LIMERICK City and County Council has appointed RPS Consulting Engineers to work on the Limerick City and Environs Flood Relief Scheme after the Office of Public Works sanctioned the appointment with funding provided through the National Development Plan 2018-2030.
The objective of the project is the identification, design and delivery of a flood relief scheme that is technically, socially, environmentally and economically acceptable to alleviate the risk of flooding to communities in Limerick city and its environs.
The Consultants will develop and expand on the CFRAM work and use more detailed surveys and models to confirm the flood risks and establish the required flood protection works and associated benefits.
The areas included in the broader Limerick City and Environs Flood Relief Scheme include:
- City Centre Quays
- Thomondgate
- Corbally
- Annacotty
- Montpelier
- The Docklands
- Condell Road
- Ballinacurra
- Rosbrien
- Ballysimon
- Old Cratloe Road
- Westbury and Shannon Banks
- It will also include public realm elements of the URDF-funded Worldclass Waterfront project and the consideration of greenways and blueways along the Shannon and Dooradoyle.
The flood relief scheme currently being progressed for King’s Island will form part of the Limerick City & Environs flood relief scheme and this scheme is currently awaiting approval from An Bord Pleanála.
Separate flood relief schemes are also being developed for Castleconnell and Athea. Consultants are to be appointed for the Adare flood relief scheme later this year.
An initial Public Consultation period will commence later this summer where the views of the public and other interested parties will be sought on the key issues to be considered.
The period will also allow for the submission of any relevant local information to inform the project.
Geotechnical Investigations and Topographic and Environmental surveys will also commence on the ground this year to inform the scheme options.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Michael Collins said: “The risk of being flooded is very real risk for many people across Limerick city. The appointment of these consultants will begin the process of developing flood defences for Limerick. It is hugely important that we protect ourselves from flooding and it must be done in a sensitive and environmentally appropriate manner.”
“Those devastating images and stories of people flooded in their homes have to become a thing of the past. We need to future proof our homes and businesses from the effects of climate change.”
RPS Project Manager, Brendan Brice said “RPS is delighted to be appointed by Limerick City and County Council and the Office of Public Works as Engineering and Environmental Consultants for this important infrastructure project for Limerick City & Environs. RPS is committed to the absolute delivery of our clients’ projects and we look forward to working with all key stakeholders over the coming years to develop a scheme that will reduce flood risk and be compatible with the Council’s objectives for the public realm in the city.”
A Cost Benefit exercise will be completed in Stage I, and where the scheme is assessed as being cost beneficial, it will progress to the planning and development stage.
