Accommodation proposal welcomed by activity centre

The provision of accommodation, catering, social and conference type facilities at a holiday village would be of direct benefit to the University of Limerick’s Activity Centre near Killaloe.
That’s according to the centre’s director of sport and recreation, Dave Mahedy, who has “wholeheartedly” welcomed planning permission at the Lough Derg Village, which is literally on their doorstep.
Clare County Council recently granted Jeremy and Jana Mannion planning permission to construct a temporary marquee with an area of 435m2 for a five-year period subject to nine conditions. The development also includes car parking, modifications to the site entrance and all ancillary site works.
In a letter of support lodged with Clare County Council, Mr Mahedy said the activity centre had built up an extensive business in the area of outdoor activities since 1996. All of the centre’s business is non-residential as it doesn’t have any accommodation as part of the facility and there are no plans for same as the main focus will remain on their core sporting remit.
The GAA inter-county physical trainer outlined the availability of accommodation, catering, social and even conference type facilities would be a fantastic addition to the area and would be of direct benefit to their growing business.
“The activity centre could cater for weekend/short stay and even longer courses, programmes and activities all year around. The bank of support facilities such as those planned for Lough Derg Holiday Village project would make the area and an ideal location for all outdoor activities on land but particularly on the magnificent Lough Derg, which is one of the top natural facilities in the country.
“We believe this exciting development would be a tremendous addition to the local environment and UL will give any support we can to Jeremy and his team,” he said.
The nine planning conditions include a requirement for the applicant to pay the county council a contribution of €3,578 and the provision of the proposed hours of operation for the marquee in writing before the start of development on the site.
The applicant also has to provide details of the contractor who will be employed to remove and treat wastewater from the proposed facility, following concerns from the council’s environmental scientist about the volumes to be removed off site for disposal at a licensed facility.
A qualified ecologist will have to be involved in the creation of the proposed wetland feature to ensure that non-native flora and fauna species, which may become invasive, are not used.
A development plan for this wetland area including a list of flora and fauna species also has to be submitted in writing to the planning authority.
In a submission to the council, the Clare Association of An Taisce stated it would not object if a number of its concerns are addressed. It claimed there is insufficient information provided about this development concerning vulnerable landscape SPA, SAC and NHA Lough Derg which would be clearly seen from people on the lake and shouldn’t be visually obstrusive.
It requested a report on the ecology of this vulnerable landscape and sought details whether the wastewater system would be upgraded to ensure it would not have a negative impact on the lake.