Planned upgrade of Tipperary wastewater treatment plant falls short of what is needed

Tipperary Sinn Féin Councillor and Cathaoirleach of Carrick-on-Suir  Municipal District David Dunne has said that while welcome, the planned upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant for the Grangemockler area falls short of providing for the future expansion needs of the locality.

READ MORE: Cremation service is held for Tipperary murder victim as investigation continues

Speaking on the matter, Cllr Dunne said:

“While I wholeheartedly welcome any improvement in local wastewater treatment infrastructure, the limited nature of the upgrade will neither make up for decades of government neglect nor provide for the future expansion needs of the area.

Only three housing estates will benefit. Vast areas will see no improvement.

Residences in the locality of the N76 and Mill Road are losing out here. Indeed, when work was taking place on the N76, an ideal opportunity presented itself for pipes to be laid to future-proof the needs of the area. But this was not done.

In addition to these shortcomings, nobody will be allowed to connect to the upgraded system in the future, which sets back any expansion plans for the area.

Instead of dealing with these shortcomings by fully addressing current needs and the projected demands of the future, we see instead a half-measure which falls short of providing this area with the sewage system it so desperately needs.

All of this is symptomatic of a lack of vision on the part of successive governments to address an over-reliance on a creaking system and on septic tanks, which has contributed to the regular boil water notices that disrupts businesses and households in the wider area, including Carrick-on-Suir.

It is also astounding to hear a government TD lamenting these shortcomings when so much could have been done if he and his party had the will, the competence, and the foresight to address the real needs of the area.

READ NEXT: Tipperary Sports Partnership has organised a great line-up for Her Outdoors Week

I sometimes wonder if that TD remembers that his party is in government and has the capability to provide for the current and future needs of Grangemockler. Handwringing and expressions of disappointment are no substitute for real action or for putting the needs of people first.

Actions that are insufficient only leave more to be done in the future – and let’s not remember the financial and environmental costs of adopting this approach," concluded Cllr Dunne.