News from down the country

national | environment | news report Saturday February 21, 2009 21:57 by Contaminated Crow

A natural gas pipeline, an incinerator, a golf development, a windfarm, pylons and a farmer factory

An Bord Pleanala has given Shannon LNG permission for a 25km natural gas pipeline from its proposed LNG terminal in Kerry to a link to the national gas grid in Foynes, Co. Limerick. An Bord Pleanala had received 19 submissions on the application including one from the Kilcolgan Residents’ Association. (Kerry’s Eye 19/2/09, p.4).

Energy Answers International (EAI) may appeal against An Bord Pleanala’s refusal of its planned incinerator near Kill, Co. Kildare or submit a new application. Local opposition group PRO Liam McDermott has attacked EAI claims that the refusal led to the loss of up to 380 jobs. (Leinster Leader 19/2/08, p.7).

Despite receiving more than 300 objections Waterford County Council has granted permission for a proposed 150 million Euro golf course, hotel, golf lodges and houses between Garrarus and Kilfarassey, near Tramore, to Islandkane Developments Ltd. The Garrarus and District Concerned Residents (GDCR) intends appealing to An Bord Pleanala. A GDCR spokesperson said the development ‘is an excuse to build executive houses on one of the most pristine parts of our coastline’ while noting ‘the residents are not alone in opposing the development. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Birdwatch Ireland, the Irish Wildlife Trust and An Taisce have also objected and have, in no uncertain terms, spelled out the many compelling arguments as to why this development is not only unsuitable but fundamentally and irrevocably damaging to the area.’ (Waterford News and Star 17/2/09, p.3).

28 submissions were received by Clare County Council in relation to the planning application by SWS Energy Ltd. for an eight-turbine windfarm at Loughaun North, Tulla, Co. Clare, including a submission in opposition by a group of concerned youth from Killanena/Flagmount. (Clare Champion 20/2/09, p. 2.14).

North East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) has rejected a report prepared for EirGrid which claims the cost of undergrunding the proposed North-South InterConnector as seven times more expensive than routing the line on overground pylons. According to NEPP ‘The report grossly overestimates the cost of operating an underground system and goes in the face of international expert opinion that, while underground may be more costly to build, it is always cheaper to operate than overhead. We utterly reject the assertion that underground is more costly to build and operate than overhead.’ (Anglo-Celt 19/2/09, p.7).

A Clare county councilor who alleged that a representative of Zinc Properties, who are attempting to have the former Burlington factory rezoned for heavy industrial use, threatened to hire a PR company to dismantle his local election campaign if he did not support rezoning, has received assurances from Financial Dynamics, Zinc Properties’ PR company, that they had neither been instructed to undertake, nor would they recommend undertaking, such a campaign. (Limerick Leader 21/2/09, p. 2).