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Larne lough lives!
4 July 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY 4TH JULY 1997
Friends of the Earth NI are celebrating a major victory following today's announcement from the Department of the Environment NI that it will not be giving the go ahead for Europe's largest superdump at Magheramorne, Larne [1] [2].This decision has also been welcomed by other environmental groups, including The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and The World Wide Fund for Nature.
Dr Robin Curry, Northern Ireland Campaigner with Friends of the Earth, said
“I am delighted by today's announcement. The DoE's decision not to give the go ahead to this superdump demonstrates that they clearly appreciate and understand the issues surrounding landfill as a 'waste disposal' option.
However, it is only a decision on one single application; it does not address the wider issues. Northern Ireland still lacks a coherent waste management strategy [3]. It is still too early to hail today's decision as a 'standard' for future waste management decisions.”
Sharon Morrow, local resident and member of Larne and District FOE, said
“This group of local citizens has actively campaigned against this superdump for the best part of three years now. Today sees the culmination of their efforts, and is a clear example to individuals everywhere throughout NI that they can make a real difference to their local environment.”
Had permission been granted, NI would have been lumbered with the largest landfill site in Europe. Larne Lough, a 'RAMSAR' wetland site of international importance [4], would
have been badly damaged by the chemical leachate leaking from the superdump [5],threatening marine and bird life in the area [6]. It would also have contravened three major EC environment directives [7], and left the Government open to prosecution.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] This proposal went through a six week Public Inquiry last year (30th April- June 1996).The decision has only been made public today.
[2] The landfill site would have covered 160 acres, receiving 300,000 tonnes of rubbish per annum (over the next 30 years). This tonnage represents almost half of NI's total yearly waste, and would have effectively reduced the incentive for materials reuse/ recovery.
[3] DoENI has just completed the public consultation stage in preparing a waste management strategy for NI to bring it into line with existing legislation in England and Wales. FOENI sees this as a great opportunity to create a proactive and far-sighted waste management strategy for NI, one which goes beyond the limitations of the England/ Wales strategy.
[4] Larne Lough was classified on 4th March 1997 as both a Ramsar site and as a Special Protection Area. (Source; DoENI Environment and Heritage Service, 12th March 1997)
[5] Haul waste, the developers, admitted in their Environmental Statement, produced to support their proposal, that 0.9 cubic metres of leachate (liquid run-off from dump to lough and ground water) would be released each day.
[6] Larne Lough is the only breeding colony in Northern Ireland for the Roseate Tern, one of the UK's rarest birds.
[7] -EC directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the “Wild Birds Directive”);
- EC Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora ( the “Habitats Directive”);
- EC Directive 80/68/EEC on the Introduction of Dangerous Substances to Ground Water (the “Ground water Directive”).
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Dec 2008
