Have your say on flood relief options for Blackrock

Louth County Council is to hold a Public Participation Day next Thursday 26 March from 11am to 7pm in the Blackrock Suite, Fairways Hotel, Dundalk (A91 E6KC), to present the high-level, emerging flood relief options for Blackrock, to gather views and ensure the community has a meaningful role in shaping any future flood protection for Blackrock.

The project is part of the Dundalk Flood Relief Scheme. In 2012, to address flooding issues nationally, the Office of Public Works (OPW) commissioned and completed Catchment and Flood Risk Management (CFRAM) studies covering the entire country reviewing 300 flood-prone sites.

An output of the flood study identified 118 at-risk areas, including Dundalk/Blackrock and the associated impacts of flooding. The plan also set out the measures and policies to be pursued in order to achieve the most cost effective and sustainable management of flood risk.

As part of the Government’s National Development plan to 2030, €1.3 billion has been committed to the development of flood relief measures across Ireland.

Following this commitment, a steering group was established between the OPW and Louth County Council to progress a flood relief scheme to alleviate the risk of flooding for the communities of Dundalk, and Blackrock. In August 2020, Binnies/NOD were appointed Consultants to develop a scheme that is technically, socially, environmentally and socially acceptable.

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Dundalk and Blackrock have suffered many flooding events, most notably in 2008, 2014, 2016 & 2020, whilst they are furthermore at significant risk of coastal flooding. With the future flood risk increased by climate change and the areas natural low-lying topography, calls for a sensitive flood relief scheme to be constructed to reduce the risk from future flood events were set out in the Catchment Flood Risk and Management Study (CFRAM) published by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2018.

The development of any proposals will consider the impact on any neighbouring communities in line with requirements of the EU Floods Directive.

To address flooding issues nationally, the Office of Public Works (OPW) commissioned and completed Catchment and Flood Risk Management (CFRAM) studies covering the entire country. The North Western – Neagh Bann CFRAM Study, included Dundalk, and Blackrock and was completed with support from various County Councils, including Louth County Council.

An output of the study identified flood risk areas, including Dundalk/Blackrock and the associated impacts of flooding. The plan also sets out the measures and policies to be pursued, in order to achieve the most cost effective and sustainable management of flood risk.

Following the launch of the flood relief programme by the OPW in 2018, Binnies / Nicholas O’Dwyer Joint Venture (B/NOD JV) were appointed, by tender competition off the OPW's framework, in August 2020 to complete a detailed project level engineering assessment for Dundalk/Blackrock.

The assessment will involve identification of appropriate flood risk alleviation measures and preparation of detailed design drawings and documents. B/NOD will carry out the appropriate Environmental Assessments including the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and the Natura Impact Statement (NIS), where required under the relevant legislation.

The works are likely to involve improvement of channel conveyance (maintenance & culvert upgrade), potential storage ponds, and hard defences (walls & embankments).  All works will be carried out in accordance with the project programme and the public will be fully informed in advance of any potential disruption.

Louth County Council advises that those who cannot attend on the day, the display information and questionnaire will be available on-line at the project website here.