Objections to biogas plant focus on traffic and odour
A public meeting about a proposed biogas development at The Downs warned that up to 60 additional HGV movements would be made through the area every week.
Around 200 people attended the meeting including representatives from the developers Stream BioEnergy Ireland Limited.
At the meeting, Laura Kelly, a resident of The Downs, urged the people of Killucan and Rathwire to lodge objections to plans for the €80 million renewable biogas plant amid concerns about what objectors see as “the impact of heavy goods traffic, potential odours and environmental pollution”.
“It was evident that the community did not want this in our area,” Ms Kelly said of the mood at the meeting.
She said the development could have a greater impact on the Killucan and Rathwire areas than initially anticipated: “We have an unofficial committee, we’ve done a significant amount of research. While we think renewable energy is great, we’re not knocking the idea of the company – it’s just the location is completely unsuitable.”
She said the main concern relates to traffic, and figures presented at the meeting suggest that approximately 15% of HGV movements associated with the facility could pass through Killucan.
“That would amount to an estimated 30 additional HGV journeys travelling to the facility each week, and a further 30 returning, resulting in approximately 60 movements through the village from Monday to Saturday,” Ms Kelly claimed in a social media post.
Residents also raised concerns about the potential for slurry and other material to spill from haulage vehicles, as well as the additional dangers posed to schoolchildren, buses, commuters and vulnerable road users.
Ms Kelly also questioned assurances from the company that there would be no odour, arguing that third-party haulage contractors would be responsible for transporting much of the material.
The proposed development by Stream BioEnergy Ireland Limited involves an €80 million facility on a 4.63-hectare site within the proposed Flynn Renewable Energy Park at Newdown.
The plant would process up to 99,000 tonnes of organic material annually, including food waste, agri-food materials and agricultural manure, producing approximately 80 GWh of renewable biomethane each year for injection into the national gas network.
The company say the development could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 33,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, create 75 construction jobs and provide 16 permanent positions.
Supporters of the project point to its potential contribution to renewable energy production and reducing Ireland’s reliance on imported natural gas.
However, resident groups are encouraging people who believe they will be affected to make their views known through the planning process.
Ms Kelly said the unofficial committee had held clinics to assist people who wanted to object to the proposal: “We have been assisting a few older members of the community who mentioned after the meeting on Tuesday that they really wanted to put in objections, but weren’t 100 percent sure how to go about it. We arranged a drop-in clinic where people could come in and we would assist with objections.”
Objections cost €20 to submit, and a local fund is available to provide financial assistance where required. Volunteers have also arranged sessions at The Downs GAA clubhouse to help residents prepare submissions.
The planning application is before Westmeath County Council, and a decision is anticipated towards the end of November, subject to the statutory planning process.
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