540 Million Eco Park Planned for Garryhinch

AN ambitious water based eco-park on 500 acres, with a major water storage reservoir at a cut-away bog in Garryhinch, is the recommended solution to finding a new water source for the greater Dublin area.

The project, on the Laois/Offaly border, would cost an estimated €540 million and generate an estimated 1,000 construction jobs for three years, in addition to generating ongoing sustainable long term jobs in the midlands managing the eco-park activities and a water plant.

Consultants for Dublin City Council, RPS and Veolia Water, have recommended that a total of nine counties, including the four Dublin local authority areas could benefit from the eco-park, with the reservoir water being taken from the River Shannon at Lough Derg during periods of flood and high flows only, when there is more than enough water in the lake for all users. It would be stored at the new water eco-park, from where it could be used during periods of low flows in the Shannon.

Bord na Mna, owners of Garryhinch Bog, have expressed their commitment to support the project as it is in line with their green energy vision, their Lough Boora Park developments and their plans to create new sustainable jobs in the Midlands. The Lough Boora Park in Offaly has proven to be a very successful tourism project between Tullamore and Ferbane.

Bord Na Mona has recently received approval for new wind generated energy to supply up to 45,000 homes and this could see this renewable energy source being used to power the midlands eco park.

The consultants suggest that the eco-park would be constructed along the lines of the well known UK Rutland Water and Eco-park in east Anglia. It already attracts over a million visitors annually and includes water sports, boating, fishing and an internationally renowned bird sanctuary.

The recommendation is the culmination of research and consultation over the last six years, according to Tom Leahy, Executive Manager, Dublin City Council.

"The midlands would gain a permanent innovative water based tourism amenity that would also rehabilitate the existing cutaway bog. It will also provide a large number of jobs, both during construction and on-going local jobs in the water treatment plant, managing the eco-park and promoting it as a top leisure and tourist amenity," he said.

An Environmental Impact Statement process will be undertaken next, before a planning application is made to An Bord Pleanla and further and full statutory public consultation takes place.

An Bord Pleanla will make the decision on the project, which will require funding from Government