'A clap on the back for the community': First stage of Ballinhassig flood relief scheme underway

THE first stage in the development of a flood relief scheme for Ballinhassig has commenced.

Eight homes in the area suffered significant flooding from the Owenabue River on several occasions, most recently during Storm Babet in October this year.

A spokesperson for the OPW told The Echo: “The signing of a contract with Malachy Walsh and Partners marks the first stage of the development of a flood relief scheme which will protect eight residential properties located close to Ballinhassig Village.

“The successful consultant was identified following an extensive tender process. Cork County Council will manage the delivery of the flood relief scheme in partnership with the Office of Public Works [OPW], who is funding the scheme.”

Devastation

The Mayor of County Cork Frank O’Flynn said: “The importance of providing flood mitigation measures to communities vulnerable to flooding could not be over emphasised”, saying Storm Babet highlighted “the devastation suffered by property owners in flood risk areas including the Ballinhassig residents.”

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Patrick O’Donovan, added: “My office and Cork County Council will continue to work together with Malachy Walsh and Partners to progress this scheme.

“As with all OPW flood relief projects, this scheme, when constructed, will be adaptable to continue to protect against today’s flood risk and the growing risk from climate change into the future.”

Community action 

Denis McCarthy, chairman of the Ballinhassig Village Association, told The Echo last week that after being flooded in 2009, money was allocated from the OPW and the local authority for a flood barrier, but that after 14 years, they decided to take matters into their own hands.

Through a GoFundMe page, they raised over €16,000, with more funds also raised via cash donations, which they used to begin work on a temporary flood barrier to protect the residents.

Their clay horseshoe around the eight affected properties was completed yesterday, just one week after work began. 

Speaking to The Echo about the latest announcement, Denis McCarthy welcomed the progress, saying: “It’s the first step.”

He explained that the feeling in the community was that “the publicity we got for our project helped to kickstart something, so it’s a big clap on the back for the whole community.

“It’s a double good news, because we also finished the work today [December 18] on site,” he said. “The houses now are safe for Christmas, which was our target, on the same day that the OPW have started the process.”

Having the houses protected while they wait for the permanent scheme is “a big relief to the residents” he said, adding that there is still a lot of work required before the OPW project will be completed.

His hope is that the Ballinhassig project will inspire other communities, Mr McCarthy said.