Objection 4: Water & Wastewater

4. Water & Wastewater Infrastructure

We would further contend that the proposed Water & Waste Water Infrastructural proposals are clearly at variance with the LAP3 as adopted in that other that the provision of a lake for attenuation there are no proposals for solving the infrastructural deficit clearly identified in Section 7, Services, of the LAP3, where it was clearly indicated that:-

1) Water (see Section 7.1): - “The water supply system in Navan is currently nearing capacity. At present, there is insufficient water supply available to cater for development of all the lands identified for development in the Navan Development Plan 2003-2009’’. It is envisaged that an investment of 78.5m is required and subject to DOELG funding becoming available the majority of the works envisaged under the Preliminary Engineering Report will not be realised until 2012.

2) Foul Drainage (see Section 7.2): - “There is insufficient capacity available in the wastewater treatment plant serving Navan to cater for the development of tall the lands identified for development in the Navan Development Plan 2003-2009’’. In the event that there is not sufficient capacity available tin the treatment plant, suitable interim solutions may be provided subject to the approval of the planning authority.

Further the LAP3 states that the available capacity in the receiving system in the area is limited.

These difficulties were recognised and referred to in the report of the County Manager (see Section 2.2.3 on Water & Waste Water Service Provision), considered at the Council Meeting on the 3rd of July 2006 under Section 20 (3) (C) of the Planning & Development Act 2000, on LAP3 in that the recommendation was that:-



“It is estimated that the LAP3 lands will develop over a period of 5 years subject to the provision of necessary social and physical infrastructure……Subject to timing and demand for development and the provision of infrastructure, infrastructure interim solutions may be required. Such solutions will be assessed on a case by case basis. Where interim solutions cannot be found or where demand for development slows down completion of the development in the LAP3 lands may not occur during the period of the plan’’.

It is assumed from the planning submission that the developers propose to use existing services in that there are not detailed proposals on file, indeed given the clear difficulties in respect of these services there are no “interim solutions’’ proposed by the developers with a view to addressing the infrastructural deficits pending the various upgradings. Clearly, we would object to any development of the LAP3 lands until these issues are satisfactorily resolved, indeed any proposal to develop lands in the area without a proper solution to water and waste water problems must be considered premature.

3) Surface Water (see Section 7.3 of the LAP3) : - The hydraulic flow capacity of the Swan River has been impaired due to the installation of a culvert as part of a previous development located down stream of the LAP3 lands. There were considerable submissions to the LAP3 in respect of flooding, yet it is stated in the Planning Application that his area is not at risk of flooding (see Section 18 on ‘Site History’). Many residents in Balreask Manor do not agree in that their gardens flood with great regularity. The proposed development will only exasperate this problem. Indeed the area staff of the council are aware of the existing problems.

In the Archaeological Desk Study carried out for the LAP3 lands a survey of the area was carried out on a dry day in June 2005, this study found that in the fields 10,11,15,19 & 20 there was an abundance of reeds indicating underlying damp conditions, the aforementioned fields lie directly behind our housing estate. With Global Warming experts indicating that we will have milder wetter winters within the next 20 years, development of the LAP3 lands on such a scale without proper waste water management and drainage facilities in place would be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.

We would contend that there is a requirement for a full hydrogeolical study of the Swan River to be carried out and if there are measures (including if necessary the upgrading of the defective culvert) are required to improve flow, these should be carried out in advance of any development been allowed on the LAP3 lands.

We note that there were no detailed design calculations submitted in respect of surface water drainage.

In respect of Section 7.0 – Services in the LAP3 area, we would deem it essential that full specific design proposals for all water and waste water services and associated calculations to include details of any ‘interim solutions’. We would have to strongly object to any development of the LAP3 lands until these matters have been satisfactorily addressed, otherwise the development should be considered premature and refused.