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The Office of Public Works (OPW) has released new images of its proposed flood defense scheme in Cork that, it says, demonstrate once again that views of the River Lee will not be blocked as critics of the scheme have claimed.
The design team said the latest images, which include views of Lee Fields, Sunday’s Well, Sullivan’s Quay, French’s Quay and the Grand Parade, confirm the commitment they made after various stages of public consultation on Lower flood relief. Lee of 150 million euros. schema (LLFRS) that would reflect, on an ongoing basis, the various design changes that would emerge as the design evolved.
The agency also confirmed that these images represent the final design proposals for these areas and will form part of the formal submission to the Minister of Finance for consideration for approval of the scheme, the largest investment in flood defenses in the state’s history. in the middle of next year.
The latest images show “before and after” views of various areas and show how:
- in Sunday’s Well, the existing quay wall will be rebuilt and widened to protect the road from flooding and how one of eight new river access points will be built on the Mardyke across the river;
- portions of Lee Fields will be landscaped to incorporate flood defense berms, with improved plantings to promote biodiversity, and how a new riverside shelter with a living roof is proposed in a new mini-plaza area.
- The historic railings at Sullivan’s Quay will be preserved, with removable barriers deployed only during flood warnings.
“The images again show that the views of the river are not restricted or its use restricted, as has been stated. In fact, there will be more access points for river users once the plan is carried out, ”said a spokesman for the LLFRS design team.
“Among the many misrepresentations of what the plan actually proposes is the claim that the walls of French’s Wharf would be torn down. This is completely wrong. All that is proposed is the repair, cleaning and grouting of the existing dock walls.
“As can be seen from the images, there is no effect on the view and enjoyment of the river.
“Further east of the South Gate Bridge, the view from Grand Parade to Sullivan’s Quay shows that the historic dock railings will remain as they will be at North Mall, where they will also be fully exposed for the first time in years. Statements to the contrary are again simply wrong. ”
The LLFRS, which has been in development for over a decade, faces strong opposition from the Save Cork City (SCC) campaign group, calling it a “wall scheme.”
He has repeatedly called for the construction of a tidal barrier in the lower harbor.
The OPW examined this option and now scrapped it for cost, environmental and technical reasons, saying that even if a tidal barrier is required in time, elevated quay walls will also be required.
SCC has presented legal challenges that have delayed the delivery of two public domain schemes in Cork City, which have flood defense elements.
He has challenged the city’s southern docks road improvement plan and is currently filing a challenge in High Court over An Bórd Pleanála’s decision last June to approve Morrison’s Island’s public domain and defense plan against € 6 million flood, which has been designed to eliminate approximately 80% of the flood threat in the city center.
Following the devastating October flood event, SCC asked the city to provide temporary flood defenses on Morrison’s Island even though it has opposed LLFRS’s proposal to use removable flood barriers on North Mall.
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