Major Tipperary biomass plant gets green light on appeal despite local objections
Planning permission for a major biomass energy project in Tipperary has been given the go ahead by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Tipperary County Council had granted permission to Nua Bioenergy to construct an anaerobic digestion plant at the former Lisheen Mine Site, near Thurles, which was then appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP).
Nua Bioenergy Limited sought planning permission for the construction of an anaerobic digestion plant consisting of four primary digester tanks, each measuring 7.6 m in height.
There will be three secondary digester tanks, along with the four primaries, each measuring 14.5m in height, along with four feed hoppers, four technical rooms, two biogas conditioning units, and process, storage and buffer tanks of various heights.
These components will be located within a containment bund constructed 3m below ground level. The proposed development will also consist of feedstock storage comprised of three storage clamps and two 500 sqm storage sheds.
The plans also include a single storey bio-based fertiliser processing and storage unit of 3,890 sqm, including a digestate dewatering plant, fertiliser pasteurisation plant and bio-based fertiliser loading facilities.
Additionally, there will be a single storey office building of 105 sqm, including offices, a meeting room, control room, laboratory, welfare facilities, a storeroom and a first-aid facility, along with bin storage.
The plant was appealed by a number of local residents, who had concerns about the potential devaluation of property, that the air quality in the area would be negatively impacted, and that there would be a risk of flooding of fields in the area.
A landowner near the site, TJ Maher, said that the proposed plant would devalue his land in Moyne, which he plans on using for his children.
"My land will be greatly devalued due to the proximity of the proposed facility,” he wrote.
"We have two sites with potential for a family of four siblings. This is vital to allow us to get our children on the property market in these trying times.
"We propose that a more amenable site, away from potential dwelling house sites and land boundaries can be identified,” he added.
Mr Maher also raised concerns about smells from the plant, saying that while the community is used to agricultural odours, they would not be happy with industrial odours.
"We are accustomed to odours from agricultural activities, but wish to state our objection to the intrusion of industrial odours/ammonia emissions into our everyday environment,” he added.
Other residents, Philip and Mary Browne, who also live close to the proposed site lodged an appeal on the grounds that the development is “not appropriate” for the Lisheen Mine site.
"We have lived close to Lisheen Mines for many years and since its closure there has been a welcome reduction in noise, traffic and other environmental nuisances,” they said.
"Odours emanating from the digester and adjacent feedstock shed and open silos would reach our dwelling and garden and detract from our quality of life and the quality of the air."
Despite these conditions, the ACP inspector recommended that planning permission be granted, subject to 15 conditions.
Among the conditions are that the site not exceed 98,000 tonnes of feedstock per year, and that an annual report on the operation of the plant be submitted to Tipperary County Council.