The practice of using these numerical wave modelling programs to justify a shoreline development in this manner was attempted by Wicklow County Council/Sispar in the case of the proposed Greystones Harbour and North Beach development.
However the unreliability of these methods was highlighted by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in a submission dated 16 March 2006 to An Bord Pleanala. The Department stated that “if modelling is incorrect, as it appears to be, project design following from such modelling would appear to be highly questionable”.
At a Bord Pleanala oral hearing held in March 2006 Wicklow County Council/Sispar stated that physical wave model tests had been commissioned and would be complete within a three month period. A commitment was given that the eventual report would be made available for public inspection. This would have meant that these physical wave modelling tests should have been completed in and around July 2006. However the results of these tests have yet to be made public despite a number of requests to Wicklow County Council. In December 2006 Councillor Deirdre De Burca and Deputy Liz McManus TD requested a copy of the report. These requests were also refused.
It would appear that the results of these tests are being deliberately suppressed by the developers as they may demonstrate that the proposed harbour breakwaters will be subject to severe wave overtopping with a consequent risk of flooding.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment