1.3 Climate Action

1.3 Climate Action

(See also Volume 1; Chapter 2 – Achieving a Sustainable Future)

1.3.1 Climate Action in Tralee

Kerry County Council will seek to incorporate the national policy on climate change - the National Transition Objective -the goal of achieving a “low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by the end of the year 2050”- and The European “Green Deal” into the regeneration of Tralee as part of its commitment to tackling the challenge of climate change. Specific climate actions for Tralee will be incorporated into Kerry County Councils forthcoming Climate Action Plan and have already been incorporated into Kerry County Council’s Climate Adaptation Strategy 2019 - 2024.  Actions for biodiversity have been included in Kerry County Council’s second Biodiversity Action Plan 2022-2028 which forms part of the County Development Plan. 

The future development of Tralee and its renewal will focus on the development of higher-density neighbourhoods, co-working opportunities, smarter use of information technologies and patterns of mixed land use which can help reduce the need to travel and the development of a circular economy. There must be a reduction of the dependence on and use of vehicular traffic in Tralee, an increase in alternative modes of transport and a renewed focus on the development of infill and brownfield sites.

The redevelopment of designated infill and brownfield sites in the town centre and the tackling of dereliction in the area is key to continued compact growth of the town, in accordance with the National Planning Framework and the RSES, creating more sustainable communities within the town. The refurbishment and re-use of the historic buildings to apply best practice in energy efficiency will also contribute to reducing carbon emissions and contribute to the creation of new sustainable communities.

The improvement of the public realm and its focus on strengthening pedestrian and cycling links into, through and further linkages to the wider cycle network is key to the future sustainability of alternative transport modes.  Creating an attractive town core with a high-quality environment and amenity offering will enhance the attractiveness of the town as a residential and business base.

1.3.2 Biodiversity

In terms of biodiversity and open space, it is an objective of the council to protect and enhance the natural heritage of the town. This can support health and leisure of urban populations and enable town dwellers to reconnect and experience nature and wildlife in their daily lives. In the context of Tralee there is significant emphasis on the interconnectivity of the built and natural environment, sustainably merging the large open space natural resources of the town as a seamless part of the Urban experience, providing areas of natural habitat interwoven into an improved public realm, which lead to the wide expanse of the Tralee Town Park, and the Tralee Bay Experience.

1.3.2.1 Green and Blue Infrastructure

Strong communities and a thriving economy need a healthy natural environment. Green and blue (waterways, rivers etc) infrastructure within our environment – built and natural - provide habitats for flora and fauna to thrive and thereby enhances our biodiversity.

Tralee benefits from rich natural resources such as Tralee Bay, the surrounding mountains, and the river valley system as a seamless part of the urban experience, providing areas of natural habitat interwoven into an improved public realm. The plan supports the protection, enhancement and creation of biodiversity in the public realm such as nature-based solutions for management of water run-off, actions from the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and where compatible with the town’s architectural heritage, installing swift nest boxes.

1.3.3 Natural Heritage

The town of Tralee benefits from its position along the Lee Valley, by Tralee Bay and  flanked by the   impressive  elevated  landscapes  of the Slieve Mish and Stacks mountain ranges.  The landscape, public open space and the Town Park  are  a  combination  of  natural  and  man-made  features  and  are  enjoyed by people of the town and visitors alike. The Council recognises the importance of these features and will strive to protect and enhance the landscape and physical beauty of the Town and the surrounding area.

1.3.4 Flood Risk

The OPW have identified preferred flood mitigation infrastructure to mitigate flood risk arising from the river network and from the coast in the CFRAM Flood Risk Management Plan for Tralee Bay – Feale River Basin (UOM 23). It is an objective of this plan to facilitate the implementation of this infrastructure and the Tralee flood relief scheme subject to project level environmental assessments.  For more details regarding flood risk management see Chapter 11 Environment, Chapter 13 Water and Waste Management and the Development Management Standards and Guidelines.

A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment has been carried out for this plan and has informed the land use zonings. Flood Maps indicating those areas in Tralee that are risk of flooding are included in Section 1.12.

1.3.5 District Heating

The Council has taken a proactive approach in the use of renewable energy to cater for housing needs as is evident by the installation of a wood chip District Heat System for the social housing scheme at the Mitchells Boherbee Regeneration Project. It is a policy objective of the Council to ensure its new housing is of a low-energy design and supplied by renewable energy for heating where feasible.