Galway City needs an ambitious and factual housing growth plan, according to Sinn Féin local election candidate Mark Lohan.
He said that the first step is to ensure that we have the infrastructure in place.
“Without this, we will see proposed developments refused planning by state authorities. This has already happened. To correct the problem, we must first recognise it and then think how to resolve it for the long-term. “That is an approach I want to bring to our city council if elected on June 7” said Mark Lohan of Sinn Féin.
One of the key areas of infrastructure where we lack proper capacity is in the treatment of our waste water. The large holding tank on the edge of Merlin Woods is released at appropriate times into the bowels of Mutton Island for treatment and eventual discharge into the bay.
“Mutton Island is no longer fit for purpose. Our city can grow outwards towards Claregalway and Oranmore if it has the supporting infrastructure. We can still develop the 80 acres of land owned by the city while protecting green areas in existing estates and potentially build 1400 homes. But we are fast running out of the infrastructure to host those builds,” he said.
“Two city councils ago, large areas of agricultural land on both sides at the end of the Dublin motorway alongside the Galway Clinic were re-zoned for a residential and educational/commercial space. It remains undeveloped partly because we lack the ability to treat the water for any potential new community built there. This build could go a huge way towards helping to solve our housing crisis. The plans for Sandy Road and Dyke Road will face a block due to the lack of water treatment infrastructure also” stated Mr Lohan.
“It requires a significant piece of work to be done in identifying a place, which will undoubtedly be controversial, in which to locate a treatment plant. We should partner with County and State departments to begin consultation on such a plan and until we do our city will remain curtailed from growing. Such a plant should take the growth of our satellite towns and county hinterlands into consideration. We do not live in a bubble. “The regular discharge of raw waste water into Claddagh basin and Salthill is a deplorable stain on our city and region” he said.
