Works to develop the long awaited €9 million wastewater treatment plant in Belmullet town will begin next week and is set to take 18 months to complete, Irish Water announced this week.
Minister of State for Regional Economic Development Michael Ring has welcomed the announcement by Irish Water that works will begin and said that he will be officiating at the sod turning for the plant. He said: “Cllr Gerry Coyle and I met with the former minister for environment, Phil Hogan, on several occasions regarding this project. The need for this sewerage scheme has been talked about for 50 years. I am delighted that it is this Fine Gael led Government that have delivered this project for the Belmullet area."
Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary also welcomed the works saying: "I am delighted that construction works will commence on the long awaited Belmullet Sewerage Scheme next week. The provision of a new wastewater treatment plant in Belmullet will bring benefits to the town and surrounding areas in terms of health, environmental protection, and improved water quality for all. I look forward to works commencing, to an efficient job being done and to Belmullet finally having a top class sewerage scheme.”
According to Irish Water this project will ensure that wastewater is treated and discharged in compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations 2001, and conditions as set out in the EPA’s wastewater discharge licence (WWDL ). This project will also improve the water quality of nearby coastal areas, protecting bathing areas and the aquatic environment from pollution. Belmulllet is currently on the EPA’s published list of 44 sites with no wastewater treatment facilities and one of the primary drivers for this project is the protection of Broadhaven Bay and Blacksod Bay, both Special Areas of Conservation and designated shellfish waters.
Irish Water has confirmed that works will commence on School Road and Sea Road on Tuesday, July 12 2016. The School Road works are expected to last for approximately eight weeks and will involve a temporary road diversion where traffic will be diverted along Chapel Street and Quay Street. While the Sea Road works are expected to last approximately 10 weeks and a temporary road diversion will be in place diverting traffic along Blacksod Road and Ballyglass Road. During the works local access will be maintained to try to minimise disruption.
In order to support local businesses and tourism, all roads will be accessible during the Belmullet Gala Festival from Friday August 12 until Sunday August 21.
Roadbridge Limited and EPS Group are working on behalf of Irish Water to deliver this €9 million project which has been designed and will be built to meet the current needs of the towns and will have an extra design capacity of 25 per cent to allow for growth. This is in line with standard practice for all such plants as approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation and means that any investment, businesses, or additional development coming to the area will be catered for.
