Flood defence plan - A never-ending challenge

Efforts to make the centre of Cork City less vulnerable to regular, devastating flooding have been ongoing, more or less since Sisyphus was a boy. 

Those efforts, like the Greek king’s never-ending challenge, have been only partially successful and more is needed. The opportunity for public comment on the latest plan to keep the waters off the streets ends this Friday.

Business organisations support a €140m defence plan, which is essentially a series of higher quay walls allied to a structure that might control the rate of water reaching the city from the upstream river at times of high tides.

However, the Save Cork City group will oppose the plan as it stands, arguing that it would dramatically change the face of the city and ruin its relationship with the River Lee’s north and south channels.

It is entirely understandable that businesses should want a quick solution to an issue that has all too often threatened their existence. That will almost inevitably mean compromise and possibly unattractive solutions.

In an ideal world, the Save Cork City proposals around a tidal barrier in Cork Harbour and a range of upstream catchment measures would be possible in the short term.

Whatever conclusion is reached this time it is important to begin work immediately on a far grander scheme because if climate change continues, far more radical options will have to be considered.

This is indeed one of today’s Sisyphean tasks.