Green light for Dromineer activity centre

An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for a new water sports activity centre in the lakeside village of Dromineer.

Tipperary Co Council plans to demolish the existing public WC and shower block building and construct a new facility centre for water sports activities. The single-storey 12 x 5m centre is to have a green roof. Associated site works including access ramps and service connections are included in the plan.

The centre is to provide hot shower, changing and toilet facilities along with secure storage, induction spaces, equipment washdown and orientation points. It is to cater for the significant increase in people enjoying outdoor water-based activities such as kayaking, paddle-boarding and open water swimming.

Dromineer was last year among 22 locations around the country to be included in a €19 million water-based activities plan.

The site forms part of the Lough Derg (Shannon) Special Protection Area. Tipperary Co Council sought approval for the development from An Bord Pleanála in an application that was supported by Fáilte Ireland. No other submissions were received from prescribed bodies or members of the public.

The council's application was accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement, Environmental Impact Assessment, bat survey, construction and environmental management plan, and an asbestos survey report.

Senior Planning Inspector Karla McBride noted that the works would take approximately 10 months to complete. She recommended approval of the plan subject to a number of conditions, including a stipulation that the works be carried out in compliance with Inland Fisheries Ireland guidelines. Pre-construction otter and bat surveys are to be carried out by a suitably qualified ecologist. An ecologist is to be present during construction works. The council is to also appoint an archaeologist to oversee the site set-up and construction.