Issue no. 11 | November 2017
Our Town Our River www.bray.ie
Latest News about the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme Hello and welcome to our final River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme Newsletter. The River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme was officially opened by Mr. Kevin “Boxer” Moran T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, on Wednesday 8th November 2017. Speaking at the event, Minister Moran said the scheme would protect 650 residential and many commercial properties from flooding and represented a very significant investment in the infrastructure of Bray and Wicklow and would help the further growth and development of the town. He added: “I was very impressed to see the new flood walls and the pedestrian walkways alongside them. The finished scheme and new public amenities look really well and is a credit to all who worked on it and to the people of Bray who supported the scheme.”
Photographs of the official opening of the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme. Images with thanks www.wicklownews.net & Anthony Franey.
2 Newsletter Issue no. 11 | November 2017
Our Final Update Since April 2017, the following works have been completed: Ravenswell Road Landscaping and amenity works to Ravenswell Road have been completed. A beautiful new linear park has been created for public use including: • • • •
Viewing platform Open access to the river New cycle path and pedestrian way New seating and planting
New and improved Ravenswell Road.
Soon the public will be able to access the harbour area from Ravenswell Road. County Brook Substantial works have been carried out to County Brook to prevent flooding of nearby houses and businesses. Fish friendly features have been added to the stream.
View of the completed debris traps at the Rivervale apartments.
Two new 1350m piped outfalls have been installed under the Upper Dargle Road. Fran O’Toole Bridge The bridge has been cleared of vegetation and the bridge parapets have been repointed. The Slang / Rehills Land This area has been reinstated and landscaped to provide 11 acres of grassland. The temporary bridge across the river at Riversdale has been removed.
Aerial image of the Fran O’Toole bridge.
Irish Rail Bridge The foundation strengthening works to the DART Bridge were completed in July this year. Ramp at River Lane The new ramp was completed in August this year.
Completed works at the Slang and Rehills Land.
Environmental Works The fisheries measures have all been completed. Works have commenced on building new nesting sites for King Fishers and Sand Martins as prescribed in the Environmental Impact Statement for the scheme. A new passage for otters has been created in the event of a severe flood.
New access ramp for essential river maintenance at River Lane.
3 Newsletter Issue no. 11 | November 2017
Public Exhibition An exhibition titled ‘Our Town Our River – The story of the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme’ was opened to the public on the 6th of November by Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, Christopher Fox and ran until 17th of November 2017. The exhibition showed how the river was used throughout the years and how the flood defence scheme and peripheral works have significantly enhanced the river and its immediate environs as well as highlighting the flooding incidents in 1905 and 1986. The exhibition was a tremendous success and it was really encouraging to see the level of interest that people had in the scheme and the history. The exhibition was visited by many local schools and groups. They were particularly interested to learn more about their local history and engineering skill of the scheme but singled out the archived video footage, which showed the severity of the flooding in 1986 and helped put the devastation into perspective. Their engagement was a credit to the schools, the teachers and the students. Competition As part of the exhibition, a competition was held to find the best limerick composed about the Dargle River. There were three categories: Primary School, Transition Year and Adult. A big thanks to everyone who entered our competition. The winners will be announced shortly on bray.ie’s social networks. We would like to thank Brian White from the Bray Cualann Historical Society, Paul Carney and Kieran Leonard for helping put the exhibition together.
Photographs at the opening of the ‘Our Town Our River – The story of the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme’ Exhibition.
The River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme By Numbers...... • • • • • • • • • • •
2 acres of new masonry walls were built – that’s the size of the Aviva Stadium pitch 16 acres of grassed areas – that’s nearly the size of St. Stephen’s Green 119 new public seats – that will nearly fill the mermaid centre 18,000m2 of piling – that almost covers two Croke Park pitches 94 new trees were planted – that’s a small forest 2 acres of new public paving – that’s twice the public area of Bray Main Street 1,000 concrete truck deliveries – enough to fill 3 Olympic swimming pools 107,000 m3 of soil disposal – that’s 10,000 truck trips 460 tonnes of steel – that’s the weight of one Boeing 747 45,500 tonnes of rock protection – that’s the weight of 100 space stations 10km of rock anchors – that’s from Bray to Powerscourt Waterfall
DO YOU KNOW?
Environmental Update The Environmental Monitoring Committee held its last meeting on the 25th August 2017. The OPW and Wicklow County Council would like to sincerely thank the committee members for their positive contribution and hard work over the last 4 years. Caring for our local community amenities Wicklow County Council and the Office of Public Works have created some fantastic new amenities for local people and visitors alike to enjoy. They include the boardwalk, new and improved landscaping and walkways at the People’s Park and Ravenswell Road. The benefits of these works have regenerated the area. We all have a responsibility to protect and safeguard our town’s wonderful assets. We would encourage community ownership and ask the public to report any anti social behaviour to the relevant authorities. Remember: It’s Our Town, Our River Aerial image of the new entrance to the People’s Park and boardwalk.
Goodbye & Thank You And so, this is the final newsletter about the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme. 31 years after ‘Hurricane Charlie’ devastated Little Bray in 1986, the people and environs are fully protected from a 1 in 100 year river flood event and a 1 in 200 tidal event. On behalf of Wicklow County Council, the Office of Public Works and Tom Foley Management Ltd, we would like to express our thanks and appreciation to all the residents and property owners affected directly or indirectly by the works, for their patience and understanding during the disturbance that this type of work inevitably brings. If you would like more information about scheme please log onto www.bray.ie/town-river/.
Municipal District of Bray © 2017