Report in Support of Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening & Natura Impact Statement (NIS) Part XAB Planning Application Proposed Town Park Works, Mallow, Co, Cork On Behalf of Cork County Council May 2021 NIS Mallow Town Park Re-development 1 DixonBrosnan 2021 Project Report in Support of Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening & Natura Impact Statement (NIS) for Part XAB Planning Application Proposed Town Park Works, Mallow, Co, Cork Client Cork County Council Project Ref. 2142 Report No. 2142.01 Client Ref. - Date Revision Prepared By 18/05/21 First Draft Sorcha Sheehy PhD 25/05/21 Planning Carl Dixon MSc DixonBrosnan Lios Ri Na hAoine, 1 Redemption Road, Cork. Tel 086 851 1437| [email protected] | www.dixonbrosnan.com This report and its contents are copyright of DixonBrosnan. It may not be reproduced without permission. The report is to be used only for its intended purpose. The report is confidential to the client, and is personal and non-assignable. No liability is admitted to third parties. ©DixonBrosnan 2021. NIS Mallow Town Park Improvement Works 2 DixonBrosnan 2021 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Authors of the Report ......................................................................................................... 6 2. Regulatory Context and Appropriate Assessment Procedure ......................................... 7 2.1 Regulatory Context ............................................................................................................. 7 2.2 Appropriate Assessment Procedure .................................................................................... 8 3. Description of Proposed Development ........................................................................... 9 3.2 Proposed Development ...................................................................................................... 9 3.2.1 Entrances and circulation ..................................................................................................................... 9 3.2.3 Active sports ....................................................................................................................................... 10 3.2.4 Other amenities ................................................................................................................................. 10 3.2.5 Landscape Improvement Works ........................................................................................................ 12 3.3. Surface water drainage measures .................................................................................... 12 3.3.1 Proposed Carpark - Surface & Drainage Design Details. .................................................................... 12 3.3.2 Sustainable Drainage Design .............................................................................................................. 13 3.3.3 Proposed Skate Park - Surface Drainage Design Details. ................................................................... 14 3.3.4 Proposed Pump Track - Surface Drainage Design Details. ................................................................. 15 3.3.5 Grass Pitches & Reinforced Grass Event & Temporary car park area ................................................ 15 3.3.6 Proposed Swale drainage Basin - Surface Drainage Design Details. .................................................. 16 3.3.7 Widening of Existing Pedestrian Bridge ............................................................................................. 17 3.3.8 Angling Stands .................................................................................................................................... 19 4. Stage 1 - Screening for Appropriate Assessment .......................................................... 21 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 21 4.2 Zone of influence .............................................................................................................. 22 4.3 Natura 2000 Sites ............................................................................................................. 22 4.3.1 Natura 2000 Sites within Zone of Influence ....................................................................................... 22 4.3.2 Blackwater River (Cork/Waterford) SAC ............................................................................................ 26 4.3.3 Kilcolman Bog SPA .............................................................................................................................. 26 4.3.4 Blackwater Callows SPA ..................................................................................................................... 27 4.4 Natura 2000 sites – Features of interests and conservation objectives. .............................. 27 4.5 Baseline Data ................................................................................................................... 29 4.5.1 Habitats .............................................................................................................................................. 29 4.5.2 Otter ................................................................................................................................................... 37 4.5.3 Birds ................................................................................................................................................... 37 4.5.4 Invasive Species .................................................................................................................................. 38 4.6 Water Quality................................................................................................................... 41 4.6.1 EPA Water Quality Data ..................................................................................................................... 41 4.6.2 River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018 – 2021 (2nd Cycle) .................................................. 42 4.7 Potential Impact of Proposed Development on Blackwater River (Cork/Waterford) SAC, Kilcolman Bog SPA and Blackwater Callows SPA ..................................................................... 44 4.7.1 Loss of habitat .................................................................................................................................... 44 4.7.2 Impacts from Noise and Disturbance ................................................................................................. 45 4.6.3 Impacts on Water Quality .................................................................................................................. 46 4.6.4 Spread of Invasive Species ................................................................................................................. 46 4.6.5 In-combination Impacts ..................................................................................................................... 47 NIS Mallow Town Park Improvement Works 3 DixonBrosnan 2021 4.7 Stage One Appropriate Assessment Conclusions ............................................................... 47 4.7.1 Screening of Relevant Natura 2000 Sites and Qualifying Interests/Special Conservation Interests .. 47 4.7.2 Screening conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 52 5. Stage 2 – Natura Impact Statement ............................................................................ 53 5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 53 5.2 Status of qualifying species and habitats potentially affected by the proposed development – Blackwater River (Cork/Waterford) SAC ............................................................................... 53 5.2.1 Otter (Lutra lutra)............................................................................................................................... 53 5.2.2 White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) ......................................................................... 55 5.2.3 Lamprey species (Petromyzon marinus, Lampetra planeri, Lampetra fluviatilis) .............................. 56 5.2.4 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) ............................................................................................................ 58 5.2.5 Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) ................................................................... 59 5.2.6 Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation. .................................................................................................................................................. 62 5.2.7 Qualifying interests potentially impacted by the proposed development ........................................ 63 6. Assessment of Potential Impacts ................................................................................. 69 6.1 Loss of habitat .................................................................................................................. 69 6.1.1 Loss of Terrestrial Habitat .................................................................................................................