Significant flooding has had a major and devastating impact on the businesses of Cork City since
2009. Since then, Cork Chamber has led the way in identifying the criticality of implementing an
appropriate flood defence scheme and has been working on behalf of the business community to
achieve this. We have actively engaged public representatives at Ministerial, Oireachtas and Council
levels; holding briefings and discussions here in Cork as well as in Dublin.
We have facilitated ongoing dialogue with the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the issue to give
feedback on the emerging preferred solution and we have drafted submissions to the OPW on our
member’s behalf that included the call for a proper public consultation period. A key element for
the success of this project will be consultation with the local business community which will provide
them an opportunity to engage with the process, adequately prepare for potential impacts from the
works.
This consultation is now set to take place in the Millennium Hall in City Hall from Tuesday July 29th
for four days. The first of these sessions will see OPW staff on hand to discuss the emerging
preferred solution and to listen to the input and concerns of the City’s business community. Over
the subsequent three days of the consultation people will be able to view the proposed works and
submit comments and suggestions on site or by email for the OPW’s consideration.
From our discussions with the OPW we understand that the emerging preferred solution will involve
the development of a combined tidal and fluvial forecasting system with provision of permanent and
demountable defences. Permanent defences will likely involve a mix of flood walls and
embankments depending on the conditions prevailing in specific locations.
We also understand that the assessment of options, and determination of the preferred detail of
physical defences in specific locations i.e. permanent v’s demountable, walls v’s embankments, final
positioning of defences, etc.) will be evaluated in terms of; technical, economic, social and
environmental considerations. In this regard the Chamber would seek to ensure that the economic
appraisal of options fully considers potential impacts (both positive and negative, short term and
long term) on the business community within the project catchment area.
Construction Works
The overall timescale and duration of the construction works associated with the flood relief
scheme, particularly in the City Centre area, will be an important consideration for business in the
city centre. It is critical that the final proposed solution represents a project that can be delivered in
a reasonable timeframe without entailing major disruption and loss of business during the
construction period. Therefore it is important that those affected businesses engage with this
process and make these points clear to the OPW to ensure works happen in the best way possible to
lessen disruption to trading.
Throughout our engagement with the OPW and Cork City Council on this matter, Cork Chamber has
called for the phasing of the works which should be planned in a manner that does not unduly
impact on particular areas of the catchment due to access restrictions, noise, dust and other
business impediments. Lessons should be learned from the experiences gained during the delivery
of the Cork Main Drainage Scheme works in the City area as the design process is developed for
individual locations.
Extent of Protected Areas
In considering the final extent of lands and property to be protected by the scheme (as defined by
the design height and length of the physical defences and other measures to be installed) we would
recommend that economic evaluation of alternative options should take full account of the positive
socio economic impacts arising from increased protection to core business areas of the catchment,
in particular:
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Prevention of future losses due to inundation (flood damage and loss of business) and ability to
secure flood insurance in the future
Protection of existing property at risk of flooding (brownfield and greenfield) deemed to be of
strategic value so as to encourage future investment and development
Release of land currently under flood risk for consideration for appropriate urban use zoning
Flood Warning System
We have also urged the project team to consider the integration of an effective flood warning
system into the final solution. The warning system should be effective in advising those within the
risk catchment of an impending event and its likely severity and impact. A colour coded warning
system, or similar, could be considered as a means of alerting property owners of an impending
event and what measures will be taken by City Council, for example whether or not demountable
barriers are to be erected across a certain street resulting in temporary closure. The warning system
could also inform businesses of what measures should be taken by them to protect against residual
risks of pluvial flooding for example.
Public Consultation
So as outlined above we believe that due to the potential scale of this project it is vital that the
emerging preferred solution, set to be showcased from July 29th to August 1st, is explained in the
most comprehensive way possible to mitigate misunderstanding and misconception from the
business and wider communities. However, for this to be successful it will need the engagement of
business and property owners in affected areas. This consultation offers the opportunity to
influence the project and we urge you all to grasp it.