Coirib go Cósta flood works for Galway City

08-05-2021 11:01pm #1

After many, many years of talking about it, this appears to be finally underway.

It's looking like it's going to cover a fairly extensive area along the coastline

Public consultation on €10 million flood defence scheme to begin this summer

Full story - https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/121333/public-consultation-on-10-million-flood-defence-scheme-to-begin-this-summer

Quay walls from the docks area, via Long Walk, Spanish Arch, and along the Claddagh Basin and Nimmo’s Pier to be part of plan.

Public consultations will be held within the next six weeks on a proposed €10 million flood defence scheme for The Claddagh and Galway city centre.

The proposed Galway City Flood Relief Scheme is likely to include the erection of a series of quay walls running from the docks area, via Long Walk and the Spanish Arch, and continuing on the other side of the River Corrib along the Claddagh Basin and Nimmo’s Pier.

The plan also proposes further flood defences near housing areas, and localised land and road raising in Salthill to cope with wave overtopping risks. More than 900 properties are expected to be protected from flooding under the plan.

Zzippy · 09-05-2021 2:15pm

If walls are inevitable, I hope they are low in height, but with the facility to add temporary barriers on top when flooding is forecast. We don't need 4ft high walls, when big tides combined with storm surge only overtop by a small amount. Low walls will cope with most floods and could actually add to the public realm by providing seating.

EDIT: Critical to keep the OPW a million miles away from this project, or we'll have 6ft concrete walls and no view of the river.

Mrs OBumble · 09-05-2021 2:29pm

Zzippy wrote: »

If walls are inevitable, I hope they are low in height, but with the facility to add temporary barriers on top when flooding is forecast. We don't need 4ft high walls, when big tides combined with storm surge only overtop by a small amount. r.

The coroner has bedb recommending walls for YEARS.

Our only response should be about bl**dy time.

09-05-2021 2:40pm

Hopefully any walls by the Spanish are will be back from the river and keep that area with seating open. Sitting at the river on a sunny day is one of the great things about Galway.

There are already steps down from the road at the bridge, a wall could wrap around the outside from here and use this as an entrance down into that public space.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

The coroner has bedb recommending walls for YEARS.

Link?

Zzippy · 09-05-2021 5:47pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

The coroner has bedb recommending walls for YEARS.

Our only response should be about bl**dy time.

Yes, because walls are a clear deterrent to people intent on suicide. "Oh hang on, there's a wall. Well, that's that.I've changed my mind."

Anyone who thinks keeping people intent on jumping in a river out of the river is a simple matter of infrastructure needs to cop on.

gordongekko · 09-05-2021 7:35pm

Ah just build the wall. What do we need a consultation for? If the wall was there 100 yrs ago we wouldn't be having a consultation now about knocking it down. Just get on with things and defend the city from flooding

Mrs OBumble · 09-05-2021 7:50pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Yes, because walls are a clear deterrent to people intent on suicide. "Oh hang on, there's a wall. Well, that's that.I've changed my mind."

Anyone who thinks keeping people intent on jumping in a river out of the river is a simple matter of infrastructure needs to cop on.

Here is but one of many links: https://connachttribune.ie/call-for-barrier-at-waterway-where-teen-drowned-146/

Anyone who think that every person who enters the water intended to do so really needs to cop on.

Some are intentional for sure, and nothing will stop them. ( Though making it more difficult gives more chances for intervention.)

But plenty are accidental, especially in an area with high level of alcohol use. Barriers will stop some.

09-05-2021 8:07pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Here is but one of many links: https://connachttribune.ie/call-for-barrier-at-waterway-where-teen-drowned-146/

That's a call for barriers at that point on the Distillery River - unrelated to this type of flood protection works. It's a serious drop into the rocky stream there too.

IMO a wall along the waters edge will be a bigger danger as it'll be an attractive place to sit up on for some after a few drinks. We lost a young man a couple of years ago who sat up on one of the bridge walls and accidentally fell backwards. At least sitting on the ground with legs dangling you're unlikely to fall forward.

cooperguy · 09-05-2021 9:57pm

Did I not see something before about them putting glass barriers between the spanish arch and wolfe tone bridge?

Any link to the actual consultation, I cant find it!

Mrs OBumble · 09-05-2021 10:20pm

VanWildcard wrote: »

That's a call for barriers at that point on the Distillery River - unrelated to this type of flood protection works. It's a serious drop into the rocky stream there too.

IMO a wall along the waters edge will be a bigger danger as it'll be an attractive place to sit up on for some after a few drinks. We lost a young man a couple of years ago who sat up on one of the bridge walls and accidentally fell backwards. At least sitting on the ground with legs dangling you're unlikely to fall forward.

Visit Waterford to see a counterexample

10-05-2021 3:03am

cooperguy wrote: »

Did I not see something before about them putting glass barriers between the spanish arch and wolfe tone bridge?

Any link to the actual consultation, I cant find it!

