The pre-Christmas decision by An Bord Pleanala (23 Dec 2015) that Indaver’s proposed Ringaskiddy incinerator constitutes Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) has paved the way for Indaver to proceed with lodging the application as planned this New Year.
The Boards decision concludes over 3 years of engagement with Indaver. The process was opened by Indaver on 30th August 2012 with a request to the Board for a determination in relation to the Strategic Infrastructure Development status or otherwise of their proposed waste management facility, which will burn both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. (Case Reference: PC0151) See decision document…
Once the planning application is submitted, the local community will have a six week period to analyse, process and make submissions. Read more on SID Process.
It is expected that the new application will focus heavily on the June 2011 reasons for refusal of planning by An Bord Pleanala, which included inadequate flood risk and coastal erosion mitigation measures.
In its 2011 report, The Board also expressed concern about the effect of the impact of any remedial works, “including on other nearby property”. Recent damage caused by Storm Frank (29 December 2015) to Indaver’s Gobby Beach boundary, along with general flooding highlights the extensive vulnerability of the overall area and gives good grounds for this concern.
World Health Organisation (WHO) site selection criteria for hazardous waste management facilities advises elimination of areas subject to coastal erosion and flooding stating “Step 1 is to eliminate generally unsatisfactory areas, – coastal areas subject to floods, – coastal wetlands, – areas with limestone deposits.”
CHASE Chairperson Mary O’Leary said “Aside of the general unsuitability of the site in terms of being surrounded by high investment research and educational facilities, it is absolutely ludicrous to consider building a waste incinerator on a crumbling coastline. As a community we are not looking forward to once again being forced to condense and analyse 3 years of Indaver’s work in a mere 6 week period.”
This will be Indaver’s third planning application for the Ringaskiddy site since plans to construct a toxic waste incinerator were first announced in early 2001.