A study of land-use change and present habitats at Marino Point

- a coastal brownfield site in Cork Harbour

Kathrin Köpke

Contents of the Presentation

1. Introduction2. Objectives3. Introduction to the IFI Brownfield Site4. Material and Methods5. Results/Discussion6. Conclusion

Introduction

European Environment Agency brownfield site definition “Land within the urban area on which development has previously taken place.”often associated with contamination and seen as wastelandsBrownfield site remediation and reuse: can reduce effects pollution, decrease conversion of agricultural and rural areas to urban use, promote economic growth of an area

Introduction

Ecologist view point: new life has colonised the areanon-native and native species in unusual assemblages - often high biological diversity as a transient property of brownfield sitesBrownfield sites can have both, ecological and development value - policies should recognise and determine opportunities to enhance the natural and historical landscape of cities, while providing alternative places to study natural processes and history

Objective

Objectives: Examining historical land-use change, document previous industrial operation and possible impact on the natural environment and recording of semi-natural habitats to provide site specific information concerning the IFI brownfield site on Marino Point in Cork Harbour

Introduction to the IFI Brownfield site

Introduction to the IFI Brownfield site

situated on Great Island 5km from Cobheastern boundary Cork-Cobh railway and main road from Cork to Cobhaquatic boundaries to the south and westnorthern boundary adjacent to intertidal mudflats that form part of Natura 2000 site, the Great Island Channel

Materials and Methods

Three different phases of Data collection, processing and analyses: desktop study: Cork County Files

description land-use change; Cork County Files and EPA files Tables operational phase of Industry on the siteGeographical Information System (GIS): historic maps historic land use/land-use change on the siteField visits and GIS: describing and mapping semi-natural habitats of the site

Results/Discussion

History of the Land-use Change from Rural to Industrial:Marino Point originally owned by Colonel Stuart French1966 planning permission for residential development of the site1972 refused planning permission for residential development - the area was zoned for port-related industrial development in the draft of the Cork County Development Plan

Results/Discussion

March 1974 Nitrigin Eireann Teoranta (N.E.T.) applied for planning permission to produce ammonia and ureaOver 60 residents objected by July, 1974 - cite effects of industry on flora, fauna and marine lifeThe Chief Planning Assistant July, 1974 -adjoining areas to the north and east designated for scenic and recreational amenity value, direct impacts on the environmental quality of the region, damaging effect on the scenic amenities of Fota

Results/Discussion

N.E.T. revised planning application August 1974August 13, 1974, Mr. T. J. B. Kelleher refused the N.E.T. planning application as acting Chief Planning Assistant because of visual and landscape criteriaAugust 26, 1974 Cork County Council granted planning permissionSeptember 1974 over 100 appeals by residents of the surrounding area and organisations such as An Taisce showing concerns of the effects on the flora, fauna and marine life of such an industry

Results/Discussion

The Minister of the Local Government granted permission April 23, 1975 1975 start land reclamation to the northOn February 13, 1976 N.E.T. entered into a Bond with Cork County Council with £500,000In the 1979 N.E.T. plant was finally commissioned and working satisfactorily since the second half of the yearThe company registered and became Irish Fertiliser Industries (I.F.I.) in 1987 entering a joint venture with the United Kingdom based company Imperial Chemical Industries plc. (I.C.I.)

Results/Discussion

Cork County Council recordsDate: January 29, to February 04, 1979 Issue: Noise complaints Notice: Request of information by CouncilDate: May 05,1979 Issue: Ammonia leakNotice: Odour nuisanceCork County Council, 1979-3Date: June 28, 1979 Issue: Ammonia release Notice: Medical treatment of schoolchildren on a bus at public roadDate: July 02,1979 Issue: Ammonia release at jetty Notice: Scorching of vegetation in adjoining wood and at public roadDate: August, 1979 Issue: Unprocessed gas flares Notice: Council concern regarding visibility for low flying aircraft

Results/Discussion

Date: January 08, 1980 Issue: Emergency Procedure Notice: N.E.T. submitted an Emergency Procedure Manual for the County CouncilDate: July 03, 1980 Issue: Ammonia emission Notice: Correspondence between Gardai and council regarding non-notification of incidentsDate: August 13, 1980 Issue: Ammonia flaring Notice: High Court Order requesting equipment for flaringDate: March 10, 1981 Issue: Plant shut down Notice: Gas burned to atmosphere Cork Date: April, 1981 Issue: Emergency Procedures Notice: N.E.T updated the Emergency ProceduresDate: July 03, 1991 Issue: Licence Notice: Cork County Council grants a licence to IFI under the Air Pollution Act, 1987

