Concerns raised over water quality oversight in Tipperary planning process
The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), which works with local authorities to improve and protect water quality, should be consulted on developments that may have an impact on water quality in Tipperary.
That’s according to independent councillor Liam Browne who said he can’t believe that LAWPRO don’t have a statutory say in developments across the county.
Speaking at the most recent meeting of the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District, Cllr Browne said that he had encountered a number of planning applications in the last few months that had the possibility of impacting on the quality of waterways.
“Two developments with the possibility of having ramifications on water quality came up in the last four or five months - the anaerobic digester outside Tipperary town and the windfarms in Carrow - and in both of those cases, locals came to me saying that these projects, if they go ahead could have a significant impact on local rivers and waterways,” he said.
“We looked at the chief executive’s report for the project in Carrow, and there was very little mention of water quality, except to say it was good.
“It is good now, but what I’m worried about is what it will be like if those projects go ahead. People spoke to LAWPRO and they knew nothing about that project, even though it will have a huge effect on the Multeen River,” Cllr Browne said.
The independent councillor called on LAWPRO to be proactive when planning applications for large infrastructure developments are put in if they’re going to look after water quality.
In response, a representative from LAWPRO said that the agency aren’t asked for comments on proposed developments, and to comment wouldn’t be part of their remit.
“We’re not a statutory agency, so we’re not asked for comment, and we don’t comment because it’s not part of what we do, it would be a planning issue,” the meeting was told.
“I can’t believe an answer like that, that water quality is a planning issue,” Cllr Browne said.
“There must be some way that we can go to the planning department and say ‘you have to talk to LAWPRO’ because there’s no point coming back five years after something has been built and then complaining about the water quality,” Cllr Browne said.
District director Damien Ginty said that a change to the legislation would be needed to give LAWPRO the power to comment on planning applications.