2351559
(1) PLANTED SCREENING BERMS, OVER 2 METRES IN HEIGHT, IN AN AREA FORMERLY USED FOR CAR PARKING IN PROXIMITY TO THE PRACTICE PUTTING GREEN AND CLUB HOUSE, (2) AN ACCESSWAY THROUGH THE BERMS, ON LAND FORMERLY PART OF THE CAR PARK, (3) WATER STORAGE TANK AND ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS WITHIN THE MAINTENANCE STORAGE YARD IN THE CENTRE OF THE COURSE. THE WATER TANK WILL BE SUPPLIED PRIMARILY FROM THE EXISTING WATER MAIN WITHIN THE COURSE AND FROM A FUTURE RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM SUPPLIED FROM THE GUTTERS ON THE ROOF OF THE ADJOINING MAINTENANCE SHED. THIS SUPPLY WILL BE IN SUBSITUTION TO THE PRESENT SUPPLY FROM THE EXTRACTION SOURCE APPROVED IN 2004, AND (4) BOUNDARY FENCING ALONG DUNES TO THE NORTH-WESTERN TIP OF THE COURSE, IN AN AREA DESIGNATED IN THE COUNTY DONEGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2018-2024 AS ESPECIALLY HIGH SCENIC AMENITY
Core Refusal Reason
Retention permission was refused primarily because the applicant failed to demonstrate the feasibility of a public water supply to replace stream abstraction and provided insufficient information regarding the sourcing of materials for screening berms, preventing a conclusive Appropriate Assessment screening for the West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicant did not provide sufficient evidence regarding the physical infrastructure or the capacity of Uisce Éireann to facilitate a move to public water mains, which is necessary to prevent continued harmful abstraction from the Clooney_38 Stream.
- The lack of definitive data on the exact locations and quantities of sand and marram grass used to construct the berms makes it impossible to rule out adverse effects on the adjacent SAC habitats.
- In the absence of this critical technical and ecological information, granting retention permission would be premature and contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.