Mayo nursing home owner claims project threatens water supply

Mr Hugh O'Boyle, owner of Ballinamore Nursing Home, outside of Kiltimagh, says it has been "a pretty awful lesson about the reality of planning legislation". As he sees it, a piggery developer has been given three years to get his application in order for a project which poses environmental risks.

Moreover, the developer, Mr Leo O'Reilly, was being allowed to "get it right" despite two separate planning authorities - Mayo County Council and Bord Pleanala - turning it down previously in no uncertain terms.

Objectors, Mr O'Boyle claimed, are indulged but only in a minor sideshow. Yet because of what is envisaged by a developer, doubts now surround the future viability of their businesses or activities, which depend on such requirements as a clean water supply; control of increasing water pollution or preservation of unique freshwater habitats. In his case, he believes a dark cloud hangs over a business with "a staff of 14 caring for 30 people".

Angered by the EPA's signalling its intent to license the piggery one-and-a-half miles from his nursing home, because of his belief that his water supply is threatened, he surveyed as many of the 40 or so farmers involved as he could to determine if they were aware of the implications for their farm of regularly receiving large amounts of slurry.

As a result, he submitted a revised list to the EPA in August, including details of some farmers who signed indicating they would not now be taking slurry. Five other landowners were deceased, he alleged, one was not the legal owner of the land listed and another holding had been sold.

Mr O'Boyle claimed the developer had effectively "lost more than half of his spreadlands." This is vigorously denied by Mr O'Reilly, who has since supplied a revised list, including statements from four landowners claiming they were misquoted by Mr O'Boyle and indicating they would be accepting slurry.

In light of his experience, Mr O'Boyle said he now calls the EPA the "applicant protection agency"; notwithstanding its setting of conditions on a licence. Its regulation and controls could be easily tightened, he believes, adding that drawing up slurry disposal arrangements is "a paper exercise." The EPA, nonetheless, did evaluate the proposed spreadlands, which were subjected to soil suitability tests.

The piggery would be operated to the highest possible environmental standards, Mr O'Reilly said. It had been subjected to an extensive environmental impact assessment. Fishery boards were entitled to their opinion, he said, but it complied "with all rules and regulations".

Mayo County Council "should get their own house in order and deal with the raw sewage it is allowing into the Moy from Kiltimagh and other towns", he said, rather than object to his development. Many of the objections, he felt, were driven by "begrudgery and jealousy".

Mr O'Reilly confirmed his plans had not changed substantially since he applied for planning permission in 1992, though he has objected to the latest EPA requirement that the slurry be treated before disposal on land. The most economical way of adding slurry was in untreated liquid form, he said.

Amending names of people listed as part of a receiving slurry landbank was routine, he insisted. The bottom line was he had 1,000 acres available and a further 400 acres in reserve. Mr O'Reilly, who works on the security staff at the Dawn Meats plant in Ballyhaunis, said he was a farmer all his life, experienced in pig production. Suggestions he was fronting the proposal for anybody else were "all wrong".

To the anglers of Connacht, led by Mr Tony Waldron, flaws exposed in both previous planning applications for his development, which led to them being refused, remained. Too much phosphorus, whether as slurry or fertiliser, was ending up in lakes already experiencing environmental strain. A requirement to treat the slurry before administering to land might not be enough to halt the decline of these important waterways. "It cannot be over-emphasised, rehabilitation of these waterways may not succeed if animal production, and the subsequent land-spreading of wastes and slurries, is allowed to continue at present rates."

Nothing short of a moratorium on piggery developments anywhere near sensitive waters was required, he said, to ensure the appropriate water protection.

Kevin O'Sullivan is contactable at: kosullivan@irish-times.ie