The Camac River Runs Through Inchicore and Kilmainham. Flowing Down Through Lansdowne Valley

INTRODUCTION:

The Camac River runs through Inchicore and Kilmainham. Flowing down through Lansdowne Valley Park it crosses the Grand Canal and flows behind residential houses on Tyrconnell Rd, then underground through Goldenbridge Industrial Estate and continues down through Inchicore Village on along past Richmond Park, Kilmainham Jail, Kilmainham Mill and eventually meets the River Liffey at Heuston. The proposed Camac Valley Walk; a pedestrian/cycle route along the Camac River, would add strategic linkages and increased permeability across the Kilmainham and Inchicore Area.

The recreational potential amenity of the Camac River has been recognised within certain Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022Policies and Objectives. Strategic Development Regeneration AreasPolicies and Strategic Green NetworkPolicies offer protection to some sections of the River Camac, but not the portion of the Middle Camac River between South Circular Road (SCR) and Davitt Rd. The impact of the inclusion of this stretch of the Camac river within future policy or goal objectives, would be much larger than the sum of its part, offering protection to this section of river will secure the future development of a continuous recreational walk and cycle way amenity from Heuston Station through the Cultural Heritage Quarter outwards through the Village of Inchicore and up almost as far as Drimnagh Castle.

The Middle Camac River is reviewed within the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment of the DCDP 2016-2022, as mainly a Flood Zone A area, limiting developments to extensions onto existing buildings or some changes of use where no increase in flood risk will occur.

The first section of this Report outlines where in the DCDP 2016-2022 reference is made to the Camac River as an amenity. In 2006 the Inchicore Urban Framework Plan, was published. It outlines the proposed development of the greenway along part of the Camac River; this is discussed in Section 2. The third section considers the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) of this section of the Middle Camac River (SFRA Volume 7 of the DCDP 2016-2022).

Section 1: Current Policy status of the Camac River within Dublin City Development Plans 2016-2022.

The Camac River meets the river Liffey at Heuston Station. The stretch of this river from Heuston Station up as far as South Circular Road is referred to in DCDP 2016-2022, as Camac Valley Walk. Chapter 11 of DCDP 2016-2022 outlines how promoting linkages, increasing permeability will also help support the cultural development of the historic quarter between Heuston/Royal Hospital Quarter and the historical villages of Kilmainham and Inchicore, both Strategic Development and Regeneration Areas. This walk will nurture the potential of a diverse cultural quarter extending from Heuston/Royal Hospital Quarter outwards to the historic village of Inchicore “incorporating special natural and built heritage characteristics of the Camac River Valley and Drimnagh Castle” (Section 11.2.5.3.DCDP 2016-2022, pg 186).

The “Lower” Camac stretch of river (South Circular Rd to Heuston) is highlighted within the guiding principles of two Strategic Development and Regeneration Areas (SDRA): SDRA 7 (Heuston & Environs) and SDRA 15 (St James’ Hospital Campus and Environs):

(a)SDRA7 Heuston & Environs: ”To improve pedestrian linkages through and along the edges of key sites including along St. John's Road West and from St. John's Road to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham via Heuston South Quarter. A pedestrian/cycle link is also sought linking Dr. Steeven's Hospital to IMMA via a new path along the banks of the River Camac.”(Guiding Principles no 6, DCDP 2016-2022, Vol. 1ch 15, pg 257)

(b)Later replaced by: To improve pedestrian and cycle linkages throughout the area and through key sites, with a particular focus on seeking the following new linkages/ improvements: (i) along St. John’s Road West; (ii) from St. John’s Road to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham via Heuston South Quarter, subject to agreement with the OPW/RHK, on the nature of the proposed linkage; (iii) from Dr. Steeven’s Hospital to IMMA, with consideration give to a new path along the banks of the River Camac.(Guiding Principle 6. DCDP 2016-2022, Vol 2 pg 368):

(c)SDRA 15 St James’s Hospital Campus & Environs: “No 4: Heuston South Station Quarter: To facilitate mixed-use development located at this strategic gateway to the city centre along St John’s Road West and adjacent to Heuston Station. A riverside walk along the River Camac can provide a strategic connection to the hospital campus via Bow Lane and Mount Brown”.(Guiding Principles no.4, DCDP 2016-2022, Vol 1, Ch. 15 pg. 276).

In the Development Plan, Chapter 11 covers Culture. It states that the “the enhancement and promotion of Dublin as a ‘City of Character and Culture’, promoting an active artistic and cultural community at city-wide and neighbourhood levels is central to making a vibrant city that is an attractive destination for tourists, the residents of the city and the creative industries. Reinforcing existing cultural quarters, nurturing new cultural initiatives that support emerging cultural quarters and enabling access to cultural development at a local level are essential to developing a city’s cultural wealth” (DCDP 2016-2022, ch11.2, p.182). Within the Cultural Hubs and Quarterssection of the Plan it indicates how Dublin City Council has “promoted and encouraged the clustering of cultural activities over the lifetime of previous development plans, building on the success of clusters such as Temple Bar and the south city centre historic core. In addition, the City Council will foster and nurture the potential of a newly identified diverse cultural quarter extending from the Heuston/Royal Hospital Quarter outwards to the historic villages of Inchicore and Chapelizod, incorporating special natural and built heritage characteristics of the Camac River Valley and Drimnagh Castle “ (DCDP, 2016-2022, section 11.2.5.3, pg 186).

