New rain garden to purify rainwater run-off unveiled in Cobh

Students from Gaelscoile Sheain Ui Eigeartaigh, Bunscoil Rinn an Chabhlaigh, Cobh, St Joseph's National School, Cobh and St Mary's NS Cobh with members of the council, project team and tidy town committee at the launch of the rain garden at East Beach in Cobh today. Photo: Colm Lougheed

A new rain garden designed to capture and purify rainwater run-off from roads and footpaths has been unveiled in a Cork harbour town.

The ‘green drainage system' at East Beach in Cobh will test and monitor the quality of rainwater run-off and special bio-retention soils and plants that have been chosen as natural filters to clean dirty water before it's released into waterways or the sea.

Built by the local tidy towns group and Cork County Council, the €2m four-year project is part of a national ‘nature-based solution’ pilot project looking at using urban trees and rain gardens to help manage rainwater run-off in urban areas.

It not only reduces flood risk, but also enhances water quality, fosters biodiversity, and improves the built environment, experts say. The project was unveiled by Minister of State, Malcolm Noonan, and Green Party Cllr Alan O’Connor, deputising for the mayor of Cork County.

The next step is a permanent rain garden at Westbourne Place and Five-Foot way which will be delivered as part of the town’s public realm upgrade.

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Mr Noonan met local school children who have been involved in educational workshops about nature-based solutions, biodiversity and who have been giving their views on where these kinds of systems can be deployed in their town.

Mr O'Connor thanked members of the Cobh Tidy Towns and primary school children for playing such a pivotal role in promoting and implementing the rain garden demonstrator.

“Projects such as this will encourage people to live, work and reconnect with nature in the heritage town centre of Cobh,” he said.

(Left to right): David Stanton TD, Giulia Vallone (Senior Architect CPIU, Cork County Council), Minister Malcolm Noonan TD (Minister of State for Heritage & Electoral Reform), Aminita Kanaze (St. Mary's NS Cobh), Valerie O’Sullivan (deputising for Chief Executive, Cork County Council), Cllr Alan O'Connor (Deputising for the Mayor of the County of Cork), Izzy Lee, Cllr Sheila O'Callaghan, Cliona O'Halloran (Local Candidate), Cllr Sinéad Sheppard and Mary McSweeney (Cork County Council) at the launch of the rain garden at East Beach in Cobh today. Photo: Colm Lougheed

Valerie O’Sullivan, the divisional manager for South Cork, said: “Nature-based solutions such as these form a vital part of the transformational Cobh public realm plan that weaves nature back into the fabric of the town and aims to mitigate the effects of climate change."

The public realm upgrade aims to create a greener, more pedestrian-friendly and inclusive environment, with works focused in six key zones, including Annie Moore Place, the waterfront promenade, the two town squares, and East Beach.

The scheme, which secured Part 8 planning, will see the construction of wider footpaths, pedestrian-friendly zones, new plazas, and a public stage to create greener, more people-friendly streets.

It will free-up space for outdoor events and includes 50% more seating and spaces for more than 200 bikes. The council is working on the detailed design of the scheme and hopes to apply for funding under the next round of Urban Regeneration and Development Funding.