Galway County Council An Bord Pleanála Inspector’s Report File Reference: 07.JA0005 Local Authority: Galway County Council Scheme: Costelloe Regional Water Supply Scheme, County Galway Inspector: Daniel O’Connor 07.JA0005 An Bord Pleanála Page 1 of 84 Galway County Council TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ----------- p 02 2.0 Proposed Development ----------------- p 05 3.0 Impacts Identified ------------------------ p 06 4.0 Additional Information and Submissions received p 11 5.0 Assessment ---------------------------------- p 19 6.0 Recommendation ---------------------------- p 25 Appendix 1 – Environmental Impact Statement -- p 27 07.JA0005 An Bord Pleanála Page 2 of 84 Galway County Council 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The proposed Development is the provision of phase one of the original Costelloe Regional Water Supply Scheme which is referred to in the documentation as the Costelloe Regional Water Supply Scheme. The limitation and scope of the scheme and its assessment is referred to further below. 1.2 Galway County Council, by letter of 29th June 2007, applied for approval for the Costelloe Regional Water Supply Scheme under Section 175 of the Planning and Development Act,2000. An EIS was included with the application. The EIS was in three volumes as follows: · Volume 1 of 3 Non Technical Summary · Volume 2 of 3 Main Report · Volume 3 of 3 Appendices All of the volumes are entitled Revision E. The Non-Technical Summary is produced in both the Irish and English languages. Mar gheall ar an leagan Gaeilge don Achoimre Neamhtheicniúil leantar leis an gclár chéanna agus atá sa leagan Béarla ach go bhfuil na Pleananna, Learscáileanna agus Figúirí léirithe as Béarla amháin. 1.3 In a separate letter, also dated 29th June,2007 the Local Authority stated that notice was sent in accordance with Article 121 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to the following prescribed bodies: · An Chomhairle Ealaíon · Fáilte Ireland · An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland · The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government · The Heritage Council · Western Regional Fisheries Board · Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources · Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs · Údarás na Gaeltachta · Health Service Executive · National Parks and Wildlife Service- Galway City and Letterfrack offices 1.4 The proposed works as described in the newspaper advertisement comprise works at Glenicmurrin Lough and in the townlands of Derrykyle, Derrynea, Glencoh, Lettermuckoo, Muckanaghkillew and Lettermore. It is noted that Lettermore is covered by Phase 2 of the scheme. The description of works to be carried out in the newspaper advertisement include : · Gauging station · Regulating Weir · Intake Works and pumping station at Glenicmurrin 07.JA0005 An Bord Pleanála Page 3 of 84 Galway County Council · Water Treatment Works (at Cashla) · Treated Water Storage Reservoirs (Phase 1 includes Rosmuc(Glencoh) and Glenmore at Carroroe) · Access Roads · Pipelines to convey raw and treated water. The proposed works follow on from a Water Abstraction Order made by Galway County Council in 1975 which was confirmed by the Minister for the Environment and came into force on 26th January 1979. The amount of water permitted to be abstracted was 3,640 cubic metres per day. 1.5 The development is sub-threshold but based on the information submitted by the Local Authority in relation to environmental impacts and the designation of part of the site as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), An Bord Pleanála directed that an EIS be prepared for the scheme. There are two cSAC’s impacted by the scheme, namely the Connemara Bog Complex, (area 49,010 hectares, site code 2034 ) and Kilkieran Bay and Islands (area 21,314 hectares, site code 2111). The location of the SAC’s is indicated in Figure 3.10 of the Non Technical Summary of the EIS. The two SAC’s join at several locations and the Connemara Bog Complex SAC effectively surrounds Kilkieran Bay and Islands SAC. The site synopsis for the two SAC’s are included in Appendix 3 of the Scoping Report included in the documentation with the application. 1.6 Nine objections were received to the proposal and two submissions were received from prescribed bodies in the time specified for submissions. 1.7 Additional information was requested by the Board on 24th September in relation to phasing of the scheme, predicted water levels in Glenicmurrin Lough and other issues and this information was submitted by Galway County Council by letter dated 18th October 2007. In accordance with Section 175 (5) (c ) of the Planning Act Galway County Council prepared a further information report which was made available to the public and also issued the further information to the prescribed bodies. 