It's not begun yet, this is just basically a heads up that it's coming

31-05-2021 9:05pm

The consultation is open for this now

Galway City Council is inviting members of the public to a non-statutory Public Engagement Day to learn about the Coirib go Cósta Galway City Flood Relief Scheme.

The virtual room for the scheme is launching at 9am on June 1, and will remain open for a five week period until July 7.

During this time, people can learn about the scheme, and submit their feedback to the City Council.

You can view info on this scheme here - http://www.coiribgocosta.ie/

Alternatively the 12 min video below covers a lot of the main info

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3JEmK4P0zk

31-05-2021 9:19pm

Some bits that might be of interest

Play around with the map that shows flooding, scheme limits etc

Infographic blurb

Timeline

Scheme area (in red)

Communications plan, with public engagement sections highlighted by me

01-06-2021 12:47pm

These 3D consultation rooms that they now love to use are a nuisance.

01-06-2021 1:58pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

These 3D consultation rooms that they now love to use are a nuisance.

You're not wrong however they are a vast improvement considering how few consultations were accessible online before they started using them.

Ficheall · 01-06-2021 2:37pm

I'm obviously misreading, since those estimates seem low in places... 1 in 10 year flood for Flood St and prom flooded once in 200 years?
If someone could point out what I'm misinterpreting, I'd appreciate it.

01-06-2021 3:09pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You're not wrong however they are a vast improvement considering how few consultations were accessible online before they started using them.

They could make the content much more presentable online without have to walk around a virtual room and click on posters. These virtual consultation rooms are a silly trend at the moment.

cooperguy · 01-06-2021 8:47pm

Only had an initial look so far but its slightly disappointing that they have limited the "scheme area" to half way down the coast road on the way into Oranmore. That road is a known flood risk and that road is being actively developed for housing right now, with plenty more planned in the future

28-06-2021 11:06pm

Take note, no plans to extend protections out as far as Rusheen Bay which will likely result in the loss of Silverstrand in years to come through natural erosion

Galway flood relief scheme to take at least 7 years, meeting hears

Full story - https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2021/0628/1231864-galway-flood-relief/

A planned flood relief scheme for Galway city will take at least another seven years to complete.

Galway City Council has been given a briefing on plans to install defences along the coastline from Salthill into the city, and along the banks of the Corrib.

However it is anticipated that a planning application will not be lodged until 2024, with the project going to tender in 2025.

Initial estimates suggest the scheme would cost in the region of €9.3 million. The project would protect a total of 312 properties at risk of flooding, during winter storms and high tides.

Hydrology and environmental assessments are underway at present and will take until 2023 to complete.

Fianna Fáil Councillor John Connolly expressed concern about areas west of Salthill, under the remit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which are not covered by the plan.

Ms Kilcoyne told the meeting that NPWS was in favour of "natural occurrences" to continue in the area in and around Rusheen Bay, even if it meant losing part of the habitat.

Cllr Connolly said a 2007 assessment found this could ultimately result in the loss of Silver Strand beach.

Council efforts to undertake protection works in the area have been repeatedly stymied and this area is "unlikely" to form part of the latest planned flood relief works.

28-06-2021 11:52pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Take note, no plans to extend protections out as far as Rusheen Bay which will likely result in the loss of Silverstrand in years to come through natural erosion

Doesn't sound like that would fit within flood relief works anyway, more coastal protection which is surely a different thing. The rock armour was recently built up at Silverstrand, when they closed it for a few weeks.

03-10-2021 2:21pm

Looks like we'll be waiting a while longer as timelines are already slipping

https://connachttribune.ie/galways-new-flood-defences-will-take-a-decade-to-complete/

30-11-2021 10:27pm

Still saying 2027 for these defences, honestly can't see it this decade

https://galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/opw-minister-visiting-city-to-discuss-planned-e10m-flood-defence-scheme/

03-12-2021 5:59pm

https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/126111/progress-on-flood-relief-works-for-salthill

CowboyTed · 17-12-2021 1:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117120017#Comment_117120017

You can easily have a wall with a cap that slopes in or out which wouldn't comfortable to sit on..

18-05-2023 11:20am

An update on the project (named Coirib go Cósta) was given to the council on 18th May

The areas referenced in the CFRAM (Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management) report for flood relief works are:

Nimmos Pier
Cladday Quay
Raven Place & Eglinton Canal
Wolfe Tone Bridge
Merchants Quay
Long Walk & New Docks
Salthill Area 1
Salthill Area 2

In the latest update it was stated

The initial indications are that the scheme that will be required to provide flood risk protection for Galway City to the OPW design requirements (1 in 100 year river event & 1 in 200 year Coastal event) will be significantly more substantial than that which was outlined through the CFRAM process. This will present both a significant challenge and opportunity for the city to enhance areas through public realm improvements whilst incorporating flood protection measures.

They are looking at a variety of different solutions for different sections