Serious consideration should be given to bringing as much rock as possible by sea rather than by road for the construction of a new 250-metre pier and 290-metre breakwater at Greencastle harbour in Co Donegal, a Bord Pleanála hearing was told yesterday.
An estimated 375,000 cubic metres of rock will be required for the harbour works being proposed by Donegal County Council which will increase its capacity and also make it safer for vessels to use. At present, the harbour is grossly inadequate for its current level of usage.
No decision has been made on where the rock will be sourced. Mr Noel Foley of the north Donegal branch of An Taisce said that the construction period for the €30 million project could be at least two-and-a-quarter years, and he expressed concern that constant truck movements would mean that traffic, noise and dust problems would be inevitable.
Under current proposals, some construction material will be brought in on barges but it will still be necessary to have 700 cement truck movements and 16,500 movements for trucks carrying rock. This would amount to an extra 74 daily HGV movements through the town. The village currently has around 54 HGVs daily.
Most of the community back the proposals, but 29 objections have been received. The inspector will now forward his report to An Bord Pleanála.