Flood defence workshops ahead of public consultation

A flood prevention workshop for businesses takes place in Cork tomorrow ahead of a public consultation later this month on a new flood defence system for the city.

Improved river defences, facilities for storing floodwater and changes to the way that Cork’s dams operate are some of the options for a major scheme, due to be put on public display shortly.

Tomorrow Cork Business Association, along with the city council, is holding a number of workshops in City Hall aimed at the business community.

Free to attend, the workshops are designed to help and advise business owners and managers on the systems they need to put in place to protect their premises.

City Hall officials along with flood repair specialists will be on hand to discuss concerns.

Cork Business Association members, affected by flooding earlier this year, will also explain what steps they have taken to protect their premises.

The association’s chief executive, Lawrence Owens, said: “It is essential all business owners/managers are informed as soon as possible on the issue of flood prevention, as it is inevitable we will experience flooding again in the city centre, so we strongly recommend that every organisation sends a representative to one of these workshops.”

The workshops will last 90 minutes and will be held at 9.30am, 11.30am or 2.30pm. To register, interested parties can contact Cork Business Association via email: [e-mail] or call 021-4278295.

Meanwhile, a public information day on the flood proposals will be held at City Hall on July 29.

A December date has been set as a deadline for the final scheme to be unveiled. It is anticipated flood designs will strongly recommend improvements to the quay walls in Cork city centre. Minor flood barriers and earth embankments at points downstream from the Inniscarra dam are also thought to feature in the proposals.

The splitting of the water flow between the north and south channel of the Lee are also being considered as will the pumping of floodwater and an overhaul of the flood warning system.

Consultant engineering company Arups are preparing the proposals.

The purpose of the planned information day is to provide an overview of the emerging scheme. Along with traders, many homeowners have suffered devastating damage in recent years.