2015 before communities get solution to sea lettuce

SEA lettuce will continue to wreak havoc in Courtmacsherry bay until a proper waste water treatment plant is commissioned in the area — and that will not happen until at least 2015.

That’s according to Cllr John O’Sullivan (FG) who has accused Minister for the Environment John Gormley of being “literally for the birds”.

“It has taken the minister just seven months to comply with European habitat directives that bring into effect a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds in Courtmacsherry Bay.

“Yet the communities of Courtmacsherry and Timoleague have waited seven years since the initial announcement of a sewerage treatment plant for the area to comply with European Water Quality Directive — and they are still waiting,” the Fine Gael councillor said.

Excessive use of nitrates such as fertiliser have been blamed for feeding the explosion of se lettuce which is, in fact, an algae.

A treatment plant would remove much of the nitrate content before waste water is released into the sea.

Mr O’Sullivan said the county council had completed all the design work but the project was being held up by the Department of the Environment.

“The target completion date of 2015 is cold comfort to the local communities who have repeatedly seen the targeted delivery date moved back. We’ve been here on a few occasions before, most recently with a target completion date of 2009.

“We’ve been let down time and again,” the councillor said.

A task force has been set up to deal with the sea lettuce issue.

A county council spokeswoman said an ecologist and beach clean-up services had since been procured.

She added over 20 clean ups had been undertaken in Harbour View, Inchydoney and Coolmaine.

“Pilot tests are underway to assess various methods of sea lettuce collection and its feasibility as a resource in a variety of renewable markets, such as fertiliser, anaerobic digestion, composting, as a bio fuel, and as an ingredient in animal feed production,” she said.

Mr O’Sullivan said he welcomed all environmental initiatives.

However, he said there was a stark difference in the speed of Mr Gormley’s response to the needs of birds as against the needs of people, especially those whose tourist-orientated businesses could suffer as a result of the sea lettuce.