Councillors briefed on €5m Shannon flood risk study

A long-running study into flooding will take climate change into account as it assesses the future risk of floods along the River Shannon and other waterways, Westmeath County Council heard this week.

Monday's meeting of the local authority included a presentation on the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) project, which will continue for another two years. The River Shannon component of the CFRAM project got underway in 2011 and is expected to cost in the region of €5m.

A presentation on the CFRAM project was made to members of the county council on Monday by officials from the Office of Public Works, and from Jacobs Engineering, which is looking at flooding associated with the river Shannon and its surroundings.

James Murray, of Jacobs Engineering explained that there are two CFRAMs running in Westmeath: more than half of the county falls into the Shannon project; the remainder into the Eastern project. Three of the country’s 'Areas for Further Assessment' are in Westmeath - in Athlone, Mullingar and Kilbeggan.

He said the Shannon region covers an area of 17,800 square km, with a population of 670,000 catered for by 17 local authorities, and with 66 key towns/villages.

“This is a study of significant size,” he said, explaining that it involved the study of 1,588 km of critical watercourses, by foot, boat, helicopter, plane and hovercraft.

Some 13,000 river cross sections have to be prepared; 340 bridge structures studied, and 200 kms of flood defences, and there are, he said, 10,000 flood maps in development.

He said that over this year and next, the team will draft the flood maps and decide on the flood risk management obligations; next year, it will prepare the Draft Flood Risk Management Plan.

However, he continued, the team would not develop detailed designs for individual risk management measures.

South Westmeath councillor John Dolan - stating that he lives in a flood prone area himself - said he has met on a number of occasions with officials from the Office of Public Works on the flooding problem.

“I welcome the fact that this study is being put together,” he said. But, he continued, he had some issues with how the project would work out.

“While it’s good to see a steering committee, there needs to be an agency to drive solutions. In theory, the Office of Public Work is it - but in practice it’s not,” he said, going on to point out that ultimately, questions about habitats for wildlife would come to the fore.

“While I’m all in favour of nature surviving, I think humans have to take priority and we need to get some remedial work done on the Shannon,” he said. .
Cllr Mark Cooney recalled the flooding problems that beset Athlone in November 2009.

“Have there been any preliminary findings on what could be done to prevent flooding in the future that could be conveyed to various bodies?” he asked, going on to refer also to problems associated with the Al River in Athlone.

Responding, Mr Murray said that in Athlone, it was very apparent that the Al River is a problem area, and he said that it will be looked at in detail.

Martin O’Gorman, of the OPW, agreed that his office doesn’t have control of all waterways. For example the Shannon, he said, is under the control of the ESB and Waterways Ireland. “We maintain a regular liaison and correspondence with these two bodies on how it is managed with regard to flood events,” he said.

Mr O’Gorman said that the OPW is interested in local knowledge, and that was why they were attending Monday’s meeting.

He continued: “What’s coming down the tracks is something concrete in terms of mapping suites. It will provide a platform to engage with all issues in a very real manner,” and, he said, there will be public consultation.

Future proofing is a requirement, he said, and predictive flood mapping takes into account climate change.