PROPOSAL: Change KA 16, "Protect and improve air quality in the Town, especially in relation to reducing particulate matter", to “Protect, improve, monitor, and publicize the air quality in the Town...
2.3 Climate Action
Closed6 Dec, 2021, 12:01am - 23 Feb, 2022, 5:01pm
2.3 Climate Action
(See also Volume 1; Chapter 2 – Achieving a Sustainable Future)
2.3.1 Climate Action in Killarney
Kerry County Council will seek to incorporate the national policy on climate change - - the national climate objective of a “transition to climate resilient, biodiversity rich the goal of achieving a “low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable climate neutral economy by the end of the year 2050”- and The European “Green Deal” into the regeneration of Killarney as part of its commitment to tackling the challenge of climate change. Specific climate actions for Killarney have been incorporated into Kerry County Council’s Climate Adaptation Strategy 2019 - 2024. Actions for biodiversity are being included in the Biodiversity Action Plan 2022-2028 which forms part of the County Development Plan.
The future development of Killarney and its growth 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 Killarney, an increase in alternative modes of transport and a renewed focus on the development of infill and brownfield sites.
The redevelopment of 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 in the town and National Park 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.
2.3.2 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. It is recognised that interweaving the Town of Killarney with the National Park can support the health and leisure of the resident urban population and enable town dwellers to reconnect and experience nature and wildlife in their daily lives.
In the context of Killarney there is a significant opportunity to connect the built and natural environment, merging the large open space natural resources of the Park 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 Killarney National Park.
2.3.2.1 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 - provides habitats for flora and fauna to thrive and thereby enhances our biodiversity. 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. Killarney benefits from an abundance of rich natural resources such as the National Park, surrounding mountains and lakes. Where appropriate, these should be interconnected more seamlessly through green and blue infrastructure in order to benefit both residents and tourists alike.
|
Climate Action Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: |
|
|
KA 15 |
Align the sustainable development and renewal of Killarney with the National Transition Objective, the RSES, The National Climate Action Plan 2019, the European Commission policy initiatives of the European ‘Green Deal’. |
|
KA 16 |
Protect and improve air quality in the Town, especially in relation to reducing particulate matter. |
|
KA 17 |
Ensure that all new developments in the Town are energy efficient and reflect the sustainability ethos in their approach to development. |
|
KA 18 |
Strengthen Killarney’s existing green and blue Infrastructure and facilitate its sustainable expansion in line with The EU’s Biodiversity Strategy 2030. |
2.3.3 Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park contains the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland covering 10,236 hectares (26,000 acres). This is of high ecological value because of the quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species that it accommodates. The park was designated an UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1981. After a review in 2017, the area of the Biosphere Reserve was extended to include areas outside the National Park and the name changed to the Kerry Biosphere Reserve that we know today. While it is home for both the Oak and yew woodland, it is Ireland’s only known breeding ground for the native herd of Red Deer.
Map 2.1: Kerry Biosphere Reserve
The National Park and Wildlife Services (NPWS) in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are responsible for the Management of Killarney National Park. The Kerry Biosphere Reserve is managed in partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Kerry County Council and South Kerry Development Partnership, who have supported the role of Biosphere Officer to assist in coordinating actions to achieve the objectives of the Biosphere Reserve.
