A PROPOSAL for a £30 million, development beside Galway docks should be rejected on the basis of the quantity of sewage it would generate, the Western Regional Fisheries Board (WRFB) told An Bord Pleanala at a hearing yesterday.
The plan to build a 125 bedroom hotel, 139 residential units, offices and a multi storey car park, would result in raw sewage; being pumped into the mouth of the Corrib river until a secondary treatment sewage treatment plant is built for the city, the board said.
The delay in the provision of a treatment plant proposed for Mutton Island was one of the principal grounds for objections to the development by O'Malley Construction Co Ltd in a designated part of the inner city.
H.G.L. O'Connor & Co, architects, who drew up the plans and an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the development and officials from Galway Corporation Planning department gave details of the project. In addition to the WRFB, An Taisce, a local heritage group Cairde na Gaillimhe and the Green Party, are among objectors.
Outline planning permission for the six storey hotel and planning permission for the remainder of the development were granted by the Corporation in December 1995 with the provision that 29 high level residential units, mostly located on top of the car park, would not be built. The developers are appealing this condition to Bord Pleanala.
Mr Gary O Lochlainn, a corporation engineer, said a treatment plant for the city, in accordance with EU regulations, would not be operating for a minimum of five years and was currently the subject of a judicial review. In the interim the developers had proposed to refurbish and extend a discharge pipe in the area. The system would later connect with the main drainage scheme system.
Mr Michael Kennedy, chief officer with the WRFB, said it was mainly concerned about the impact on salmon smolts and elvers, as a result of increased discharges into the area. "We have difficulty with the concept that you stick a pipe out a few yards and everything is going to be all right."
According to his submission, Galway's population will be more than 60,000 by the year 2000.
"Galway may not have full secondary treatment facilities until the year 2005. In the interim, it is unacceptable that out falls are being concentrated at the mouth of the river Corrib where they are liable to have a serious effect on migratory fish. The construction of the project should be scheduled for completion concurrently with the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant."
Mr Kennedy rejected the EIS claim that "it is highly unlikely that wild fish will be significantly negatively affected". The board was concerned about water quality at the mouth of the Corrib. Pollution was affecting the critical phase in the migration of, salmon smolts and elvers.
Mr John Roche, the corporation's chief planning officer, said the scheme was in accordance with the city development plan, its architectural heritage provisions and its designated areas policy. A condition to exclude the 29 high level residential units was imposed to protect the view of the Long Walk from the Claddagh.
Mr Michael Mooney, of O'Malley Construction, said residents and business people had been consulted. If the board was prepared to accept the submissions on retaining the 29 residential units, the company would not proceed with appeals against other corporation conditions.
His company had been involved in £150 million worth of development in the city, we have contributed and continue to contribute to the economy of Galway."
The hearing continues today.