Waterford County Development Plan 2011-2017 Plean Forbartha Chontae Phort Láirge 2011-2017 Volume 4 - Environmental Report Waterford County Council STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT STATEMENT WATERFORD COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW 2011 - 2017 February 2011 Waterford County Council Comhairle Chontae Port Láirge SEA Statement An Environmental Report was prepared by Waterford County Council on the potential significant environmental impacts of the Draft County Waterford Development Plan 2011-2017. Alternatives were considered for the future growth of the county that included continuing with existing amount of zoning in the County Development Plan 2005-2011 or reducing the area of zoned land in support of objectives in the Regional Planning Guidelines, Water Framework Directive and national energy policy. The preferred strategy was a reduction in zoned land to an area of 461 ha for residential development. Publication of the South East Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022 and provisions of the Planning Act 2000 (as amended) has stipulated the need for alignment of the Core Strategy with the Regional Planning Guidelines population thresholds and consequently a review of the Core Strategy contained in the Draft County Development Plan will commence in 2011. The Environmental Report highlighted key environmental pressures in the county that include water quality with the need to restore surface water quality in Dungarvan Bay, and Waterford Estuary, groundwaters around the River Suir, bathing waters in Ardmore and Dunmore East, continued monitoring of public water supplies and provision of sufficient capacity in waste water treatment plants and the Seven Villages Scheme. The need to maintain water quality is key to conservation of biodiversity and water dependant habitats and species. Climate change impacts involving floodrisk and coastal erosion will also be required to be considered in future land use and development patterns in the county. The Draft County Development Plan 2011-2017 and Environmental Report were put on public display from 23rd February 2010 until 4th May 2010. Submissions on the Environmental Report were received from the Office of Public Works (OPW), Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Amendments proposed to the Draft County Development Plan including amendments to existing policies and zonings and insertion of additional policies and objectives were screened for SEA. The SEA matrix did not any identify any significant negative impacts arising from the amended or additional policies contained in the Draft County Development Plan. Material Amendments and the Environmental Report including SEA screening matrix were put on display from the 27th October to the 24th of November 2010. Submissions were received from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Assessment of the policies and objectives in the Draft County Development Plan indicated that, in the main, the policies and objectives would not pose a significant ii adverse impact on the environment. Positive impacts will be realised through policies for protection of wetlands as sites of local biodiversity interest and protection of floodplains in zoned settlements. The findings of “uncertain” impacts on the range of Environmental objectives in the SEA matrix will be determined at a lower level of environmental assessment largely through EIA and AA at the project level. These assessments will involve application of Appropriate Assessment, landscape appraisal, archaeological and architectural heritage appraisal and flood risk assessment to accurately determine the impacts under the range of environmental headings. The finding of uncertain impacts on Natura 2000 sites through the Appropriate Assessment process were addressed through the incorporation of amendments to Draft Plan policies and zonings as recommended in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of the AA report. This included exclusion of a tourism zoning proposed for an area of land at Bunmahon within the boundary of the Mid-Waterford Coast SPA. Integration of environmental considerations into the final Plan is indicated in Table 1. below detailing the relevant Plan section and policy addressing key Environmental Topics detailed in the Environmental Report. Key Environmental Issue Relevant Co. Dev Plan policy Water Quality Surface Waters Section 8.4 Coastal & Section 8.6 Estuarine Waters Bathing Waters Section 8,7 Obj ENV2 Shellfish Waters Section 8.15 CP6 Groundwater Section 8.4 Drinking Water Section 7.15.1 Quality Waste Water Section 7.15 Water Section 7.15 Conservation Biodiversity Designated sites Section 8 Policies NH1-NH7 Local Biodiversity Section 8.21 Invasive Species Section 8.26 Table 1. Integration of environmental issues in County Development Plan policies Monitoring of any significant environmental effects arising from the County Development Plan 2011-2-17 will be carried out by Waterford County Council at the mid-term implementation review post adoption of the Plan. Data sources that will be used include, NPWS Article 17 Conservation Assessment Reports, EPA and local authority water quality data, OPW flood reports and EPA data on carbon emissions. The following key measures are proposed as part of the SEA process to monitor the effects on the environment of implementing the Waterford County Development Plan 2011-2017. iii Environmental Objectives, Indicators and Targets Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna Environmental Objectives Indicators Responsible Frequency of Targets Intervention Authority Monitoring B1: Protect, conserve and Conservation status of NPWS of Every 6 years. Maintenance of favourable Loss of favourable enhance the diversity of habitats and species as DoEHLG Next report due in conservation status1for all conservation status of habitats, species and areas of assessed under Article 17 of 2014 habitats and species protected protected habitats and national or international the Habitats Directive. under national and species importance, including international legislation. aquatic habitats and species and promote the sustainable Compliance with Catchment Increased mortality of management of habitat Reproduction in Freshwater NPWS of Every 6 years Plans for Freshwater Pearl Freshwater Pearl Mussel networks. Pearl Mussel populations. DoEHLG under Article 17 Mussel. populations Next report due in 2014 Compliance with Water Non-attainment of targets Framework Directive River set out in RBDMPs Basin District Management Plans. iv Population and Human Health Environmental Indicators Responsible Frequency of Targets Intervention Objectives Authority Monitoring P1: Facilitate a good standard Provision of employment, Central ESRI quarterly Increase in employment Ongoing of health for County services and amenities within Government, index opportunities, services and Waterford’s population the county. IDA Ireland, Monthly Live public amenity within the through ensuring high quality Enterprise Register county residential, recreational and Ireland CSO working environments and County minimising water pollution. Enterprise Board Waterford County Council Ongoing Quality of Shellfish Growing Marine Institute PRPs reviewed No Shellfish Areas to be Class C shellfish areas Areas in Waterford Estuary Water Quality every 3 years graded as Class C. and Dungarvan Bay and Section, implementation of Pollution DoEHLG Implementation of Pollution Non attainment of targets in Reduction Programmes for Reduction Programmes for PRPs designated areas. designated areas. Waterford Annual Restore Blue Flag Status to Loss of Blue Flag Beach Number of Blue Flag Beaches County Council beaches that have lost Blue Status in the county EPA Flag. An Taisce P2: To reduce the risk of Properties at risk of flooding. Waterford Ongoing Reduction in incidents of flood Flooding incidents that flooding and harm to people, County Council damage to properties. cause damage to people, property and the Number of Development OPW property and the environment. Plans Local Area Plans and SFRAs completed for all environment Development applications Development Plans and Local subject to Strategic Flood Area Plans at review stage. Risk Assessment. Areas of lands zoned for Minimal area of land zoned for v vulnerable development in vulnerable development in lands classified as Flood Zone flood zones A and B. A or B as defined in DoEHLG Guidelines on Planning and Completion of CFRAMS for Flood Risk Management. River Suir, SE and SW River Basin Districts Water Environmental Indicators Responsible Frequency Targets Intervention Objectives Authority W1: Protect the quality of Water quality monitoring EPA Annual Protect and Restore areas Deterioration in Water surface and ground waters as results by the EPA for: Waterford identified in the River Basin Quality Standards sources of drinking water and County Council District Management Plan Non attainment of WFD as valuable assets for amenity Surface Water Ecological and required to achieve “good” standards and River Basin and recreation. Chemical Status. status, i.e. 4+ for water quality Management Plans Trophic Status of Estuarine by 2015 in line with the Water W2: Achieve and maintain and Coastal Waters. Framework Directive required water quality Bathing Water Quality. objectives. standards in the South East Groundwater Quality. and South West River Basin Drinking Water Quality. Improvement or at least no Management Plans and deterioration in levels of associated