TWO councils have zoned a flood plain on the outskirts of a town centre for development despite warnings from the Office of Public Works on flood risks.
Offaly Co Council and Tullamore Town Council have proposed a multi-million euro scheme to develop the Grand Canal Quarter in Tullamore, an area which is prone to flooding.
A majority of councillors backed the plans, which oppose the advice of the OPW that the development of a flood plain "must be avoided where possible". Their decision also comes before the introduction of new planning guidelines by the Department of the Environment which aim to end the practice of building on flood plains except in rare cases.
Offaly Co Council has made a submission to the Department of the Environment for Gateway funding for the development of the Grand Canal Quarter.
The council's director of services Declan Kirrane said the Grand Canal Quarter, an area of almost 400 acres including a 60-acre flood plain, is essential for the "orderly development" of the town centre.
"The OPW carried out a flood risk and management study and presented it to the council in June of this year.
"It's saying that the OPW's preferred option is no development but they recognise that planning authorities have to take into consideration other issues including the potential for flooding and if they decide to rezone lands, certain measures must be put in place."
Mr Kirrane said flood defences would be put in place as outlined by the OPW in the Tullamore Flood Risk Assessment and Management report.
A number of councillors who objected to the development have questioned the long-term impact of building on the flood plain.
"My concern would be that we're shifting the flood problem from one place to another," said Cllr Molly Buckley, who voted against the plan.
"The county manager certainly listened to all of our concerns but I didn't get a guarantee that the problem won't be shifted on to another area by rectifying it in one area. The water has to go somewhere."
But Dominic Doheny, joint managing director of John Flanagan Developments, the single largest landowner of the Grand Canal Quarter, said the company would not "be breaching the OPW recommendations whatsoever".
"We've proposed no development within 40 metres of the river, we have a 40-metre buffer zone on each side of the river.
"Any development would adhere to the recommendations of the OPW and won't have a negative effect."
President of the Tullamore Chamber of Commerce Patrick Little said he was "disappointed" at councillors for making a political issue out of the need for development in Tullamore.
"Councillors are confusing proper planning and flood strategy with a complete embargo on development.
"It's ridiculous to say that you can't develop appropriately to ensure there will be no worsened flooding conditions elsewhere," he said.
Meanwhile, An Bord Pleanala has deferred the decision on proposals by Tesco to build a supermarket on a floodplain in Portarlington, Co Laois.
Laois Co Council granted permission for the development on land adjacent to the river Barrow in February.
However, the decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala. A decision is expected on the matter later this month.
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