Natura Impact Statement Newport Town Park, Co. Tipperary This page has been left intentionally blank 18150-6011-C Natura Impact Statement September 2018 ISSUE FORM Project number 18150 Document number 6011 Document revision C Document title Natura Impact Statement: Newport Town Park Document status Issued for client Document prepared by Gerard Hayes (Senior Ecologist, B.Sc. Ed., MCIEEM) August 2018 Document checked by Hazel Dalton (Senior Ecologist, B.Sc. Wildlife Biology) September 2018 i 18150-6011-C Natura Impact Statement September 2018 Table of contents 1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ............................................................................................ 5 1.1 Natura Impact Statement .................................................................................................. 5 2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 6 3 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Appropriate Assessment Guidance .................................................................................... 6 3.2 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................ 6 3.3 Field Surveys ..................................................................................................................... 7 3.4 Assessment of Potentially Significant Effects ..................................................................... 7 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ................................................................................... 8 4.1 Brief Project Description ................................................................................................... 8 4.2 Purpose of the Project..................................................................................................... 10 4.3 Site Location and Context ................................................................................................ 10 4.4 Characteristics of the Project ........................................................................................... 12 4.4.1 Riparian Leave Strip Exclusion Zone .................................................................................................... 13 4.4.2 Protection of Watercourses (General Measures) ............................................................................... 13 4.4.3 Fuel and Oil Management ................................................................................................................... 14 4.4.4 Storage ................................................................................................................................................ 14 4.5 Description of the Receiving Environment ....................................................................... 15 4.5.1 Habitats ............................................................................................................................................... 15 4.5.2 Surface Water ..................................................................................................................................... 19 4.5.3 Hydrogeology ...................................................................................................................................... 20 4.5.4 Otter .................................................................................................................................................... 20 4.5.5 Fish ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 4.6 Identification of Other Projects, Plans and Activities ........................................................ 22 4.6.1 Newport Town Wastewater Treatment Plant ..................................................................................... 22 4.6.2 Licenced Sites ...................................................................................................................................... 23 4.6.3 Planning Applications .......................................................................................................................... 23 4.6.4 Ongoing Activities ............................................................................................................................... 23 5 NATURA 2000 SITE – LOWER RIVER SHANNON CSAC ................................................ 26 5.1 Description of the Lower River Shannon cSAC .................................................................. 26 5.1.1 Identification of Potentially Significant Impacts to Qualifying Features ............................................. 27 5.2 Assessment of Potentially Significant Effects ................................................................... 37 5.2.1 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 37 5.2.2 Habitat loss.......................................................................................................................................... 38 5.2.3 Habitat alteration ................................................................................................................................ 38 5.2.4 Disturbance and/or displacement of species ...................................................................................... 39 5.2.5 Habitat or species fragmentation ....................................................................................................... 39 ii 18150-6011-C Natura Impact Statement September 2018 5.3 Assessment of Effect on Lower River Shannon cSAC Consevation Objectives .................... 39 5.3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 39 5.3.2 Floating River Vegetation .................................................................................................................... 40 5.3.3 Sea Lamprey ........................................................................................................................................ 42 5.3.4 River Lamprey ..................................................................................................................................... 43 5.3.5 Brook Lamprey .................................................................................................................................... 45 5.3.6 Atlantic Salmon ................................................................................................................................... 46 5.3.7 Otter .................................................................................................................................................... 47 5.4 Assessment of Potentially Significant Cumulative Effects ................................................. 48 5.5 Mitigation ....................................................................................................................... 48 5.5.1 Method statements ............................................................................................................................ 49 5.5.2 Project ecologist .................................................................................................................................. 50 5.5.3 Invasive Species Control ...................................................................................................................... 50 5.5.4 Landscaping ......................................................................................................................................... 50 5.5.5 Otters .................................................................................................................................................. 51 5.5.6 Temporary Construction Compound .................................................................................................. 51 5.5.7 Soil Stripping and Excavation Works ................................................................................................... 52 5.5.8 Storage and Stockpiles of Excavated Material .................................................................................... 52 5.5.9 Drainage Controls ................................................................................................................................ 52 5.5.10 Hydrocarbon Control ...................................................................................................................... 53 5.5.11 Concrete Control and Wheel Washing ........................................................................................... 53 5.5.12 Storage ............................................................................................................................................ 54 5.5.13 Waste management ....................................................................................................................... 54 5.6 Residual Impacts ............................................................................................................. 55 5.7 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 55 6 FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................... 55 7 REFERENCES ...........................................................................................................