Businesses to fight tooth and nail to oppose storage facility
By Maurice Garvey
GREENOGUE is one of five locations in Dublin proposed for the location of an Irish Water greater Dublin regional biosolid storage facility – but businesses in the area have vowed to “fight tooth and nail” to oppose such a move.
The biosolid facility is required to treat wastewater sludge from the Ringsend plant so that it is free of bacteria and viruses.
The proposed location for the facility in Greenogue lies on a 30 acre site across the road from Greenogue and Aerodrome Business Parks (GABP).
Managing Director of GABP Con McCarthy says businesses there are “openly opposed” to the proposal.
“We will do everything we possibly can to oppose this,” said Mr McCarthy.
“It is completely in the wrong location. GABP is home to 450 businesses and 6,000 employees. The business parks here are attractive, successful, almost full up, but to have something like this in close proximity is unacceptable.
He continued: “We will fight this tooth and nail. Nobody was made aware of this until there was a notice in the paper. We were not consulted and have serious concerns about the effects on air quality.”
Clondalkin Fianna Fáil Councillor Trevor Gilligan, supports the concerns by the GABP and submitted an objection to Irish Water.
“The proposed land is zoned for employment, but this biosolid proposal will only create five jobs,” said Cllr Gilligan.
“You already have 6,000 people employed in the Greenogue business parks, not to mention the close proximity to Peamount Hospital, villages in Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart, and the local business community who are against this proposal.”
Irish Water identified five sites for the region, including Greengoue, and sites in Fingal and Meath, and undertook a five week period of non-statutory consultation.
An Irish Water spokesperson said open day consultations were held in each of the areas, including an open day in Citywest on May 24.
“They were all fairly well attended,” said the spokesperson.
“The sites chosen are on land zoned for industrial use, but this is a consultation period, and we welcome all views good or bad.”
Ultimately, the choice of a preferred site will be submitted as part of the planning application for the upgrade of the Ringsend wastewater plant.
