Post by Davy Telford on Oct 19, 2011 11:26:33 GMT
Just for your information, today Danny Kinahan has secured a debate at Stormont about the issues affecting the Six Mile Water River and this will highlight the plight of many rivers across N. Ireland. These issues will include pollution, lack of co-operation between government agencies, planning agency, N.I.Water and the commercial fishery in L. Neagh, lack of tangible improvement under the Water Framework Directive etc. Danny had asked us for points to be brought up and I have included our chairmans list below as an example.
INTRODUCTION
The Trust was set up in the aftermath of the major fish kill in 2008. Prior to that date there were numerous reports re pollution hot spots and many pollution incidents on the Six Mile Water. Despite the reporting of incidents very little was done and of course this was at a time before the Assembly had taken hold. The problems had been building up under Direct Rule.
Since the fish kill in 2008 there has been much improvement but a long way to go. On a positive note this morning I emailed DCAL re an incident at the Longshot and within 15 minutes someone phoned to say the matter was being dealt with.
In addition it seems that the various Departments are beginning to work with each other although there are major concerns re planning in particular.
THE MAJOR FISH KILL IN 2008
This was one of the worst fish kills ever to be experienced in the province when everything from Mallusk to Lough Neagh was wiped out. There continues to be concern that:-
a. No one has been prosecuted concerning this and many in the Trust believe that the source could easily have been traced. Prosecution is another issue i.e. could be difficult to scure evidence.
b. However the Antrim and District Angling Association through Fish Legal were willing to pursue the case but NIEA were not forth coming with the information. The NIEA has since been criticised by the Information Commissioner's Office. This I feel needs to be raised yet again.
c. We still find it incomprehensible, unless lies are being told, that despite the tens of thousand of fish carcasses that no dead fish were taken for analysis. It really defies belief.
On these issues, it is imperative that NIEA comes clean and not hide behind some screen of potential prosecution etc when it was clear that it had no intention of properly pursuing the issue.
PLANNING ISSUES
The Ballyclare development brought this starkly to a head when it seemed to us that a decision had been made to pursue this development regardless of the consequences. The quality of the environmental impact statements were very poor and it seemed that it remained for us to issue challenges. Few government departments seemed to have offered any resistance/ clarification. To make matters worse we were often left to deal with the developer or their representatives. In the main, government representatives were absent yet we feel they were to be the people defending and taking care of the public interest. Smacks a bit of the current protests throughout the world re large corporate institutions.
This type of situation must not happen again and we would like the Assembly to build in proper consultation processes into planning.
Communities down stream i.e. in Dunadry are very concerned about the flooding issue which seems to be exacerbated by the significant development in Ballyclare, Straid etc. The Dunadry Community Association would like a positive response to this issue.
BALLYCLARE SEWAGE WORKS
Many in the Trust are convinced that there is a problem with these works both in relation to its capacity and its effective functioning. There has been conflicting information presented to the Trust re capacity but there seems to be general agreement that this type of design of sewage works has problems and that similar types are been replaced elsewhere.
The major incident mid winter past is worth raising i.e. when many lorries loaded with sewage were seen leaving the site.
It would be worth raising this as a point of clarification re policy on the type of sewage works been favoured. In addition a supplementary question might relate to the life span of the Ballyclare Works.
SEWAGE CONNECTIONS AND PROCEDURES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM
Trust members were amazed that house development commenced at the Rashee Road in the form of Readers Park yet no arrangements had been made for sewage connections. We have been informed that this has now been resolved by a connection to be made through the nearby newly renovated playing fields.
A number of years ago we had a similar incident in this part of Ballyclare when sewage was deposited in a large tank which was then to be decanted to a nominated sewage works. Apparently the material was dumped into a nearby stream which made its way into the Six Mile Water.
This type of planning the Trust associates with undeveloped countries.
A point worth raising is to seek guarantees that these situations do not arise again.
