Galway County Council has been criticised for relying on hydrology reports furnished by developers in dealing with planning applications.
According to the Green Party and Fine Gael, the south Galway suburb of Oranmore could become "another Clonmel" and its new Garda station might need a "sub-aqua unit" if several planning applications on flood plains are approved.
Planning applications by the Lackagh quarry group for two housing schemes on the Oranmore flood plains could lead to serious flooding in existing housing estates, the Green Party spokesman for Galway and city councillor Niall Ó Brolcháin has said.
Fine Gael county councillor Fidelma Healy-Eames has criticised the council for relying on hydrology reports furnished by developers and has called for "urgent" enlistment of an in-house hydrologist.
Planning permission was granted to the Lackagh Group last December for 134 houses and a creche in Oranmore, to the north of the Frenchfort stream. This area flooded completely during heavy rains in January, Cllr Healy-Eames points out. The Lackagh Group has also applied to build a further 83 houses, 64 apartments and a creche to the south of the Frenchfort stream.
The first application has been appealed to an Bord Pleanála by residents who had to employ a hydrologist at a cost of €3,860, Cllr Healy-Eames said. This would not have been necessary if Galway County Council had its own independent hydrology study, she pointed out.
The plans involve infilling part of the lands adjoining the shoreline with builders rubble to a five metre height, before constructing houses and apartments. Cllr Ó Brolcháin said he was "amazed" that the first application had already been approved, and the Green Party intended to lodge an objection to the second scheme.
"The last thing we need is another Clonmel where flooding regularly damages people's homes," Cllr Ó Brolcháin said. He said it could also impact on the proposed new Garda station.
Oranmore has already been earmarked for a planned €200 million town centre, including some 250 homes. The scheme is backed by Michael McDonagh and Tim Bohan of Bomac Properties.
