An Bord Pleanála Inspector’s Report Development Proposed wind farm development at Derrynea, Lettermuckoo & Muckanaghkillew, County Galway. Planning Application Planning Authority: Galway County Council Planning Authority Register Reference: 10/1326 Applicant: Gaoi an Iarthar Teo. Type of Application: Permission Planning Authority Decision: Grant Planning Appeal Appellant(s): Geoffrey Fitzjohn Nicola Stronach Micheál S. Ó Conghaile Marcus O’Donnell & Seosaimh & Máire Ó Giobúin Dara Devaney Inland FisheriesIreland An Taisce Type of Appeal: Third Party _____________________________________________________________________________________ PL 29S.238734 An Bord Pleanala Page 1 of 108 Observer(s): Robert Haughton Owen Jacob Steven Orr Ó Flatharta Family Máirtín & Caitlín Ó Conghaile Richard Handover Terry Gallagher Margaret O’ Donnell Local Residents Peter Walshe Gunter Haag Date of Site Inspection: 22 nd & 23 rd June, 2011 Inspector: Kevin Moore _____________________________________________________________________________________ PL 29S.238734 An Bord Pleanala Page 2 of 108 CONTENTS Page 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 5 2.0 THE DECISION OF THE PLANNING AUTHORITY 7 3.0 SITE DETAILS 10 3.1 Site Inspection 10 3.2 Site Location and Description 10 3.3 Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015 11 3.4 Planning History 13 4.0 THIRD PARTY APPEALS 13 4.1 Appeal by Geoffrey Fitzjohn 13 4.2 Appeal by Nicola Stronach 14 4.3 Appeal by Micheál Ó Conghaile 14 4.4 Appeal by Marcus O’Donnell, Seosaimh & Máire Ó Giobúin 15 4.5 Appeal by Dara Devaney 16 4.6 Appeal by Inland Fisheries Ireland 16 4.7 Appeal by An Taisce 17 5.0 OBSERVATIONS 18 5.1 Observation from Robert Haughton 18 5.2 Observation from Owen Jacob 18 5.3 Observation from Steven Orr 18 5.4 Observation from Ó Flatharta Family 18 5.5 Observation from Máirtín Ó Conghaile & Caitlín Uí Chonghaile 19 5.6 Observation from Richard Handover 19 5.7 Observation from Terry Gallagher 19 5.8 Observation from Margaret O’Donnell 19 5.9 Observation from Local Residents 19 5.10 Observation from Peter Walshe 19 5.11 Observation from Gunter Haag 20 6.0 PLANNING AUTHORITY SUBMISSION 20 7.0 PROPOSER’S RESPONSE TO APPEAL 20 _____________________________________________________________________________________ PL 29S.238734 An Bord Pleanala Page 3 of 108 7.1 Response to Geoffrey Fitzjohn, Nicola Stronach, Micheál S. Ó Conghaile, Marcus O’Donnell & Seosaimh & Máire Ó Giobúin, Dara Devaney, and An Taisce 20 7.2 Response to Inland Fisheries Ireland 31 8.0 ASSESSMENT 32 8.1 Introduction 32 8.2 Compliance with Principles and Policy 32 8.3 Landscape and Visual Impact 40 8.4 Ecological Impact 57 8.5 Impacts on Drainage, Hydrology and Hydrogeology 71 8.6 The Potential of a Peat Slide 74 8.7 Noise Impact 74 8.8 Impact of Shadow Flicker 76 8.9 Impact of Construction Works on the Public Road Network 78 8.10 Impact on Developability of Adjoining Lands 78 8.11 Employment Impact 79 8.12 Impact on Telecommunications and Aircraft Safety 80 8.13 Archaeological Impact 81 8.14 Legal Interest 81 8.15 Turbary Rights 82 8.16 The Authenticity of the Renewable Energy Project 82 8.17 Community Gain 83 8.18 Public Consultation 84 8.19 Consideration of Alternatives 85 8.20 Impact on Proposed R336 Alignment 86 8.21 Impact on Proposed Costello Regional Water Supply Scheme 87 8.22 Decommissioning and Rehabilitation of the Site 87 8.23 Miscellaneous Issues 88 8.24 Environmental Impact Assessment 91 8.25 Conclusions 99 9.0 RECOMMENDATION 102 _____________________________________________________________________________________ PL 29S.238734 An Bord Pleanala Page 4 of 108 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT The proposed development consists of the following: - 27 wind turbines - Turbine access roads - Electricity substation - 2 no. wind farm control buildings located within the substation - 3 no. borrow pits/peat disposal areas - Electrical cable for grid connection - Temporary construction compound - 1 no. permanent anemometry mast The proposed turbine type is the Enercon 82 model. It has a hub height of 98 metres and a rotor diameter of 82 metres, totalling 139 metres in height from base to tip blade. The foundation for each turbine is circular shaped reinforced concrete measuring 17.6 metres in diameter. A hard standing area consisting of levelled and compacted hardcore is to be developed around each turbine base to facilitate access, turbine assembly and erection. This will be extended to cover the turbine foundations once the foundation and tower are in place. The rated power output of the wind farm will be in the 62-81 MW range, depending on the rated output of the turbine installed. The proposal has the potential to produce up to 219,936.6 MWH (megawatt hours) of electricity per year, based on a capacity factor or load factor of 31%. The latter takes into account the