MONITORING OF HUMAN SEPTIC TANKS AND ANIMAL WASTE DISPOSAL ARRANGEMENTS
There is alot of concern that disposal of waste coming from humans and animals is finding its way into our water system and then having a negative health and environmental impact. The Trust has raised this issue re the inland public bathing issue and to date has not had a satisfactory response. We feel that there is a major health and environmental problem and to some extent this has been verified in the ROI very recently when a survey of two river systems showed a high level of the bacterium cryptosporidium which I understand causes stomach sickness and death on some occasions in the young and elderly. The scientist in the ROI who carried out the research said that she would not be surprised if many other river systems in the ROI were in a similar condition. She also said that this situation has been brought about by the arrangements that are in place to dispose effectively with both human and animal waste.
I also understand that under the EC Water Framework Directive that the ROI has had to put in place a septic tank inspection regime.
Important questions that could be raised on this subject are:-
a. An update on the identification of safe bathing sites.
b. Has Government undertaken surveys of this bacterium on its inland water ways?
c. Has Government any plans to implement a systematic inspection of facilities for the disposal of human and animal waste at or near water ways.
d. Seek clarification on the information provided re the ROI.
POLLUTION CONTROL
The Trust acknowledges the greater diligence associated with pollution control on the Six Mile Water.
However it continues to have concerns with the presence of a plethora of so called car washes. Many of these seem only to have a hole in the ground waste disposal arrangements eg the Euro Car Wash on the Mossley Road and the Euro Car Wash on Main Street Ballyclare. Planning Service responded to the Trust's enquiry re the legality of such facilities and depressingly a range of car washes do not have planning permission and are outside the time limit for enforcement action to be taken. This in effect means they continue to operate with out the necessary approvals for example for waste disposal. The Minister for Finance recently made a public statement re this issue suggesting that these 'illegal' operators should be pursued.
A question to be asked may be ' in the light of the Minister for Finance's statement on car washes operating without proper permissions what proactive action is being to close those operating without planning permission and having the necessary facilities in place'. The emphasis should be on proactively.
There was a major pollution incident on the Six Mile Water at Ballyclare last winter when fish were killed along the stretch from Ballyclare to Doagh. We are concerned that there seems to be little response re appropriate action to date.
An urgent update is needed.
LITTER CONTROL
The Trust welcomes the recent action by the Assembly re litter control.
An issue that concerns the Trust is the responsibility for litter within the river. Members of the Trust have organised cleanups along the system from Mallusk to Antrim but soon the river is as filthy as ever.
It would be interesting to know if the Assembly has plans to review this issue.
CULVERTING STREAMS AND WATERWAYS
The Trust has made it view known on this subject many times i.e. it is unsatisfactory to cover up streams from a health and environmental point of view. Culverting denies fish the opportunity to breed and for wild life to exist. This applies to development and farm land areas.
When this issue was raised previously the Trust was informed that a policy document on the subject was to be prepared.
It would be good to know if this policy is or has been prepared.
RIVER HABITAT PROTECTION
A number of reports on the Six Mile Water has outlined the deterioration of the river habitat both within and along the river.
A number of other rivers have had river habitat enhancement programmes implemented through farm environmental improvement schemes.
This year in particular the river banks have been collapsing and land with its vegetation has disappeared. Bearing in mind that the Six Mile Water is man made in many places, would it be possible for this river system to be proiritised?
The Antrim and District Angling Association has earmarked £8000 for enhancement work on the basis that government can also assist.
NETTING OF DOLLAGHAN AND SALMON ON LOUGH NEAGH
The runs of dollaghan and salmon into the Six Mile Water have been deteriorating over the past number of years. There is a belief amongst Trust member organisations that this is due to over netting on Lough Neagh and there is also the belief much of this is illegal.
Whilst we have received helpful information from DCAL, what is clearly abscent is a Fish Management Plan for the Lough Neagh and its associated river systems. There has been some mention of this possibility before.
