*The Ballymulcashel estate in Kilmurry.
DEVELOPERS ARE INTERESTED in new housing schemes in Kilmurry but the area’s only wastewater treatment plant is in private ownership risking a dezoning of lands in the upcoming County Development Plan.
Land ownership matters remain for infrastructure in a Kilmurry estate, almost six years after it fell under the responsibility of Clare County Council.
After a resolution was passed by the Killaloe Municipal District on 1st February 2017, the roads, footpaths, street lights and green area of the Ballymulcashel estate were taken in charge.
A request was issued by Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) for the Killaloe MD to take in charge the sewage treatment plant for the estate at a recent sitting of the local authority.
He was advised by Cyril Feeney, senior engineer in the environment section of Clare County Council, “there are still outstanding land ownership matters to be resolved with third parties before any decision can be made regarding the taking in charge of the waste water treatment plant”.
Feeney stated, “Clare County Council continues to positively engage with all parties” on the ownership issues.
Kilmurry based Cllr O’Callaghan commented, “I’ve talked with the builder, a number of years ago a pilot project was done, a whole new system was put in, it was fully funded and a load of different agencies involved, it was misfortunate”.
Speaking at a recent sitting of the Killaloe MD, he recalled, “I was talking to the Minister and he had requested Cyril to get Irish Water involved for the taking in charge but they wouldn’t entertain it because it was in private ownership”.
He maintained, “the way forward is to bring it from private to public. It’s a pity, we’re nearly concluded the County Development Plan and Kilmurry will be dezoned because it hasn’t a wastewater treatment plant. My aim is to get it into public, if we’ve any chance of any future developments it needs to be done.
“We need to start getting heads together and see if we can get it done before passing it onto Irish Water. It’s not Clare County Council’s remit for wastewater, if anything goes wrong Clare County Council will have to step in, give it a hand and maintain it,” the Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe MD said.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) flagged that the wastewater treatment plant is “fantastic” but “it isn’t public so it is a pity that future development won’t be allowed”. Bringing it under the ownership of Irish Water “will help the village of Kilmurry, there is land available in Kilmurry for development and developers are interested. We need to work together to achieve it. Lands will be dezoned, if we could get this taken over by Irish Water these lands can be zoned in the future”.
Director of Services, Anne Haugh informed councillors she was keen to get Feeney to address an upcoming meeting of the Killaloe MD. “The only way we can get it progressed is through the Council,” Cllr O’Callaghan responded.
