News
News Item No.18 - Newsletter No.9 February 2024
Donegal County Council, The Office of Public Works and Ayesa would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.9.
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News Item No.17 - Newsletter No.8 September 2023
Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works and ByrneLooby would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.8.
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News Item No.16 - Newsletter No.7 June 2023
Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works and ByrneLooby would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.7.
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News Item No.15 - Newsletter No.6 February 2023
Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works and ByrneLooby would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.6.
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Newsletter No.6 - February 2023
News Item No.14 - December Update 2022
The Contractor for the Preliminary Ground Investigations at Ballybofey embankment commenced works in November 2022. These works are currently ongoing and the results will be key to informing the embankments effectiveness in terms of flood risk to the town.
A technical hydraulic workshop was held 30th November 2022 to discuss the progress to the hydraulic modelling activities for Ballybofey & Stranorlar. The workshop was attended by members of the steering group.
The specialist third-party environmental surveys are ongoing. The surveys completed to date include;
- Aquatic Ecology Surveys
- Bat Surveys
- Tree Surveys.
News Item No.13 - Newsletter No.5 September 2022
Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works and ByrneLooby would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.5.
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Newsletter No.5 - September 2022
News Item No.12 - August Update 2022
The specialist third-party environmental surveys have commenced – including Aquatic Ecology Surveys and Bat Surveys.
Donegal County Council have finalised the appointment of the Invasive Species Treatment Contractor. The treatment for Himalayan Baslam is completed with locations for treatment of Japanese Knotweed to be progressed in the month of September 2022.
The Contractor for the Preliminary Ground Investigations at Ballybofey embankment has been appointed. The works are scheduled to commence in September 2022. During this period, we advise the public that access to the Ballybofey embankment footpath would be temporarily restricted.
Hydraulic modelling of the River Finn and its tributaries is ongoing.
News Item No.11 - Newsletter No. 4 June 2022
Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works and ByrneLooby would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.4.
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News Item No.10 - May Update 2022
The project team, in coordination with Donegal County Council have appointed all third-party environmental specialists to carry out the required specialist surveys.
Hydraulic modelling of the River Finn and its tributaries is ongoing.
The tender documents for site investigation work at Ballybofey embankment have been prepared and will be advertised on eTenders in June.
Donegal County Council are finalising the appointment of the chosen Contractor to carry out Invasive Species treatment.
Draft runoff reduction maps have been completed for the assessment of the potential of natural water retention measures.
News Item No.9 - April Update 2022
The Hydrology Report is now being finalised following feedback from the Steering Group.
The LiDAR survey was completed for Ballybofey-Stranorlar. The project team have completed a quality check on the data received and have begun incorporating the data into the hydraulic model as part of the 2D hydraulic model.
The project team, in coordination with Donegal County Council are in the process of appointing third-party environmental specialists to carry out surveys for the following:
- Air quality
- Aquatic Ecology
- Landscape and Visual
- Wintering Birds
- Noise & Vibration
- Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
The invasive species treatment tender documents were issued through supplygov.ie for procurement. Donegal County Council expect to appoint the preferred Contractor in May 2022.
Tender documentation for site investigation works has been prepared to assess the embankments in Ballybofey. It is expected that a Contractor will be appointed in June 2022.
Mapping of the catchment for the assessment of the potential of natural water retention measures has commenced.
News Item No.8 - Newsletter No. 3 March 2022
Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works and ByrneLooby would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.3.
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News Item No.7 - January Update 2022
January saw the completion of the culvert and large drain survey works by Amelio Group in Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Co. Donegal. The survey data has been received and is currently being reviewed by the project team. This information will play a key role in progressing hydraulic modelling activities which is currently ongoing.
All engineering surveys have now been completed with the exception of the Lidar survey which is waiting on suitable weather.
The final environmental constraints study report will be completed in February. This report will identify the key environmental issues associated with the development of a Flood Relief Scheme in Ballybofey-Stranorlar.
The invasive species management plan has been finalised following the completion of the invasive species surveys. An invasive species treatment contract will be put in place for 2022 to follow on from the treatment carried out in 2021.
Tender documentation is being prepared for site investigation works at the embankment of Ballybofey-Stranorlar.
News Item No.6 - Newsletter No. 2 December 2021
Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works and ByrneLooby would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.2.
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News Item No.5 - November Update 2021
The Opening Public Consultation Event for Ballybofey & Stranorlar ended on the 22nd October 2021. Donegal County Council, OPW, and ByrneLooby-Arcadis would like to sincerely thank the public for their input to the public consultation which will greatly assist in the development of the scheme.
October saw the conclusion of topographical survey works by Murphy Geospatial in Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.
A defence asset condition survey has been carried out of the existing flood defences in Ballybofey and Stranorlar e.g., embankments. These include both formal and informal defences.
A survey of culverts and large drains by Amelio commenced in November and is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
An aerial LiDAR survey is also planned once weather conditions are suitable.
News Item No.4 - September Update 2021
The scheme progressed steadily over September 2021, which saw the continuation of survey works in Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.
Murphy Geospatial have been appointed to conduct a topographical survey which includes, property threshold survey, channel, and structural surveys. During this period, we urge the public to assist the nominated service provider by providing access where possible during the survey. The survey works is required for the hydraulic model for the River Finn and its tributaries.
ByrneLooby’s Ecologists were also present in Ballybofey and Stranorlar towards the end of September 2021 to undertake a habitats and species walkover survey and an invasive species survey in the scheme area.
A survey of culverts and large drains will be commencing in October. An aerial LIDAR survey is also planned once weather conditions are suitable
News Item No.3 - Newsletter No. 1 September 2021
Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works and ByrneLooby would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.1.
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News Item No.2 - Commencement of Topographical Survey Works
Donegal County Council and the Office of Public Works are progressing Ballybofey - Stranorlar Flood Relief Scheme. A detailed assessment of flood risk in the town based on present day and future scenarios is being undertaken. Topographical surveys of watercourses, adjacent lands and property thresholds of residential and commercial premises are now required. These works will capture the data needed to build an up to date computer model of the Scheme Area. The model will simulate flow scenarios in detail to define flood extent and depth. Model outputs will identify properties at risk from flooding and inform design of flood protection measures. All measures will be subject to a rigorous environmental assessment.
Murphy Geospatial will record levels at the lowest point on the property which may be susceptible to flood risk, the threshold level. Generally, this is the front door of the property and can be recorded from the public road. However, in some cases, if the lowest point is at the rear of the property, or if there is a shed or secondary building on the property, an additional threshold level may need to be recorded which may not be visible from the public road. In these cases the surveyors may require access to the property to record the level. The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes. Ecological surveys are also ongoing in the area over the coming weeks.
Donegal County Council has obtained necessary health, safety and bio-security statements from the surveyors demonstrating their protocols and procedures, particularly in relation to Covid 19. All surveyors will carry identification badges.
News Item No.1 - Appointment of ByrneLooby as Main Consultant
Donegal County Council, in partnership with the Office of Public Works, has appointed Byrne Looby Water Services Partners to undertake engineering and environmental consultancy services for three flood relief schemes in Ballybofey – Stranorlar, Buncrana - Luddan, and Ramelton. These schemes are a key part of the overall flood risk management strategy set out in the National Development Plan 2018 – 2027. Link to Article