1.8 Submissions were received in relation to the further information by the Western Regional Fisheries Board, the Costello & Fermoyle Fisheries Company and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. 1.9 On 22nd November 2007, the Board requested information in relation to water quality parameters in Glenicmurrin Lough and in relation to the likely sludge quantities arising at the Water Treatment Plant and the Local Authority response to that request was received on 13th December 2007. 07.JA0005 An Bord Pleanála Page 4 of 84 Galway County Council 2.0 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 2.1 The proposed works comprise the following: · Gauging Station at the north of Glenicmurrin Lough · Regulating weir (at south of lough) to replace existing weir · Intake works and pumping station at weir site · Raw water rising main to treatment works at Cashla · Water treatment works at Cashla · New watermain network (in phases) · Reservoir at Glenmore (Carroroe) · Reservoir at Glencoh (Rosmuc) · Access roads and ancillary works · Reservoir at Lettermore (phase 2 work) 2.2 The proposal is for a water treatment plant to treat 3,600 m3/d at Cashla (Section 3.2.4 EIS). This is described as phase 1 works and on page 36 of the EIS the phase 1 supply area is defined as comprising the areas of Carraroe, Camus / Screebe and Rosmuc. The areas of Tir an Fhia (including Lettermore) and Gorumna / Lettermullan are not included in Phase 1 works. While it is clear from the documentation submitted that the proposed abstraction level covers only the Phase 1 area, reference is made throughout the EIS to the network serving Lettermore and Gorumna and the reservoir proposed at Lettermore. It is noted also that Drawing 3.6B in the EIS indicates future (phase 2) settlement tanks and filters at the Water Treatment Plant site. The extent of the scheme being reported on is the works included in Phase 1. The rationale for this conclusion is given in the Assessment chapter (Section 5.2 , pages 19/20 below). 2.3 The abstraction works at Glenicmurrin are set out in Section 3 of the EIS and the impact on water levels and the area of land covered at the different levels was detailed by the Local Authority in the additional information submitted on 2nd November 2007. The proposals for Glenicmurrin Lough include a gauging station at the inlet to the works and a regulating weir and pumping station at its outlet on the Cashla river. It is noted that provision has been made in the intake sump design for a future pump. 07.JA0005 An Bord Pleanála Page 5 of 84 Galway County Council 3.0 IMPACTS IDENTIFIED The EIS sets out the need for the scheme, the scheme description and the alternatives considered before proceeding to examine the individual impacts of the chosen scheme. Appendix 1 of this report gives a more detailed summary of the EIS and the impacts identified. 3.1 Regarding the Need for the Scheme it is noted that the history of the scheme dates back to the early 1970’s. The first Water Abstraction Order was proposed in 1975 and the current Water Abstraction Order for 3640 m3/d dates from January 1979. The EIS particularly notes the lodging of a petition to the EU in relation to the current Carraroe supply and the need to establish a reliable and clean source of water and notes also that the Galway Rural Water Strategic Plan identified Carraroe, Sceim na nOileán and Camus as having unsatisfactory treated water. Apart from the stated unsatisfactory nature of some supplies, the need for the scheme is based on population predictions which indicate that if Tir an Fhia (includes Lettermore) and Gorumna are excluded the abstraction order for 3640 m3/d is satisfactory for a design year of 2024. It states that the excluded area may be connected to the scheme in the future and also that the need to develop beyond 3600m3/d would depend on the extent to which demand grows, the need to extend the scheme and the location of the boundary between the Costelloe and Spiddal schemes. (p36, EIS) 3.2 Alternatives :- With regard to Alternatives, the EIS comprehensively examines alternative sources for the supply locally both outside and within the cSAC in addition to remote sites and desalination. In relation to local sources outside the cSAC, Laughaunwillan, the current source for Carraroe is stated to have an abstraction of 1580 m3 /d against a rated abstraction of 1364 m3/d and has a sewer running at its south-eastern corner which is slightly below top water level. The EIS discounts this source on the basis of low public confidence, the results of a cryptosporidium risk assessment and on lack of capacity to serve either the Costelloe or Carraroe supply areas. Lack of capacity and an impractical level of impoundment is stated to eliminate Lough Hibbert on Gorumna Island, Lough Aroolagh at Rosmuc and Lough Nambroughania at Lettermuckoo. Sources within the cSAC include the chosen option of Glenicmurrin and Loughs Cloonadoon and Muckanagh.