€675,000 OPW funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme
Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins has welcomed the green lighting of a €1 million stormwater project at Duckspool which will expand the Tournore detention pond, thereby reducing the fluvial risk to surrounding properties. The Office of Public Works has committed €675,000 to the project with a €325,000 contribution from Waterford City & County Council which includes items such as land acquisition costs and design fees.
In their submission to the OPW, Waterford City and County Council estimated that up to 312 properties were within the CFRAMS climate change flood map, as well as two access roads including the R675 which justified the value of the project. The Proposed Works entail lowering the area to circa 0.5mAOD to maximise the attenuation capacity of the existing detention pond. To achieve this, it is expected that circa 30,000m3 of material will be removed from the site.
Senator Cummins said “In late 2021, I had Minister Patrick O’Donovan visit a number of projects in Waterford, including the Duckspool area of Dungarvan. The importance of this detention pond project and a further associated project which relates to the flood wall enhancement were discussed with senior engineer Gabriel Hynes. Since then, I have been working with Minister O’Donovan and local councillors Pat Nugent and Damien Geoghegan to ensure these projects can progress”.
“It is my understanding that Waterford City and County Council will be in a position to appoint the main contractor for this project relatively quickly and that works will commence on site in the coming weeks.
Senator Cummins added “The risk of flooding, particularly in our coastal communities is something which is of real concern to many individuals and families who will be potentially impacted. It is something that has been raised with me by residents while canvasing in Sallybrook and Tournore in recent times and these works should alleviate some of their concerns, however there are further works to do, particularly with regards to the flood wall enhancement works along the Clonea Road.”
Senator Cummins concluded by saying “Now that this first project has been approved and funded by the OPW, it is my intention to get Minister O’Donovan back down to visit the site once works commence and reiterate the importance of the other schemes which Waterford City and County Council are seeking to progress in this and other areas of the county”.