Council seeks permission to proceed with €56m flood prevention project in Midleton

Up to 18 months before An Coimisiún Pleanálain makes a decision on Midleton project

Flooding in Midleton, Co Cork, in October 2023. It was reported that 27% of all properties in the town which need flood barriers have had them installed to date. File picture

Cork County Council is to apply to An Coimisiún Pleanála in September for permission to proceed with plans for a €56m flood prevention project in Midleton.

Acting county engineer Brendan Meagher said the preferred option includes upstream storage, public realm works, direct defences, and groundwater control measures.

Mr Meagher gave these details and progress on a number of other similar projects around the county at a meeting of the council’s Southern Division in County Hall.

He said it could take up to 18 months before An Coimisiún Pleanála makes a decision on the Midleton project.

Mr Meagher said a number of tenders are live on e-tenders for procurement of barriers for the larger and more complex openings by river channels, with tenders due back at the end of this week.

A first delivery of these barriers is due in the next fortnight. Civil works contracts will separately be appointed to allow for the larger barrier installation.

Mr Meagher added that 27% of all properties in the town which need flood barriers have had them installed to date.

Details of the separate Tír Cluain Flood Defence Project, which is specifically for the advance works at the Knockgriffin and Broomfield West areas of the town will be presented to county councillors at a meeting in County Hall next Monday.

A consultant will be appointed at the end of March or early April to draw up plans for flood defences in Castlemartyr and Mogeely.

Interim flood storage

Mr Meagher said there is potential for interim flood storage solution on the River Kiltha upstream of Castlemartyr. This is under investigation and will be dependent on land owner agreement and engagement continues with them.

The council is now seeking alternative funding streams for a €1.6m flood defence scheme in the village of Crookstown after a setback.

The OPW would only give it a little over €300,000 for some minor works as it was decided there was no cost benefit in a bigger project.

Mr Meagher said the council is considering alternative sources of funding for this project, including the climate change adaptation and resilience grant and Department of Transport specific improvement grants.

“The project is currently on hold until funding sources are confirmed,” he added.

Fine Gael councillor Ted Lucey bemoaned that the Crookstown project has been “stop, go, stop” for the last 15 years and the village can’t grow until it is completed.

Meanwhile, Mr Meagher reported that a project being carried for the council by UCC, which is aimed at mapping areas under threat from coastal erosion, is almost complete and will be used to get OPW funding for immediate works required.

A second report by UCC, which will focus on areas which could come under threat up until 2050, is expected to be ready by March.

Mayor of Co Cork Mary Linehan-Foley said her hometown of Youghal is suffering more than most from coastal erosion and said she is concerned that it has gotten so bad that Moll Goggin’s Corner could fall into the sea.