Athlone flood defence costs to hit €27m

The Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme, originally estimated at €6m when first announced in 2016, is now expected to cost some €27m, it has emerged.

The figure was included in the 2022 annual report of the State's spending watchdog, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), published last week.

It noted that a budget review was ongoing at the time and estimated that the total project budget would be in the region of €27m.

The Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme is being led by Westmeath County Council with funding provided by Office of Public Works (OPW) which is also undertaking the construction of the scheme directly.

Responding to queries from the Westmeath Independent on the matter this week, the OPW effectively confirmed the figures published by the C&AG.

It said the cost review which had since been completed, put the total budget at approximately €26.5m.

Construction of the scheme began in November 2017 and comprises eight separate cells of flood defences at Deerpark,The Strand, The Quay, Brick Island, Marine View, Iona Park, River Al (Creggan), and Golden Island

The C&AG report for 2022 stated that at the end of that yaer some €15.9m had been spent on the project. At that stage a further €6.8m expenditure was committed in future years.

However, since the report, another approximately €4m has been added to the expected spend.

The C&AG report, noted that the scheme had a benefit estimated at €48m and said “the vast majority of the increases in cost are due to increased scope of work incorporated into the final design which were not included in the original cost estimate”.

Asked why the costs of the flood defences had mushroomed since first announced, the OPW told the Westmeath Independent the difference was due to a number of factors including inflationary pressures and an increased scope of work.

“When the project commenced in 2016 the estimated construction cost of approximately €6m was based on a high level assessment of what would be required. Due to the complex nature and unforeseen challenges during the lifecycle of a flood project, project budget estimates only become more accurate prior to construction and following detailed design,” it said.

The Athlone flood defence project was delivered via individual flood cells in a phased approach.

The OPW said: “As work on the detailed design for each flood cell progressed the associated cost of each flood cell was estimated as part of the budgetary process.”

It confirmed that a review of the project budget in 2023 estimated the construction cost at €17m with a total project spend of approximately €26.5m.

“The difference in estimated costs are due to a number of factors including significant inflationary impact in the market in recent years and the increased scope of work incorporated into the final design which could not have been foreseen in the original construction cost estimate.

“The current construction cost estimate includes amongst other things for permanent surface water pumping stations, additional sheet piling, additional drainage works, bespoke cladding and paving on some flood cells, additional resurfacing, significant additional ESB diversions, underpinning of Waterway Ireland's Lockkeeper's House, cycleway on the Quay and additional works at McQuaid’s Bridge.”

Asked about timetable for completion of works which began almost six years ago, the OPW said: “Defences are largely in place now in many areas of the Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme with 81% of the flood defences constructed.”

“It is anticipated the works undertaken to date in conjunction with the implementation of Westmeath County Council's Emergency Response Plan would significantly reduce the risk of the town flooding during an extreme weather event.

It said continued progression of the works is dependent on water levels in the Shannon and landowner permissions being in place.

“Delays to the scheme were incurred as a result of prolonged elevated water levels on the Shannon, Covid-19 and the introduction of high quality masonry finishes to the flood walls. There are still a number of ancillary works to be completed, such as pumping stations and masonry cladding and steelworks. Further analysis of the River Al is ongoing with a view to progressing this flood cell.”

It said the project is expected to be “substantially completed in 2024” subject to progression of the works as programmed and the outcome of the analysis of the River Al.