Oral hearings

Heated debate likely at oral hearing

Claire Egan

A FRANK exchange of views is likely all this week in Hotel Westport as An Bord Pleanála begins its oral hearings on Mayo County Council’s proposed plans for a Derrinumera sludge hub centre and leachate treatment facility.
Submissions will be heard from the Council and opposition groups from today (Tuesday) at 11am in relation to the sludge hub centre and leachate treatment facility, proposed for the townlands of Derrinumera and Drumilra, and the construction of a waste water treatment plant at Caulicaun, Newport.
Pending official approval, the Council plan to seek tenders for the plant which will be built and operated on a design-build-operate (DBO) contract. As a result, the plant will be a private enterprise, operated by an individual or company.
Aquaculture producers in the Clew Bay region have stated they will be making their voices heard in support of ‘a clean and productive environment in which to grow their seafood’. They claim the area is renowned for its native and pacific oysters, organic salmon, high quality mussels and sea-reared rainbow trout and is famous throughout Europe for brands such as Clare Island Organic Salmon.
Residents opposed to the development have cited noise and dust pollution as their primary concerns.