Relief in sight for long-term flood issues?

RISING flood levels has resulted in thousands of acres of farm land in East Galway being under threat of flooding – but a remedy could be on the way.

A local councillor is concerned that thousands of acres of land will be consumed by water that should be relieved by Galway County Council – by now is an annual appeal.

According to Cllr. Evelyn Parsons (Ind.), who has been in consultation with the Office of Public Works in relation to the issue, vast tracts of land in the Ballinasloe area could be relieved of flooding.

The independent councillor said that she was involved in discussions relating to both the short-term and long-term impacts of extreme event flooding and rising ground water risks – along with interactions of legacy waste pollutants in the Ballinasloe area.

“I highlighted concerns with the Minister [Eamon Ryan] over the environmental and health effects of rising groundwater and contaminated grounds and potential leachate at the old super dump landfill site. Ballinasloe has a high flood risk potential and it was vital these issues were brought to the Minister’s attention.

“Ballinasloe is set to be among the first locations in the country to enter Bord Na Mona’s Peatlands scheme with the imminent re-wetting of Kellysgrove bog on the perimeter of town,” she told a meeting of Ballinasloe Municipal Council.

Cllr. Parsons was supported by SPC Chair Cllr Alastair McKinstry (Green Party) in her concerns that flooding and groundwater vulnerabilities merited specific scrutiny due to the environmental sensitivities of the area and, in particular, in light of the fact that extensive boglands close to the town would be re-wetted.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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