UISCE Éireann’s plans to eliminate the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Atlantic Ocean off the West Clare seaside resort of Kilkee have been dealt a major blow.
This follows Clare County Council (CCC) comprehensively rejecting Uisce Éireann’s planning application for a new wastewater treatment plant for the seaside resort, a favourite destination for Limerick holidaymakers.
Locals campaigned for many years for proper wastewater treatment facilities for Kilkee, but over 80 objections were lodged against the proposed scheme for Dunlicky Road with locals angry over the proposed location and the fact that Úisce Eireann was proposing only primary treatment of wastewater.
As part of the wave of opposition against the proposal, Kilkee resident Sheila Lardner branded the proposed plant as a “monstrosity”.
One of those to object, Michael Duffy, on behalf of the Dunlicky Rd Residents Group in Kilkee, described the proposal as “a disgraceful waste of scarce public resources”, which would be an “open wound and eye-sore” on the local landscape.
Mr Duffy contended that the plans were “an ill-considered, expensive, boxticking exercise by the applicant, which simply wants to be seen to be taking steps, no matter how inappropriate, to address its historic inability to provide a basic and fundamental requirement for planning and sustainable development in a long established important tourism town”.
Uisce Éireann said that the project “will end the discharge of inadequately treated sewage into the bay” and that the new
infrastructure “will bring significant benefits to the local community by improving water quality in the receiving waters at Intrinsic Bay”.
However, as part of its refusal, CCC ruled that the scheme would have adverse impacts on the visual amenities of the area, the character of the receiving landscape, and the views from adjacent walking routes which are valuable tourism assets for Kilkee.
CCC also concluded that it has not been adequately demonstrated that the proposed development would be adequate to appropriately manage the effluent loading from Kilkee.
The planning authority further stated that it could not be satisfied that the proposed development would not be likely to have adverse effects on the Kilkee Reefs special area of conservation.
A spokeswoman for Uisce Éireann said that following the Council refusal for the plant, the utility is “reassessing the approach to finding a solution to end untreated wastewater discharges to Intrinsic Bay near Kilkee”.
