Portlaoise roadworks starting for new €140,000 rainwater garden
As Storm Austen approaches, another flood prevention flowerbed is planned for Portlaoise.
The pretty but also functional rainwater gardens in the centre of Portlaoise are to multiply, but it is costing a pretty penny too.
The flower beds along the centre of James Fintan Lalor Avenue are designed to take rainwater off the road, preventing floods and pollution of the River Triogue. The first ones were installed a year ago.
Now work is about to start on another, replacing more paving down the centre of the road. This time it will be installed between JFL Avenue roundabout and the pedestrian crossing to Laois shopping centre.
Roadworks will begin on October 28 and last about a month, with some disruption to traffic.
Laois County Council Director of Services Simon Walton praised his staff for getting state funding for phase two.
“Congratulations to Portlaoise Municipal District roads office on securing €140,000 for the expansion of the rainwater harvesting biodiversity planting on JFL Avenue,” he said.
Lisa Doyle, Laois Biodiversity Officer, said that the beds came about after council staff got training in nature based solutions in 2025.
“Since then you may drive by JFL Avenue at Supermac’s and see the rainwater gardens. We have also got one now in Ballinakill. That slows the flow of runoff water from the roads, protecting the Triogue,” she explained during her presentation to the October meeting of Laois County Council.
The funding is coming from the River Basin Management Service.
The project is in line with the Tidy Town’s “Portlaoise – A Town in a Garden” ambition and the council's climate action plan, combining sustainable surface-water management and biodiversity to enhance public areas.
The council says that the project shows how “transport infrastructure and public realm investment can contribute to greener urban environments and community wellbeing”.
Mountmellick is also planned to get a rainwater garden, at the front of O’Connell Square, as part of a full redesign and greening of the heritage Georgian square.
Those plans are on public display until November 4 on consult.laois.ie