Project Background

As part of the implementation of the EU Floods Directive, the OPW undertook the Western Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study. The objectives of the CFRAM Study were to:

Assess and map the existing and potential future flood risk within the CFRAM Study Area.
Identify viable structural and non-structural options and measures for the effective and sustainable management of flood risk in the Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) and within the CFRAM Study Area as a whole.
Prepare a set of Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) for the CFRAM Study Area, and associated Strategic Environmental and, as necessary, Habitats Directive Appropriate Assessment (AA), that sets out the policies, strategies, measures and actions that should be pursued by the relevant bodies, including the OPW, Local Authorities and other Stakeholders, to achieve the most cost-effective and sustainable management of existing and potential future flood risk within the Study Area, taking account of environmental plans, objectives and legislative requirements and other statutory plans and requirements.

The Western CFRAM Study Area included Ballina as an AFA, and concluded that a flood relief scheme would be viable and effective for the community. The viable Scheme option for Ballina as identified at the CFRAM level of assessment, can be summarised as follows:

Construction of new quay walls with piled foundations, 1.2m high at Bachelors Walk (470m long) and in front of properties on Clare Street at 0.6m high with 0.6m high railings above, (340m long). The flood wall at Clare Street will continue north for 170m to tie into higher ground.
In front of the Cathedral on the N59, 210m of riverbank will be raised to fit into the existing landscape.
Along Ridgepool Road the existing railings will be replaced with flood defence walls, in some points the existing walls will be raised with a total of 200m length of works here.
In many of the gaps, walls will only need to be raised to 0.6m above ground level with 0.6m high railings (to provide a 1.2m guarding height). This will fit into the height of the existing river walls and maintain some visual connection.
Constructing a flood defence embankment for the Knockanelo River in Ballina at Killala Road (20m long rural clay embankment, 1m high, on Knockanelo upstream).
Two pumping stations (either new or upgraded existing) will be required to manage surface water and fluvial flooding behind the river walls, one on each bank of the River Moy.
On the Knockanelo River the inlets to the flood relief culvert and downstream culverts will be improved with some further works to the existing box culverts at Marian Crescent.
Ongoing maintenance of the river walls, pumping stations and enhanced maintenance above the current Arterial Drainage maintenance programme for the full length of culverts on the Knockanelo through the town centre and the Flood Relief Culvert.
Upstream catchment and land management should be reviewed as a means of optimising the benefits of capital and resource expenditure.

All relevant CFRAM Study reports are available, for information purposes, from the section of www.floodinfo.ie

Click here to see how this community was assessed.

(You will be redirected to Floodinfo.ie)

The above option, along with other potentially viable options were subjected to further engineering and environmental assessment as part of this project leading to the determination of the preferred option.

Proposed Scheme to Progress to Planning:
Following the completion of the options assessment the preferred option progressing to planning comprises the following:

Moy

Construction of new flood defence walls along banks of River Moy
Replacement of existing river walls at Ridgepool Road, Clare Street, Bachelors Walk.
Reconstruction of existing walls on Emmett Street.
Raised plaza at Cathedral Road
Existing access to river to be maintained at points along defences. Access to be improved in some areas.
Railings along Emmet Street to be replaced with flood defences.
Surface water pumping stations will be installed at strategic points to manage excess water during flood events. The pumping stations will be submersible in nature with a valve chamber and kiosk. Surface water flows from the pumping station will be pumped directly to the river. These will be installed at the following locations:
- Bachelors Walk
- Clare Street
- Ridgepool Road
- Barrett Street

Quignamanger

Replacement of 0.9m diameter culvert with 1.5m diameter culvert
Flood defence at downstream end of Quignamanger Stream
Upgrade culvert at Quay road crossing

Bunree/Behy Road

Replacement of existing culvert and open channel arrangement with a 1.2m diameter culvert for upstream reach and 1.5m diameter culvert for downstream reach
Removal of culvert downstream of N59

Brusna

Flood Walls and Embankments near Rathkip & Shanaghy

Tullyegan

Flood Walls and Embankments to tie into the railway embankment.

Knockanelo

Decouple from main scheme and progress in parallel commencing with a flow monitoring regime.