Report Paul Murphy
An Coimisiún Pleanála has yet to make a decision on a proposal to expand the Knockharley landfill by 17.6 hectares, a meeting of Meath County Council has been told. While ACP is the decision maker on the application, as part of the planning process the chief executive of the county council is required to submit a report to An Coimisiún Pleanála on the effects of the proposed development on environment and on the planning and sustainable development of the area. The county council must submit its report by this Thursday. As a result of the expansion there will be no increase in the annual tonnage accepted by the landfill, council official Alan Russell said.
It is proposed to accept waste until the additional landfill cells are full. This is anticipated to allow up to additional 20 years maximum of operation, he said. There is also a proposal to realign overhead lines and a diversion of part of the Knockharley stream. New streaming berms and felling and replanting of trees will take place.
Explaining the rationale behind the proposal, Mr Russell said that there was a number of operational sites but these had dropped from 126 in 1998 to “only three by 2024” and these were located in Meath (Knockharley), Kildare and Wicklow. Knockharley was regarded as being of national and regional importance and fulfils a significant role in key infrastructure in dealing with waste in Ireland.
Landfill remain as having a critical role in Ireland’s waste management infrastructure. Not all waste can be recycled so there was an ongoing need for landfill, councillors were told. Factors that had to be taken into account were population growth, economic expansion, reduced
waste export. Unplanned closures of waste treatment facilities would mean that Knockharley would reach full capacity by 2029, three years earlier than anticipated. The proposed expansion would extend the operational life of the site.
The chief executive Kieran Kehoe, in his report, said that it was his considered view that the proposed development as presented required further information in order for a full and thorough assessment to be completed before a full and final decision can be made by ACP.
County councillors have an opportunity to attach recommendations to the CE’s report if they wish. Their views will be recorded by the meetings administrator in the council.
Chief Executive’s report in relation to Strategic Infrastructure Development made to An Coimisiún Pleanála or proposed expansion of the existing landfill facility at the existing Knockharley Landfill in townlands of Knockharley, Flemingstown and Tuiterath, Navan.
