New small ponds to be created in wetlands area
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THE creation of a number of small pools, near the Tallaght Wetlands area and an existing pond, to facilitate additional breeding areas for the common frog, has been recommended to South Dublin County Council by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
It has been recommended that the local authority carries out these interim measures, following on from an incident where the wetlands were damaged last year after silt was erroneously spread on the biodiversity-rich area.
The wetlands in Sean Walsh Park damaged
The council stated last year that the spreading of silt across the wetlands came about as a result of “miscommunication” between themselves and an operator.
However, the council has been advised to carry out the works to facilitate breeding areas for the common frog, and excavation work on the development of four shallow pools is expected to begin this month.
The local authority heritage officer will supervise the works, and small-scale investigation works will also be carried out at the site at a later date to establish the water table in the locality, in order to inform rehabilitation options for the wetlands.
Fianna Fáil councillor for Tallaght Central, Charlie O’Connor, told The Echo: “At the time when the issue emerged with the wetlands a lot of people were concerned about it.
Collie Ennis at the wetlands pointing at the spreading of silt
“I think it’s important that South Dublin County Council keeps us updated in dealing with the concerns which were expressed by the community at the time [when the wetlands were damaged].”
