Sanitary schemes to kickstart Clonlara development

CLONLARA looks set to experience significant growth over the coming years once new sanitary services schemes, totalling €9.1 million, are fully completed.
Lack of adequate sewerage facilities is one of the major stumbling blocks that developers of housing schemes have to overcome before Clare County Council grants planning permission.
It has been cited as one of the reasons why planning permissions for numerous developments in Killaloe have been turned down in recent years.
However, this issue will not be a problem in Clonlara after Clare County Council signed a contract worth almost €1.6 million with Carty Contractors Ltd, of Ballisodare, County Sligo to provide new sewerage facilities for the sprawling South-East Clare village.
County manager, Tom Coughlan predicted Clonlara would be very well served for its water and wastewater requirements as a result of the new sewerage project and the completion of the €7.5 million Gillogue Serviced Land Initiative Water Supply Improvements Contract in 2007.
“Completion of this scheme will ensure that capacity is provided for existing and future development of the village, which has experienced a significant population growth in recent time,” he said.
The village, situated neatly between the Ardnacrusha Head Race and the Errina Canal, has expanded significantly in recent years, resulting in an urgent requirement for upgrading of the existing facilities.
This contract constitutes the majority of the works identified as necessary under the Clonlara Sewerage Scheme, and involves new and upgraded collection mains, stormwater drainage and two new pumping stations combined with a 10-kilometre piped connection to Limerick Main Drainage for treatment. The contract was tendered under the new Public Works Contracts and is programmed for completion in the spring.
The scheme, was designed on behalf of Clare County Council by PJ Tobin Consulting Engineers, Limerick office.
Speaking at the contract signing, Mayor of Clare, Councillor Tony Mulcahy welcomed the scheme saying, “given the current climate we are delighted to be in a position to give good news to the county and provide a much-needed boost to economic growth and development in the region”.
Local councillor and Clonlara native Michael Begley added, “We have been waiting with anticipation for this contract to be signed, in  particular given the need for upgraded facilities to replace a system that has been in place for 25 years and has outlived its capablility”.
Councillor Cathal Crowe said he was thrilled to see this project reach this crucial stage. “The people of Clonlara have waited a long time for this day to come. They can now look forward to a modern sewerage facility in the very near future.”
The local community has grown extensively in recent years and this sewage scheme will not only cater for the existing village centre but also future developments,” he said.
Up to 40% of the funding for the scheme will be provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government under the Serviced Land Initiative (SLI) programme.