That this North Central Area Committee agrees that a detailed report on the holding of concerts in St. Annes Park be issued by management and that such report will include
(a) Commitment to carry out an EIS on the holding of future concerts in St. Anne’s Park
(b) Reasons why concerts are held in St. Anne’s Park in the first instance
(c) The reasons for the lack of an EIS to date as the issue is of local concern, in particular the negative effects the noise pollution is having on wildlife, including the several weeks of heavy vehicles trundling through the park during the bird breeding season
(d) The chosen location of the stage and its possible relocation to a less sensitive space
(e) The possibility of holding these concerts, (if same are to be held at all) at a later time of the year, post bird breeding season, in order to protect same.
Minutes:
That this North Central Area Committee agrees that a detailed report on the holding of concerts in St. Annes Park be issued by management and that such report will include
(a) Commitment to carry out an EIS on the holding of future concerts in St. Anne’s Park
(b) Reasons why concerts are held in St. Anne’s Park in the first instance
(c) The reasons for the lack of an EIS to date as the issue is of local concern, in particular the negative effects the noise pollution is having on wildlife, including the several weeks of heavy vehicles trundling through the park during the bird breeding season
(d) The chosen location of the stage and its possible relocation to a less sensitive space
(e) The possibility of holding these concerts, (if same are to be held at all) at a later time of the year, post bird breeding season, in order to protect same.
Reply
(a) Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) are required under EU law for large developments with the potential for significant impacts on the environment and are not applicable to such events or concerts. DCC Parks commissioned a qualified, consulting ecologist to carry out monitoring of protected species before, during and after the concerts last year and again this year. The report into the 2022 monitoring concluded that there were no impacts on the protected wildlife in the park. The 2022 report has been shared with the Area Committee. The environmental monitoring and mitigation methods put in place during the series of concerts last year and again this summer have been discussed and agreed with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. A supplemental report outlining the proposals for monitoring of the concerts this year drafted by the Biodiversity Officer has also been shared with this committee. The final report of the environmental monitoring for the 2023 series of concerts by the consulting ecologist will be available in the coming weeks and will be forwarded once complete.
(b) St. Anne’s is considered a good location for such events as it has a suitable event space, the necessary infrastructure and good transport links.
(c) An EIS was not carried out as they are not relevant to such events as concerts. As outdoor concerts in public parks have been held in Ireland for many years the impacts on wildlife are well understood and appropriate mitigations and monitoring can be put in place. St. Anne’s Park is a very busy park with huge numbers of visitors and vehicle movements associated with ongoing management and events such as the weekly market. The wildlife in the park is considered to be somewhat habituated to levels of disturbance.
(d) The stage and concert area is considered the most appropriate location in the park as the area is large enough for events of this scale, the ground is flat, the necessary fire hydrants are accessible and there is a good path network to the stage and back stage areas for site build and take-down. The area also has been de-compacted and top-dressed after each event improving the drainage and the carrying capacity of the area. Other similarly sized flat spaces in the park are taken up with sports pitches and while the weather has been very good for the last two series of concerts if the weather was wet this would result in significant damage to pitches and take them out of action for a considerable period while repairs were affected. Also other similarly sized spaces in the park are nearer the periphery and nearby housing which would no doubt increase the impacts on local residents.
(e) The timing of concerts is not dictated by the Council nor indeed the promoter but by the availability of these international acts. Many of these acts and artists choose to commence their European summer tours in the UK and Ireland before leaving for the continent where there is a well-established tour of festivals and concerts. This is the reason there is a huge number of outdoor concerts and events around the country in June and very few later in the year.
Contact: Fergus O’Carroll, Senior Executive Parks Superintendent
Tel: 222 6625
Email: parks@dublincity.ie
Order: Noted.