An Taisce has opposed plans by the €150 million Doonbeg golf resort to carry out coastal protection works on a Co Clare beach that has been designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because it says the scale of the proposed intervention has not been justified.
An Taisce is one of three appellants to An Bord Pleanála against a decision by Clare County Council to allow Doonbeg Golf Club to build a eight-metre high stone barrier on Doughmore beach to protect the Greg Norman inspired golf course from coastal erosion.
Although hailed as the biggest tourism investment in Co Clare when it opened in 2002, the golf resort has been the subject of controversy because of its proximity to the Carrowmore dunes.
In its appeal, an Taisce said that experience of other storm reinforcement interventions on sand dunes "is problematic, particularly if in combined high wind and high tide situations".
It says that even if the storm protection measures are successful in impeding storm and wind erosion, there would be a potential knock-on effect on adjoining areas.
Among its concerns is that the environmental impact statement (EIS) submitted for the works is insufficient.
It referred to a "large scale" problem in Ireland of inadequate environmental impact statements where local authorities and An Bord Pleanála grant permission "leaving large scale issues to be resolved by internal agreement . . . between the applicant and the planning authority". It added that this practice is in breach of an EU directive and a large number of complaints "including applications assessed by An Bord Pleanála . . . are likely to result in wide ranging legal action by the European Commission against Ireland".
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government also appealed the decision and said its National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has "continually expressed serious concern in relation to the scale of the proposed works and the potential negative impact it could have on Carrowmore dunes".
An appeal by James McNulty said the storm works would not be in the interest of preserving public rights of way or the amenity of the beach at Doughmore Bay for members of the public.