A question to raise would be' has government commenced a fishery management plan for Lough Neagh and its river systems? If so what is the time scale and what arrangements are in place to ensure that there is appropriate representation and consultation?' Apparently some plan had been put in place previously but the representatives were mostly commercial fisherman.
Thanks Danny for taking the trouble to have these issues raised.
INTRODUCTION
The Trust was set up in the aftermath of the major fish kill in 2008. Prior to that date there were numerous reports re pollution hot spots and many pollution incidents on the Six Mile Water. Despite the reporting of incidents very little was done and of course this was at a time before the Assembly had taken hold. The problems had been building up under Direct Rule.
Since the fish kill in 2008 there has been much improvement but a long way to go. On a positive note this morning I emailed DCAL re an incident at the Longshot and within 15 minutes someone phoned to say the matter was being dealt with.
In addition it seems that the various Departments are beginning to work with each other although there are major concerns re planning in particular.
THE MAJOR FISH KILL IN 2008
This was one of the worst fish kills ever to be experienced in the province when everything from Mallusk to Lough Neagh was wiped out. There continues to be concern that:-
a. No one has been prosecuted concerning this and many in the Trust believe that the source could easily have been traced. Prosecution is another issue i.e. could be difficult to scure evidence.
b. However the Antrim and District Angling Association through Fish Legal were willing to pursue the case but NIEA were not forth coming with the information. The NIEA has since been criticised by the Information Commissioner's Office. This I feel needs to be raised yet again.
c. We still find it incomprehensible, unless lies are being told, that despite the tens of thousand of fish carcasses that no dead fish were taken for analysis. It really defies belief.
On these issues, it is imperative that NIEA comes clean and not hide behind some screen of potential prosecution etc when it was clear that it had no intention of properly pursuing the issue.
PLANNING ISSUES
The Ballyclare development brought this starkly to a head when it seemed to us that a decision had been made to pursue this development regardless of the consequences. The quality of the environmental impact statements were very poor and it seemed that it remained for us to issue challenges. Few government departments seemed to have offered any resistance/ clarification. To make matters worse we were often left to deal with the developer or their representatives. In the main, government representatives were absent yet we feel they were to be the people defending and taking care of the public interest. Smacks a bit of the current protests throughout the world re large corporate institutions.
This type of situation must not happen again and we would like the Assembly to build in proper consultation processes into planning.
Communities down stream i.e. in Dunadry are very concerned about the flooding issue which seems to be exacerbated by the significant development in Ballyclare, Straid etc. The Dunadry Community Association would like a positive response to this issue.
BALLYCLARE SEWAGE WORKS
Many in the Trust are convinced that there is a problem with these works both in relation to its capacity and its effective functioning. There has been conflicting information presented to the Trust re capacity but there seems to be general agreement that this type of design of sewage works has problems and that similar types are been replaced elsewhere.
The major incident mid winter past is worth raising i.e. when many lorries loaded with sewage were seen leaving the site.
It would be worth raising this as a point of clarification re policy on the type of sewage works been favoured. In addition a supplementary question might relate to the life span of the Ballyclare Works.
SEWAGE CONNECTIONS AND PROCEDURES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM
Trust members were amazed that house development commenced at the Rashee Road in the form of Readers Park yet no arrangements had been made for sewage connections. We have been informed that this has now been resolved by a connection to be made through the nearby newly renovated playing fields.
A number of years ago we had a similar incident in this part of Ballyclare when sewage was deposited in a large tank which was then to be decanted to a nominated sewage works. Apparently the material was dumped into a nearby stream which made its way into the Six Mile Water.
This type of planning the Trust associates with undeveloped countries.
A point worth raising is to seek guarantees that these situations do not arise again.
