Waterford coco development plan consultation.
Biodiversity and habitat protection
With the climate habitat and biodiversity crisis in full swing I would like to make sure that the council engages to protect the many small areas of habitat that exist between newly zoned residential areas.
With the accelerated and intensive developments being carried out currently in Tramore we need to make some positive steps towards nature and bio diversity protection measures.
As an example particularly close to my own home at the end of the Clarinwood and between Cluan Larach and Monvoy Valley estates there is a small scrub woods present and is home to many birds, fox, hedgehog and I believe even badgers have been seen. This wood is part of middle stages of the Garraun stream.
The area deserves consideration and protection and is a prime example of the type of area destroyed and deemed not important. I would suggest increasing the green cover by planting native trees along the edges and making it a nature prorected area 100 or so metres up from the stream.
This approach would serve well as a green corridor under Appendix 13 S5.10 and even contribute towards a better flood management plan.
It would increase natural green areas between the excessive estates. I know already that people would volunteer to carry out this work.
An initial application for 86 homes was denied recently due to flood risk but, no doubt, the development will issue a form of 'mitigation' plan to get around that.
The water pipe has already placed so it would appear that even without planning yet agreed the 450 houses mentioned in the Waterford news and star will no doubt darken our door, literally.
This is substantial and I would hope that efforts will be made to protect whatever pockets of diversity remain close to the town.