intermittency of the wind and is based on average wind speeds. This would be sufficient to supply 39,957 households with electricity per year, based on the average Irish household using 5.505 MWH in 2007. This equates to approximately 75% of households in County Galway. The R336 regional road runs in a north-south direction directly west of the site. A network of 13.49 kilometres of existing internal private access roads runs through the site, in use at present as access for agriculture and turf cutting. There are three existing access roads into the site from the regional road. The northernmost road provides access to the northern part of the site while the other two roads link within the site and are used as access to turbary plots. The most southerly access road is intended to be upgraded for use as the site entrance to the wind farm. It is proposed to use a total of 10.71 kilometres of existing roadway following upgrade. The upgrade will consist of the widening of the roads to 6 metres and the laying of a new surface dressing where required. It is proposed to construct 4.6 kilometres of new roadway. The length of new roadway is proposed where existing roads are not present in areas around turbine locations. Straight sections of new road will be 6 metres in width and will be wider at corners and junctions. The materials required for the upgrade and construction of roads will be obtained from on-site borrow pits. _____________________________________________________________________________________ PL 29S.238734 An Bord Pleanala Page 5 of 108 The proposed electricity substation is to be located in the centre of the site, just north of turbine 11. It will occupy an area of 100 metres by 65 metres. Each turbine will be connected to the on-site transformer or switch yard via an underground 20kV electricity cable. Fibre cables will also connect each wind turbine. The electricity and fibre cables will run in cable ducts approximately 1.3 metres below the ground surface. The route will follow the access track to each turbine location. The proposed development does not include connection to the electricity grid. It is envisaged that the proposed wind farm will be connected to the national grid via the Screeb station, located approximately 5.4 kilometres north-west of the site boundary. Permission to upgrade the substation from a 38kV to a 110kV/38kV substation was permitted recently by An Bord Pleanála. All cabling between the proposed wind farm and the substation is proposed to be laid underground and is to follow the route of the existing public road. The three proposed borrow pits are to be developed to extract rock and hardcore material to be used during the construction. These are to be located adjacent centrally in the southern, middle and northern sections of the site to serve the proposed roadways and turbine locations in their vicinity. Approximately 135,000 cubic metres of peat will require management. All excavated peat and overburden from the construction phase will be transported to the peat disposal areas for permanent disposal. The proposed borrow pits are to serve the dual purpose. The proposed anemometry mast will be equipped with wind monitoring equipment at various heights. It will be located in the southern section of the site, will be 100 metres in height, and will be supported by guyed wires. It will be constructed on a hard standing area. The routes of any natural drainage features are not to be altered as part of the development. No new watercourse crossings are proposed. Some new culverts may be required under existing roadways to manage drainage waters. There are no direct discharges proposed to any natural watercourse. All discharges from the works will be made over vegetation filters. Existing artificial drains in the vicinity of site roads are to be maintained. Artificial peat drains in the vicinity of proposed works areas may have to be diverted around works areas to minimise water in these areas. The temporary construction compound will be sited at the south of the site, close to the main site entrance. It will measure approximately 70 metres by 60 metres. The existing roadway into the site from the R336 will be used as the site entrance during the construction and operational phases of the development. _____________________________________________________________________________________ PL 29S.238734 An Bord Pleanala Page 6 of 108 It is envisaged that turbine components will be delivered to the deepwater section of Rossaveal port and transported the 5.3 kilometres to the site via the R372 and R336 regional roads. It is estimated that the construction phase will take 18 months The proposed wind farm is expected to have a lifespan of between 20 and 25 years. Turbines will operate automatically, responding by means of anemometry equipment and control systems to changes in wind speed and direction.