EPA Records

EPA file: 1995 June to December Complaints: 3 odour complaints, 1 noise complaint Plant shut down: 2 non compliance: 7 Bord na Mona: 2 reports Groundwater contaminated by nitrogen components; Other records: August 24, IFI apply for IPC licence

EPA file: 1996 Complaints: 2 odour complaints; 1 complaint regarding bird kill in the area Plant shut down: 5 Reports of non compliance: 10 Bord naMona: One reports Groundwater contaminated by nitrogen components Other records: EPA grants IPC licence

Results/Discussion

Results/Discussion

EPA file: 1997 Complaints: 16 odour complaints; 10 noise complaints; Ongoing complaints regarding brown/yellow fumesPlant shut down: 9non compliance: 15Bord na Mona: 3 reports verifying Groundwater contaminated by nitrogen components; Other records: July 24, IFI is summons to Court by EPA regarding the breaching of Ammonia emission; August 18, Fobairt report “The acute toxicity of two IFI samples to selected aquatic species”

Results/Discussion

EPA file: 1998Complaints: 38 odour complaints;18 noise complaints Plant shut down: 10non compliance: 12Bord na Mona: 2 reports on Groundwater levels of nitrate exceed European standards and migration of groundwater in north-western directionOther records: February 24, release of 80 to 100 kg ammonia to air during plant shut down; April 04, Cork County Council letter to EPA ask if there is a study on vegetation damage in the area; August, EPA letter to Environmental Alliance Ltd. EPA performed no independent monitoring and study of natural environment after plant shut down

Results/Discussion

EPA file: 1999 Complaints: 2 odour complaints; 19 noise complaints Plant shut down: 3 non compliance: 11Bord na Mona: 2 reports Groundwater contaminated by nitrogen components Other records: noneEPA file - 2000 Complaints: 1 odour complaint; 5 noise complaints Plant shut down: 6 non compliance: 10Bord na Mona: none Other records: noneEPA file: 2001 Complaints: none Plant shut down: 3non compliance: 4 Bord na Mona: none Other records: noneEPA file: 2002 January to July Complaints: none Plant shut down: 3 non compliance: 5 Bord na Mona: none Other records: none

Results/Discussion

Results/Discussion

Results/Discussion

Results/Discussion

Results/Discussion

The area of Marino House and the garden holds mixed habitats

Results/Discussion

Area 2 mixed habitat area, containing two areas of amenity grasslands (GA2), situated between areas of scattered trees (WD5) and mixed broadleaved/conifer woodland (WD2)

Results/Discussion

Area 3 is the derelict site with habitat ED3-Recolonising bare ground

Results/Discussion

Area 4 an elevated rockface dominated by mixed broadleaved woodland (WD1)

Results/Discussion

Area 8 the tidal pond area, contains amenity grassland (GA2) and a water body

Conclusion

land-use change between 1975-79 from rural to industrial fragmented the landscape habitat loss in comparison to land-use change during the previous 133 years. current legislation new development on this site impacts assessed during construction and final development itself landscape character and habitats on and adjacent to the site.

Conclusion

Cork County Council and EPA records improved legislation monitoring, assessment and control over discharges and emissions to the environment improved production phase NET and subsequently IFI could have affected surrounding habitats of the site adversely records demonstrate not adequately assessed if, how and to what extent habitats were affected

Conclusion

current legislation similar new development at this site assess impacts of non-compliances and incidents on the surrounding habitat especially the designated mudflats north to Marino Point determining current status (baseline data) of designated areas habitat quality new development would not adversely affect the integrity of these habitats communication and coordination of environmental assessments between the EPA and the NPWS is essential

Conclusion

Groundwater quality has to be tested to determine if clean-up measures are requiredAny new development should not adversely affect the groundwater qualityHistoric features and the habitats on Marino Point that soften ecotones to any new development should be preserved. These habitats can act as transient zones to the adjacent environment and should be maintained and supported to improve the continuity of the landscape.

Thank You