Town Planning Committee 15 March 2006
From Nigov
Wednesday, 15th March, 2006
Contents |
SPECIAL MEETING OF TOWN PLANNING COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor Patterson (Chairman); and Councillors Campbell, Hanna, Hendron, Lavery, McCarthy, McClenaghan, McKenzie, Moore, O'Neill, Rodway, Smyth and Stalford.
In attendance
Department of the Environment Water Service – Capital Works Programme – 2006/2008
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 8th September, it had agreed to hold a special meeting to receive from representatives of the Water Service a presentation in respect of its Capital Works Programme 2006-2008 for the Belfast City Council area. Copies of the Programme, together with a map indicating the location of the various schemes within the City boundary, had previously been circulated.
The Chairman (Councillor Patterson) welcomed to the meeting Mr. W. Duddy, Director of Customer Services, and Mr. G. Smith, Head of Network Services, Area South West.
Mr. Duddy informed the Committee that the investment planned by the Water Service for the Belfast City Council area had increased significantly and that a number of major schemes had commenced which would bring direct benefit to the City. In this regard, he referred to the undernoted major works which were ongoing currently within the Council area:
- the replacement of the Donore to Hyde Bank pumping station;
- the Belfast Sewers Rehabilitation Project;
- the upgrade and refurbishment of the Donore and Castor Bay Waste Treatment Works; and
- the provision of a new sludge disposal facility at Duncrue Street.
Mr. Duddy indicated that the Water Service aimed to upgrade its network across Northern Ireland in order to comply with environmental and drinking water quality standards. To this end, the Service would be investing £735m in upgrading the water and sewage infrastructure.
In respect of the Belfast area, Mr. Duddy stated that the Water Service had a long-term key objective of delivering first class water and waste services. The Service, he indicated, sought to deliver to customers the best services at the most cost effective price.
In response to a question, Mr. Duddy agreed to provide a Member with further information regarding works which were ongoing in the Ballygomartin Road/Forthriver area.
During discussion, a number of Members enquired as to the overall costs anticipated in upgrading the whole of the network in order to comply with European directives in the longer term.
In response, Mr. Duddy estimated that a figure of £3 billion was required over a twenty year period to address such need. He indicated that the current capital works would assist in this process.
After further discussion, the Committee noted the contents of the Water Service’s Capital Works Programme 2006/2008 for the Belfast City Council area and the comments of the Director of Customer Services and the Network Manager. The Chairman (Councillor Patterson) thanked Messrs. Duddy and Smith for their attendance and the information which they had provided.
Chairman