MONITORING OF HUMAN SEPTIC TANKS AND ANIMAL WASTE DISPOSAL ARRANGEMENTS
There is alot of concern that disposal of waste coming from humans and animals is finding its way into our water system and then having a negative health and environmental impact. The Trust has raised this issue re the inland public bathing issue and to date has not had a satisfactory response. We feel that there is a major health and environmental problem and to some extent this has been verified in the ROI very recently when a survey of two river systems showed a high level of the bacterium cryptosporidium which I understand causes stomach sickness and death on some occasions in the young and elderly. The scientist in the ROI who carried out the research said that she would not be surprised if many other river systems in the ROI were in a similar condition. She also said that this situation has been brought about by the arrangements that are in place to dispose effectively with both human and animal waste.
I also understand that under the EC Water Framework Directive that the ROI has had to put in place a septic tank inspection regime.
Important questions that could be raised on this subject are:-
a. An update on the identification of safe bathing sites.
b. Has Government undertaken surveys of this bacterium on its inland water ways?
c. Has Government any plans to implement a systematic inspection of facilities for the disposal of human and animal waste at or near water ways.
d. Seek clarification on the information provided re the ROI.
POLLUTION CONTROL
The Trust acknowledges the greater diligence associated with pollution control on the Six Mile Water.
However it continues to have concerns with the presence of a plethora of so called car washes. Many of these seem only to have a hole in the ground waste disposal arrangements eg the Euro Car Wash on the Mossley Road and the Euro Car Wash on Main Street Ballyclare. Planning Service responded to the Trust's enquiry re the legality of such facilities and depressingly a range of car washes do not have planning permission and are outside the time limit for enforcement action to be taken. This in effect means they continue to operate with out the necessary approvals for example for waste disposal. The Minister for Finance recently made a public statement re this issue suggesting that these 'illegal' operators should be pursued.
A question to be asked may be ' in the light of the Minister for Finance's statement on car washes operating without proper permissions what proactive action is being to close those operating without planning permission and having the necessary facilities in place'. The emphasis should be on proactively.
There was a major pollution incident on the Six Mile Water at Ballyclare last winter when fish were killed along the stretch from Ballyclare to Doagh. We are concerned that there seems to be little response re appropriate action to date.
An urgent update is needed.
LITTER CONTROL
The Trust welcomes the recent action by the Assembly re litter control.
An issue that concerns the Trust is the responsibility for litter within the river. Members of the Trust have organised cleanups along the system from Mallusk to Antrim but soon the river is as filthy as ever.
It would be interesting to know if the Assembly has plans to review this issue.
CULVERTING STREAMS AND WATERWAYS
The Trust has made it view known on this subject many times i.e. it is unsatisfactory to cover up streams from a health and environmental point of view. Culverting denies fish the opportunity to breed and for wild life to exist. This applies to development and farm land areas.
When this issue was raised previously the Trust was informed that a policy document on the subject was to be prepared.
It would be good to know if this policy is or has been prepared.
RIVER HABITAT PROTECTION
A number of reports on the Six Mile Water has outlined the deterioration of the river habitat both within and along the river.
A number of other rivers have had river habitat enhancement programmes implemented through farm environmental improvement schemes.
This year in particular the river banks have been collapsing and land with its vegetation has disappeared. Bearing in mind that the Six Mile Water is man made in many places, would it be possible for this river system to be proiritised?
The Antrim and District Angling Association has earmarked £8000 for enhancement work on the basis that government can also assist.
NETTING OF DOLLAGHAN AND SALMON ON LOUGH NEAGH
The runs of dollaghan and salmon into the Six Mile Water have been deteriorating over the past number of years. There is a belief amongst Trust member organisations that this is due to over netting on Lough Neagh and there is also the belief much of this is illegal.
Whilst we have received helpful information from DCAL, what is clearly abscent is a Fish Management Plan for the Lough Neagh and its associated river systems. There has been some mention of this possibility before.
A question to raise would be' has government commenced a fishery management plan for Lough Neagh and its river systems? If so what is the time scale and what arrangements are in place to ensure that there is appropriate representation and consultation?' Apparently some plan had been put in place previously but the representatives were mostly commercial fisherman.
Thanks Danny for taking the trouble to have these issues raised.