It is an Objective of Dublin City Council:

CHCO27: To support the cultural development of those cultural quarters including .....theHeuston/Royal Hospital Quarter and promote linkage to the historic village area of Kilmainham/Inchicore (including industrial heritage sites such as the old mill at Rowserstown Lane), focusing on under-utilised amenity resources, increased permeability, and encouraging a vibrant area in which to work and live while having regard to the grain and historic character of these areas. (DCDP, ch 11,p.184), as outlined in Recommendations above, we suggest that this Objective should be changed to include the Camac River walk.

Dublin City’s Strategic Green Networkis outlined in Chapter 10 of the Development Plan within “Green Infrastructure Open Space and Recreations” section. It is the Policy of Dublin City Council to set the following Policy GOALS:

GI1: “to develop a green infrastructure network though the city, thereby interconnecting strategic natural and semi-natural areas with other environmental features including green spaces, rivers, canals...”

GI3: To develop linear parks, particularly along waterways, and to link existing parks and open spaces in order to provide green chains throughout the city. Where lands along the waterways are in private ownership, it shall be policy in any development proposal to secure public access along the waterway.

GI5:To promote permeability through our green infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists

(DCDP 2016-2022, Vol 1, Ch 10: pg 146).

Within Section 10.5.4Rivers, Canals and the Coastline River walks and cycleways, where appropriate can be developed in the riparian zone if sensitively designed and implemented in consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland.

The Camac Valley Walk proposed development concentrates on the Lower Camac River. The Upper Camac River (between Davitt Rd and Drimnagh Castle) is also protected as an amenity area by both the existence of a park (Lansdowne Valley Park) and a pitch and putt (Drimnagh Pitch and Putt) with plans for an extended cycle route. The inclusion of the Middle Camac River as a protected amenity within the DCDP 2016-2022 policy and objectives would immensely strengthen and enhance permeability, linkages, walkways and cycle paths within and across the Kilmainham and Inchicore Area.

Section 2: Inchicore Urban Framework Plan, 2006.

Offering a vision for Inchicore: A vibrant confident urban village with its own retail high street serving a residential hinterland of older established housing areas and well linked to the city centre; this Urban Framework Plan outlines how the Camac River forms the focus for the proposed green link connecting to the city centre and the River Liffey. It highlights the importance of Kilmainham Mill along this river route and suggests movement and linkage should be provided for both pedestrians and cyclists. It also notes the ecological importance of the Camac and its banks and wildlife corridor, and that this should not be ignored and development should take especial care not to disrupt this function (Inchicore Framework Plan, 2006, pg 30).

Section 3: Sustainable Environmental Infrastructure and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) for Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022

The European Union Water Framework Directive 2000 (WFD) aims to provide a strengthened system for the protection and improvement of water courses and water dependent ecosystems throughout the member states. The Directive is being implemented across Europe and commits all member states to the dual key objectives of preventing deterioration and achieving at least good status in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal and ground waters by the year 2015.(DCDP 2016-2022,Vol 1.,Ch 9,pg 126). DCC is complying with the WFD and has numerous policy goals and objectives to achieve the Directive Goals.

It is an Objective of Dublin City Council:

SIO6: To implement the European Union Water Framework Directive through the implementation of the appropriate River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures. (DCDP2016-2022, Vol 1 Ch 9 pg 129)

Flood management is also a key area that DCC policy needs to implement. The OPW is the lead agency for flood risk management in Ireland and is the national competent authority for the EU Floods Directive. Dublin City Council works in close partnership with the OPW in delivering the objectives of the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme for the major rivers and coastal areas of Dublin city.

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Vol 7 (SFRA) assesses three sections of the Camac River; Lower Camac: South Circular Road to Liffey; Middle Camac: Davitt Road to South Circular Road; Upper Camac: Old Naas Road Boundary to Davitt Road to inform the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022. “The purpose of this work is to provide a broad assessment of flood risk to inform strategic land-use planning decisions, in accordance with ‘The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities and Technical Appendices, 2009'; these Guidelines were issued under the Planning and Development Act 2000, and recognise the significance of proper planning to manage flood risk”. (DCDP 2016-2022, SFRA, Vol.7.pg 47).

Under the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA), Volume 7 of the Draft Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022, Site 18: Middle Camac River is identified as flood risk Zone A and B areas, the main flood cells are located in residential commercial and industrial developments. The OPW Guidelines on Flood Management should be followed. The SRDA states that this area does not benefit from formal flood defences and the area remains at risk to flooding pending further studies. Any new development should avoid flood risk Zones A and B unless defended,except for extension and small infill provided the number of people at flood risk is not increased. Also recommended are that lands that are currently open spaces should be retained as such (DCDP 2016-2022, SFRA, Vol.7.pg 47). This analysis with regard to development along this stretch of the Middle Camac River is reiterated in the Chief Executive’s Recommendations, Vol 2 DCDP 2016-2022, p. 292, in response to submission 3307 with regard to development along Tyrconnell Rd. The request to rezone the land from Z6 to Z3 was rejected and the recommendation was to keep the land zoned Z6(DCDP 2016-2022, Chief Executive Response to submission 3307, p. 311).

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