IMMEDIATE action at the former landfill site on the Longpavement, is being demanded by Mayor Kevin Kiely.
He wants it converted into a top class recreational facility.
Following a directive by the EU some years ago, the site was cleared of the landfill dump for the city’s litter. Currently being rehabilitated under licence from the Environmental Protection Agency, the objective is to minimise the uncontrolled spread of landfill gas and landfill leachate beyond the site.
While the rehabilitation works will continue to the end of this year, it is expected that the site will be redesigned for a number of recreational activities, although to-date, no specific details have been confirmed.
This week, however, Mayor Kiely said the time is now opportune to move the project ahead.
“Eight years ago, I was told that we’d have a golf course and soccer pitches on the site, as well as a riverside walk, possibly a playground, seating, lighting, etc. – all of which would fit in very well with the regeneration plans we have for that area of the city – now is the opportune to move on this”.
The mayor enquired about the present levels of methane gas on the site and was told by City Hall executive, Caroline Curley, that monitoring of the site had revealed that the production of landfill gas was relatively low and therefore, ruled out the possibility of generating energy.
“The Environment Protection Agency licence required that a landfill gas collection and treatment system be installed on the site and to comply with this, a gas drainage membrane was placed on top of the landfill,” she said.
The mayor and councillors were told that pumping trials were carried out to estimate the amount and quality of gas that would be produced.
“The results from the trials predict sustainable capacity at the site until 2040, and that the landfill gas will continue to be produced at a lower quantity and quality for the following 20 – 30 years”.
Explaining that while the rehabilitation work on the site will be completed by the end of this year and that monitoring will continue to ensure a reduction of land fill gas, city council says that a system, comprising vertical wells, collection pipework, pumping plant, storage tank, methane stripper and a rising main to the main drainage system will be installed.
“Landfill gas will also be reduced by the placing of a liner layer and the surface water liner layer over the entire landfill body, which will prevent water going into the site.
Mayor Kiely said that the recreational facilities planned for the site, when the rehabilitation work finishes at the end of this year, will be discussed at the first full meeting of the new city council, at the end of September.
