It's all systems go for the flood relief plan in this scenic area of Tipperary

It’s hoped that a planning application for the Marlfield Flood Alleviation Plan in Clonmel will be submitted by the end of this year and that construction could start in 2024, it has been announced.

Michael Scully, Tipperary County Council engineer, also told a meeting of Clonmel Borough District that the dam at Marlfield Lake had come close to overflowing because of the heavy rain that had fallen at the end of last October and the start of November.

The dam had overflowed in 2009 and in December 2013/January 2014.

However the flood defence scheme was now fully underway and it was full steam ahead from the OPW to fund the scheme, and it had taken off at pace.

He said that the dam at the artificial lake had been constructed more than 250 years ago.

Mr Scully said there were no signs of distress on the dam but it was prudent to take a series of measures now to prevent both flooding in the area and damage to the dam.

The lake, which is still under the ownership of the Bagwell estate, is a proposed Natural Heritage Area and is an important habitat for wintering birds.

He said that the plans would go to public consultation before the final design solution was submitted.

A preliminary assessment of the project had been carried out by Mott McDonald in 2011.

Director of Services Marcus O’Connor said that this was a very welcome scheme in a fantastic amenity. It was also a very tricky scheme and the two issues were flooding and the stability of the dam.

A lot of investigations had to be carried out and the council would be tapping into the local knowledge of the residents, and they would consult with the residents very regularly.

They needed to find out more about the dam and how safe it was, and the ownership of the dam was also an issue.

Mr O’Connor said if they had to carry out significant works on the dam there could be issues with the wildlife in the area, and some of the work could involve the destruction of the habitats for the wildlife. The work might involve an application to An Bord Pleanála.

Mr O’Connor also said he would be slow to give an exact time frame for work on the scheme. The OPW had fully bought into the plans and were very much part of the process.

District Mayor Pat English said they had been looking for such a scheme for a long number of years, and it was fantastic news that construction might begin in 2024. The Marlfield area, including St Patrick’s Well, was a sense of pride for Clonmel people.

Cllr Niall Dennehy said Marlfield was an area of outstanding beauty for 250 years and was a real asset for residents and visitors. He said he would love to see the reinstatement of the hydro electric generator that had been used on the lake and was located near the dam, for practical as well as historical reasons.

Cllr John FitzGerald said that this investment would be so worthwhile for the residents, and would be an investment in their families’ futures.

Cllr Richie Molloy said it was very pro-active of the council to be doing something in advance of any possible flooding. As Cllr FitzGerald had stated, the houses near the lake would be in a precarious position if anything did happen.

Cllr Siobhán Ambrose said that this plan seemed to be going on for ever and she really welcomed the fact that there were deadlines on it.

Cllr Michael Murphy said that this plan provided an end date for the work, and he welcomed the mitigation measures that had been carried out in the short term.