One of the first submissions received by Mayo County Council in relation to the new planning application submitted by Shell for the Corrib gas terminal refers to the "visual obtrusiveness" of such a large development in "an area of scenic and ecological value lacking in public services and essential facilities".
Ms Monica Muller, who lives at Rossport, Erris, claims the siting of a large industrial development on an open bogland hill would cause "irreversible alteration of the landscape".
On December 12th, Shell E&P Ireland confirmed its intention to submit a new planning application for an onshore gas terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge. The new application has been lodged with the local authority.
Shell proposes the removal of thousands of tonnes of peat from the Bellanaboy site, and its transfer by truck to an area of cutaway bog at Srahmore 11 kilometres away.
Mr Andy Pyle, managing director of Shell, claims the new proposals on peat deposition "fully address the concerns expressed by An Bord Pleanála regarding peat deposition on the Bellanaboy site".
In her submission to Mayo County Council, Ms Monica Muller claims the proposed development would conflict with the policies of the planning authority for a number of reasons.
These include "the imposition of a large industrial use in an unserviced, remote, rural location approximately eight kilometres from the landfall" and the visual obtrusiveness of siting a large industrial complex on a prominent and exposed bogland hill.
She says the project would lead to "irreversible alteration of landscape", and the "degradation of the fragile ecology of the area arising from the intensive industrial activities of the construction and operational phases of the project".
Ms Muller also says there would be "a significant increase in traffic volumes and HGV movements at the construction stage onto a road that is substandard in width, pavement and alignment".
She claims the development would not be in accordance with the principles of sustainable developments, and would be contrary to the are's proper planning and development.
She also says the application is not materially different from the previous one but with the added dimension of the proposed transport of huge amounts of peat via a local public road, and a change to the traffic proposals.
Nine days have been added to the statutory period for making submissions on the new proposal to compensate for time lost over the Christmas and New Year holiday.