Deadline extended for Killarney park proposals 

The deadline for submissions to Kerry County council on a proposal by the National Parks and Wildlife Service for a roadway and car park to allow greater access into one of the most sensitive and highly protected areas of the Killarney National Park has been pushed out until Monday.

The proposal is coming before councillors by way of material contravention because the county development plan designates the area prime special amenity. The original closing date for submissions had been today.

The access will eventually result from part of a looped walkway around the largest of the Killarney lakes, which is being promoted by tourism interests.

However, the opening up of the eastern edge of the park is vehemently opposed by environmental organisations, and residents and walkers are also concerned.

The proposal by the NPWS is a 1km roadway and car park for 28 vehicles to access the ancient Oakwoods and rarely glimpsed waterfall at Tomies mountain in the western edge of Lough Leane, the biggest of the Killarney lakes.

The remote area is also where the white-tailed sea eagle nests.

The material contravention move by management will require three-quarters of councillors to vote for the proposal, but it will be voted on at the municipal district rather than the full council, it has been confirmed.

This will mean six of the eight councillors will have to vote for the project.

The new entrance is to “allow full public access”, according to the NPWS. Currently, access is through private farm lands and no dogs are allowed.

However, the road will dramatically increase visitor numbers to one of the park’s most remote areas, both the Friends of the Irish Environment and An Taisce have said.

Friends of the Irish Environment said that “the access will degrade the highly protected woods and core Unesco biosphere reserve a wilderness area composed of a mosaic of wildlife habitats”.

In a detailed submission following site visits, group spokesman Tony Lowes said they were strongly urging councillors to reject the proposals. Existing arrangements are sufficient, he said.

“The purpose of this proposal is to facilitate vehicular access to the heart of one of Europe and Ireland’s most sensitive nature conservation sites — O’Sullivan’s cascade, Tomies woodland, and the Lough Leane shore,” said Mr Lowes.

“This site is unique within Ireland. It is a national park, a Special Area of Conservation, a special protection area for birds, a natural heritage area, and core areas of a Unesco biosphere reserve. It is defined in the management plan as ‘a wilderness area composed of a mosaic of wildlife habitats’.

“People pressure should be kept to a minimum in the more remote areas of the national park.”

Killarney Nature Conservation has also made a submission.

A spokesman for the planning authority said that while the close of submissions was today, the council was extending the deadline to close of business on Monday.

Ten submissions have been received so far and the vote is scheduled to take place early in the New Year.