Plans move forward to clear long-derelict Tipperary site after 2,000 responses from public
Plans to clear and redevelop a long-derelict site in south Tipperary have taken another step forward.
Tipperary County Council is currently examining options to bring the former Goldcrop site in Carrick-on-Suir back into use, with a public consultation yielding more than 2,000 responses about the future of the site.
At the March meeting of the Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District, district director Brian Beck said that further funding had been applied for to maximise the work that can be done.
The local authority was awarded €1.2million under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which Mr Beck says won’t be enough to clear the entire site.
"As councillors are aware, we applied for, and got money under the URDF – just over €1.2million, so we made a subsequent application now under the Just Transition Fund for the Goldcrop site.
"The €1.2million that we got under the URDF allocation won’t clear the entirety of the site, so the district has lodged an expression of interest for the latest call of Just Transition,” Mr Beck said.
This funding would amount to just over €1.25million, the district director said, and would enable more demolition work to be done on the site.
Fianna Fáil councillor Kieran Bourke said that the push for a second tranche of funding is good news, and questioned what it would cost to entirely clear the site.
"That’s great news, and compliments. It’s a sign of the hard work that you do on all these applications.
"Have you any idea of a rough estimate of cost to clear the site fully?” Cllr Bourke asked.
In response, Mr Beck said he didn’t have an exact figure, but the amount of hazardous material on the site would drive up the costs.
"A large part of the cost is trying to get rid of contaminants on the site. There’s an awful lot of asbestos, and the rules have changed for asbestos disposal recently, and costings have gone up on it,” Mr Beck explained.
"We’re also carrying out an examination of any contaminants there might be in the ground itself,” he added.
"My greatest concern is trying to ascertain what the costs are for the contaminants, because we have to be very, very careful to dispose of them correctly, not to get them mixed up with the general rubble. If there’s any contaminants in the general rubble, the cost goes up again, so we’ll need specialist contractors,” Mr Beck said.
It is hoped that a contractor will be on-site later this year to start the demolition, councillors were told.