hard Defences There were a range of alternative methods of construction considered for flood defences which depended on various factors including the ground conditions. Flood walls would generally