|
Killarney Town Strategic Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: |
|
|
KA 19 |
Maintain and conserve the conservation value of the Killarney National Park as a European site (365 and 4038), a National Park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Rivers Flesk and Deenagh (part of a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC))during the lifetime of this plan and to ensure a screening determination for an Appropriate Assessment is carried out where development projects are likely to have significant effects on this European site whether within or outside the boundary of the European site. |
|
KA 20 |
Ensure developments in the plan area, particularly within brownfield sites, are informed by Lesser Horseshoe Bat surveys and impact assessments where appropriate, undertaken by a suitably qualified individual. |
|
KA 21 |
Ensure that there is no significant increase in artificial light intensity adjacent to roosts named in the Conservation Objective Report for the Killarney National Park, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh River Catchment SAC (Oct 2017) or along commuting routes within 2.5km of those roosts. |
|
KA 22 |
Work with relevant stakeholders to protect biodiversity within the town’s environs and to ensure that future development is sensitive to Killarney’s location close to the Killarney National Park, European/Natura 2000 Sites and the Kerry UNESCO Biosphere. |
2.3.4 Natural Heritage
The town of Killarney benefits greatly from its position adjoining the Natura 2000 site - Killarney National Park, MacGillycuddy’ s Reeks and Caragh River Catchment SAC. The landscape and public open space of the park and adjoining and surrounding natural amenities 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 along with key relevant stakeholders will strive to protect and enhance the landscape and physical beauty of the natural heritage of the Town.
|
Natural Heritage Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: |
|
|
KA 23 |
Promote the sensitive integration and access to natural heritage and associated recreation facilities, having regard to environmental designations in the area. |
|
KA 24 |
Ensure that all plans and projects follow Article 6 of the Habitats Directive and that the ecological integrity of Natura 2000 sites is safeguarded. |
|
KA 25 |
Ensure that there is no significant decline in the extent of potential foraging habitat or significant loss of linear features / commuting routes associated with Lesser Horseshoe Bat Roosts named in the Conservation Objective Report for the Killarney National Park, MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Creagh River Catchment SAC (Oct 2017). |
|
KA 26 |
Protect non designated habitats and species, local biodiversity features and to maintain and enhance ecological corridors and natural features of the landscape such as hedgerows, trees, rivers, lakes, parklands, ponds and roadside verges. |
|
KA 27 |
Seek to achieve a sustainable pattern of development which will facilitate the conservation of natural resources and habitats and minimise pollution. SuDS and other nature-based solutions will be encouraged for the protection of water quality. |
|
KA 28 |
Promote the integration and improvement of natural watercourses in development proposals having regard to the IFI’s ‘Planning for Watercourses in the Urban Environment’. |
|
KA 29 |
Work with stakeholders to promote biodiversity in the town including swift nest box projects boxes and actions from the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan such as recommendations for grassland management and pollinator friendly planting schemes/landscaping. |
|
KA 30 |
Ensure the protection of existing trees in the town and undertake a Tree Management Strategy over the lifetime of the plan. Where appropriate, proposed developments will require a comprehensive tree survey undertaken by a suitably qualified arboriculturist. |
2.3.5 Flood Risk
The OPW have identified preferred flood mitigation infrastructure to any mitigate flood risk in the CFRAM Flood Risk Management Plan for Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay River Basin (UOM 22). It is an objective of this plan to facilitate the implementation of this infrastructure 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 Killarney that are risk of flooding are included in section 2.12.
|
Flood Risk Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: |
|
|
KA 31 |
Protect the town’s existing floodplains and wetlands from inappropriate development in recognition of their function as attenuators and conveyors of flood water. |
|
KA 32 |
Implement the recommendations and provisions of the Planning Guidelines on the Planning System and Flood Risk Management (DoEHLG 2009), (UOM 22) and ensure that flood risk assessment policies, plans or projects are compliant with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive. |
|
KA 33 |
Facilitate the construction of any flood mitigation infrastructure identified in the CFRM Flood Management Plans for UOM 22. |
Contents
Observations
Observations
Regarding Objective KA 16
This objective to protect and improve the air quality in Killarney needs to be fulfilled. In an Irish Times report from 1/07/2020 states from an EPA report that even...
In addition to what is stated in objective KA 25, KCC should investigate opportunities to extend foraging areas and increase linear features such as hedgerows, treelines and stone walls in the Town...
Killarney Town Development Plan objective KA 21 is to ensure that there is no significant increase in artificial light intensity. It is very important to ensure that this objective is achieved since...