A LIMERICK glass company has given an undertaking to Limerick Circuit Court and to Limerick County Council, that it will return a river to its original course after it moved and altered its flow to accommodate the inclusion of a piece of land within the company’s compound. John Costello of Kilfergus, Glin, gave the assurance at court after a discussion between parties involved agreed that the necessary work be undertaken.
Judge Carroll Moran heard that Mr Costello and Sunfit Holdings altered the course of the Glencorbery River in 2008 to reclaim some land for the company at its plant in Kilfergus, Glin, where Costello Aluminium operates.
The court heard that Limerick County Council were seeking to have the river returned to its original flow after ecological damage had been caused, as well as disturbance to the flood plain meant that flood waters would break the banks and “cause havoc” to the surrounding lands as well all parties involved.
Peter Clein, counsel for the local authority, told the court that the river was re-routed at the end of 2008 to incorporate a portion of ground into the industrial complex.
Following applications made by the Limerick County Council, a court order was put in place that Sunfit Holdings was to carry out the required works to have the river reinstated to it’s original course. The order of May 27, 2009, was still not adhered to and Limerick County Council were seeking to have it enforced.
An undertaking had been given in October 2009 by the company but to date the issue was still unresolved.
The company had sought to carry out stabilisation works to reinforce the banks but the council sought that the river be returned to its original flow.
Judge Carroll Moran indicated that a resolution could be achieved, and both parties briefly adjourned the matter to discuss the issue.
Following the meeting, John Costello said that he, on behalf of the company, would undertake to carry out the initial work to stabilise the river by the end of September and then subsequently carry out the necessary rerouting of the river by April 30 of next year.
Judge Carroll Moran said that he would adjourn the matter until October 5 next and subject to the agreement of Limerick County Council and Inland Fisheries Ireland.
The site of the Glencorbery River at Costelloe Aluminium and the black line indicates the original channel that the flow of the river is to be returned to.
