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.
Please click on the following link to access the newsletter.
News Item No.17 - Newsletter No.7 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.
Please click on the following link to access the newsletter.
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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News Item No.14 - December Update 2022
The project team have received six sets of hydrometric survey data from gauges recording tidal levels around Lough Swilly covering the period of May to November 2022. This data will be key to understanding coastal risk in Ramelton, Buncrana and Luddan.
Hydraulic modelling of the River Crana, Mill River, Ballymacarry and the Buncrana watercourse is ongoing.
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 project team have received three sets of hydrometric survey data from gauges recording tidal levels around Lough Swilly covering the period of May to July 2022. This data will be key to understanding coastal risk in Ramelton, Buncrana and Luddan.
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.
Hydraulic modelling of the River Crana, Mill River, Ballymacarry and the Buncrana watercourse 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.
Donegal County Council are finalising the appointment of the chosen Contractor to carry out Invasive Species Treatment.
Hydraulic modelling of the rivers and water courses is ongoing.
The hydrometric surveys are progressing. This data will be key to informing the coastal modelling for Buncrana. Tidal gauges were installed in May 2022 by APEM at four locations around Lough Swilly.
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 LiDAR survey was completed for Buncrana. The project team have completed a quality check on the data received and have begun incorporating it into the hydraulic model as part of the 2D model build.
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.
APEM have been appointed the contractor to carry out the installation and surveying of the tidal gauges in Lough Swilly. This hydrometric survey data will play a key role in progressing the coastal modelling for Buncrana.
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 continuation of culvert and large drain survey works by Amelio Group in Buncrana-Luddan, Co. Donegal. Survey data has been received and this 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 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 Buncrana.
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.
News Item No.6 - Newsletter No. 2 December 2021
Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works and Ayesa would like to inform the public of Newsletter No.2.
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Newsletter No. 2 - December 2021
News Item No.5 - November 2021 Update
The Opening Public Consultation Event for Buncrana & Luddan 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.
A defence asset condition survey has been carried out of the existing flood defences in Buncrana and Luddan e.g., embankments. These include both formal and informal defences.
The topographical survey work by Murphy Geospatial is due to be completed on the ground in Buncrana and Luddan in November 2021.
A survey of culverts and large drains by Amelio will be commencing in November.
An aerial LiDAR survey is also planned once weather conditions are suitable.
News Item No.4 - September 2021 Update
September 2021 saw the continuation of survey work in Buncrana and Luddan.
Murphy Geospatial are carrying out survey works in order to provide the required resolution of topographical data for the hydraulic model for the Crana and Mill Rivers and other watercourses.
These survey areas included.
- Flood defence embankments
- Property thresholds
- Topography of specified areas
Ayesa’s Ecologists were also present in Buncrana and Ludden towards the end of September 2021 to undertake a habitats and species walkover survey and an invasive species survey in the scheme area.
An aerial LIDAR survey is 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
Murphy Geospatial have been appointed to carry out survey works in the Buncrana area as follows:
- September to October 2021: River Channel Surveys (River Crana, Mill River, Buncrana River, Ballymacarry and Luddan)
- September to October 2021: Land and Property Threshold Survey (Buncrana, Ballymagan, Ballymacarry, Balamacarry Lower, Cockhill, Lisfannon and Luddan)
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. Link to Article
News Item No.1 - Appointment of ByrneLooby as Main Consultant
Donegal County Council, in partnership with the Office of Public Works, has appointed ByrneLooby 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
