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Kilcummin works on track as Coolcorcoran road partially re-opens

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By Sean Moriarty

Works on the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme remain on track despite “unforeseen complications" associated with deep excavations and ground conditions.

Uisce Éireann has confirmed to the Killarney Advertiser that the project will be completed by early 2024 as planned.

A spokesperson said the “short-term inconvenience will be overshadowed by the long-term benefits that the new pipeline will deliver” and, “when complete will accommodate future population growth, improve water quality in the River Deenagh and Lough Leane, and protect the environment and recreational waters”.

The road-closure at Coolcorcoran was lifted earlier this week and will be replaced by a manual stop-and-go system to complete that portion of the works.

“In March, we communicated that a three-week extension to the original road closure on Coolcorcoran Road was required, due to unforeseen complications associated with deep excavations and ground conditions,” an Uisce Éireann spokesperson told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Works on this section progressed slower than originally planned and for this unplanned inconvenience we apologise. To expediate delivery, additional resources were deployed on site to ensure the overall delivery timeframe remained on track.

This section was delayed after the contractor was forced to excavate deeper than originally planned – up to six metres in some sections - to allow for a gravity flow in the system.

“A gravity sewer network will run along the majority of the Kilcummin Road. For the sewage to successfully flow by gravity, without the need to consistently pump wastewater forward, the pipe needs to be installed at a gradient along its length. To achieve this, the pipe must be laid at specific depths along the entire pipeline route,” added the spokesperson.

“Due to the undulating land in this area, the detailed design required circa 25% of the full pipeline on the road to be constructed at depths greater than two metres with certain sections requiring six metre depths.”

CONNECTIONS

Some local councillors called for connections to be made to households who wish to join the scheme now or at a later date to be included in this construction phase.

“The scope of the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme includes installation of a sewer network and construction of a pumping station. This does not include the provision of connection points or new wastewater connections to properties in the area along the route of the wastewater network. Uisce Éireann, as a utility regulated by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, is unable to offer free connections as per the approved Connections Charging Policy. Regarding making connection applications, as has been communicated since the commencement of project delivery, anyone who has paid for a connection will be connected to the scheme at the standard rate as part of the delivery of the pipeline project, regardless of the depth of the pipe.”

Additionally, an excavation has resulted in making a nearby wall unstable but Uisce Éireann have taken steps to safeguard the general public in this section of the works.

“Kerry County Council have advised Uisce Éireann of a potentially unstable wall along the Coolcorcoran Road. Given that the potentially unstable wall is located adjacent the Uisce Éireann work site, Kerry County Council requested Uisce Éireann to put in place traffic and pedestrian measures to ensure public safety until such time as the wall has been made safe,” said the spokesperson.

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Fire warning in National Park

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing has appealed to the public not to light fires or barbecues in public places […]

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The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing has appealed to the public not to light fires or barbecues in public places this summer.

As they appeal to the public to exercise renewed care and responsibility when outdoors the National Parks and Wildlife Service has increased ground crews on fire patrol and has ramped up aerial monitoring with helicopters and drones.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD said:

“If you notice a fire, please call the emergency services on 112 immediately. NPWS teams are upping their patrols to identify potential fire incidents and act quickly should one break out. However as we know, prevention is better than cure, and we’re asking all members of the public to avoid lighting fires in open areas.”

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD commented further:

“Our National Parks and Nature Reserves, coastal sand dunes, mountains and upland areas, forests, meadows and urban parks are all places where we enjoy spending time in nature, but they are also home to our precious wildlife and their vulnerable young. This is a really important time of year for wildlife, especially vulnerable ground-nesting birds and mammals who are now rearing their young. We all want to get out and enjoy the good weather but let’s do it responsibly – without putting nature at risk.”

The Director General of the NPWS, Niall O Donnchú, has also asked for everybody’s cooperation to protect nature and said:

“While NPWS has increased ground crews and monitoring from the air this week, we still need to enlist your help to protect nature at this high risk time. We ask that members of the public not light fires or barbecues in any National Parks or Nature Reserves, or indeed in nature generally. We are also asking that the public be vigilant and report any fire activity without delay.”

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Killarney Looking Good Competition returns

Over three decades after it was first initiated, to help improve the aesthetic values of the town, the Killarney Looking Good Competition is back with a vengeance with a new […]

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Over three decades after it was first initiated, to help improve the aesthetic values of the town, the Killarney Looking Good Competition is back with a vengeance with a new committee, new categories, new sponsors and a whole new approach.

When the project was first launched in 1991 it was a relatively low-key community event but it grew in importance with each passing year, culminating in some style when Killarney won the prestigious overall award in the national tidy towns competition in 2011.

After an enforced three-year absence since 2019, due to the pandemic, the competition has now been given a whole new lease of life and the 2023 version was officially launched this week by Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Niall Kelleher.

Awards will be presented in 26 different categories and high achievers in the business and residential community will be honoured at a gala prizegiving ceremony at the close of the tourist season.

This year two new categories are being introduced in memory of two remarkable people who played massive roles in keeping Killarney looking its best down through the years.

Yvonne Quill, who passed away last October, was the driving force behind the Killarney tidy towns campaign for several years and she was at the helm when the sought-after overall award was secured 12 years ago.

This year the Yvonne Quill Memorial Award will be presented to the volunteer of the year – a person who the adjudicators consider to be a standout contributor – in the overall effort to keep Killarney tidy.

Up to the time of his death in January 2020, Fr Michael Murphy was the public face of tidy towns and he played a huge part in Killarney, Kenmare and Sneem winning the overall national award in 2011, 2000 and 1987 respectively. Affectionately known as Fr Tidy, this year the Killarney Looking Good Competition will honour his memory with a special Pride of Place award.

In the business community, there will be awards for the best large and small commercial premises, best newly painted premises, best signage and the best retail award with prizes also for the most impressive hotel, public house, restaurant, café, guesthouse and best public building as well as the most improved premises.
In the residential categories awards will go to the best large and small estates, best private residence, best roadside garden, best floral display and best friendly planting award.

Other categories include a green hospitality award, a corporate special responsibility award, a restoration award, best school and a special biodiversity award.
Several highly commended awards will also be up for grabs and the winner of the prestigious overall award will be announced at the prizegiving ceremony.

The Killarney Looking Good Competition is organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Killarney Municipal District Council and the new committee comprises Sandra Dunlea – a daughter of the late Yvonne Quill – Kathleen Foley, John O’Mahony and Johnny McGuire who is spearheading the project.

MD O’Shea & Sons are the new overall sponsors of the competition and O’Mahony Media Ltd is the media sponsor.

The competition will run throughout the tourist season and businesses and residential areas will be monitored on an ongoing basis.

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