That this Area Committee agrees that the Area Manager once and for all deals with the awful condition of the sandbags on the Clontarf seafront and say what measures can be taken to address the concerns of constituents who feel our area is being left in a dreadful state with filthy sandbags etc. lining our beautiful seafront and promenade and can the area manager make a detailed statement of how they intend to put matters right at this stage.
Minutes:
That this Area Committee agrees that the Area Manager once and for all deals with the awful condition of the sandbags on the Clontarf seafront and say what measures can be taken to address the concerns of constituents who feel our area is being left in a dreadful state with filthy sandbags etc. lining our beautiful seafront and promenade and can the area manager make a detailed statement of how they intend to put matters right at this stage.
Reply:
In February 2002, Dublin City experienced an extreme tide event causing extensive flooding across the city including along the coast road in Clontarf. Sea levels in Dublin Bay are estimated to be rising at a much higher rate than current average climate-change predictions of mean Sea Level Rise. In January 2014 an extreme tide occurred which was c. 65mm higher than the 2002 event. It is estimated that 400 properties are at immediate risk of coastal flooding in Clontarf over a distance of c. 3km between the Alfie Byrne Road and the Bull Wall. Pending the implementation of permanent flood defences, temporary flood defences are required to protect these 400 properties. These temporary defences involve the deployment of large and small sand bags.
For various reasons, notice of coastal flooding can be as little as 24-48 hours giving the City Council very limited time to react. Coastal flooding warnings also affect the southern part of Dublin Bay (Merrion/Sandymount) and often impact the tidal sections of rivers requiring flood gates to be closed along the Dodder and Tolka Rivers and potentially along the Liffey Quays. In such circumstances, it would simply be impossible to deploy the temporary flood defences to Clontarf from storage on foot of a flood warning. They must be in place all year round so as to be immediately available to protect properties in the event of a coastal flood event.
Dublin City Council Drainage Maintenance are responsible for maintaining the sandbags at Clontarf. Typically weeds/vegetation in and around the large sand bags are cut back 4 times per year. Additionally the sand bags are continuously re-bagged every 1½ to 2 years as they naturally deteriorate over time. DCC DM carried out re-bagging of a proportion of the sand bags at the end of last year, and will resume re-bagging in the coming weeks. As part of this work DCC Drainage will inspect the various sand-bag locations to identify any additional measures that can be taken to improve the appearance of the area.
Contact: Robert McNally, Executive Engineer
Tel: 222 3646
Email: robert.mcnally@dublincity.ie
Order: Agreed. Cllr. Heney queried if there is a possibility of filling heavy duty recycled plastic bags with water? Could we revisit the idea of a temporary barrier in front of the businesses & households with the above to improve the appearance of the area?
Robert McNally stated that he is happy to consider any alternatives to replace the sandbags and would be pleased to meet with any of the members on site.
Cllr. O’Farrell & O’Muirí supported the motion also and would be please to meet on site.
Cllr. Cooney stated she is disappointed that the flood defences didn’t happen in tandem with the installation of the cycleway. Could management please inform and update the public reps on the progress of the permanent flood defences.
Gerard O’Connell joined the meeting and confirmed that in relation to the Clontarf Flood Defences, his section are preparing contract documents to procure a consultant to progress the scheme to planning stage & which will go to the relevant departments (City Architects, Active Travel, Parks & Irish Water) for review over the next few weeks. A meeting will then be organised with the ward councillors, residents and businesses hopefully in mid-September. The Clontarf Ward councillors collectively look forward to this meeting. Cllr. Heney raised the issue of the sandbags with Gerard O’Connell as realistically, there won’t be permanent flood defences implemented for at least two years. Gerard O’Connell stated that he would certainly look into alternatives in the short term.