Sludge hub turned down

An Bord Pleanála turns down sludge hub and leachtate facility at Derrinumera landfill site


Anton McNulty

GROUPS opposed to the controversial Sludge Hub Centre and leachate treatment facility at Derrinumera have welcomed An Bord Pleanála’s decision to refuse Mayo County Council planning permission for the development.
In their report, An Bord Pleanála questioned the efficacy and reliability of the treatment plant in ensuring there was no significant adverse impacts on the natural environment and the sensitive nature in Clew Bay. They stated that the Environmental Impact Statement for the Derrinumera site fails to provide adequate assurances in relation to the nature of the leachate treatment process and its efficacy and reliability.
Mayo County Council had proposed to construct a Sludge Hub Centre at Derrinumera to treat all waste water, along with a leachate treatment facility and out-flow pipeline at a cost of over €6.4 million. They intended to pipe treated leachate to a new marine out-fall in Clew Bay, to be constructed as part of the proposed Newport Sewerage Scheme.  At present, leachate is taken from Derrinumera to Castlebar Waste Water Treatment Plant which cost Mayo County Council €550,000 in 2007.
At a Bord Pleanála hearing held over three days in the Hotel Westport last February, Mayo County Council and objectors alike outlined the pros and cons of the facility. Parties who made formal submissions included the Marine Institute, Clew Bay Oyster Co-Operative Society, Clew Bay Marine Forum Limited and Clew Bay Clams group as well as individual speakers.
Marine stake-holders in the local area are concerned at the potentially detrimental effect leachate will have on the ecology of Clew Bay. Locals living in the vicinity of Derrinumera objected to the Sludge Hub Centre claiming that the odour produced by it would make it unbearable to live in the area.
Last week, An Bord Pleanála refused to grant permission for the development at Derrinumera on a number of grounds including making reference to the sensitive nature of Clew Bay. They  said they were not satisfied that the proposed development of a leachate treatment facility, sludge hub centre and associated effluent pipeline at Derrinumera ‘represents the optimum approach for treatment of landfill leachate and sludge arisings’.
The decision was welcomed by IFA Aquaculture, the representatives for fish and shellfish farmers, who claimed it acknowledges the industry’s dependence on high quality water. Richie Flynn, IFA Aquaculture Executive Secretary said the ruling marks a very significant precedent for future planning and development decisions by local authorities around the coast.
“It sends a clear signal that no development should compromise the quality of water or threaten the food safety or animal health status of locally farmed seafood. In this case, Mayo County Council should immediately proceed with gaining full permission and begin the construction of the Newport village waste water treatment scheme, upon which the leachate plan had been imposed. This will have a significant effect on improving water quality in the north Clew Bay area for all users, including the aquaculture sector,” he said.
Newport based councillor Frank Chambers told The Mayo News that he did not believe that this decision would affect the status of the Newport Sewerage Scheme but put an end to the idea of a pipeline from Derrinumera to Clew Bay.
“I’m delighted that this decision has been made because it got a fair evaluation by An Bord Pleanála during the three day oral hearing. It recognises the importance of Clew Bay as an SAC and an important ecological area. This [Clew Bay] is a Class A site for the shell fish industry and the decision protects the livelihood of fishermen and the idea of a pipeline from Derrinumera to Clew Bay is done and dusted and an non-entity,” he said.
Derrinumera resident, Pat Sammon, who spoke at the oral hearing of having to close windows in his house during the summer because of the smell from landfill, expressed his delight at the decision.
“We are delighted with the decision and hope that will be the end of it and they don’t try and get around it another way. When planning permission was sought for this we gathered between 1,200-1,300 signatures from residents opposed to it in a matter of hours. We didn’t know what decision was going to be made but we are delighted permission was refused,” he said.
Speaking at a meeting of the Castlebar Electoral Area Committee on Monday evening, Mr Seamus Granahan, Director of Services, told councillors that the leachate will continue to be treated at the Castlebar Treatment Plant and the Council will have to consult with the EPA before taking the next step. He added that at its present status the Derrinumera landfill has only nine to 12 months of capacity left.