A West Cork grassroots campaign group, Stop The Spin, has issued a stark warning regarding the significant planned disruption and environmental impact associated with the proposed Maughanaclea Hills wind farm underground cabling route, as new details emerge regarding the extent of planned infrastructure works.
According to information circulated by developer, Enerco Energy, the project will require approximately 20.5 kilometres of underground high-voltage cabling, running from the proposed wind farm site on the Maughanaclea Hills to the existing substation at Dunmanway.
Crucially, this cabling is intended to be installed primarily within the public road network, with vast stretches of countryside roads excavated, trenched and reinstated over a prolonged construction period. The works will involve the continuous excavation of the R585, L4909, L4609, L4615, L587 all the way down to the R586. These roads are typically single lane and were never intended for excavation or heavy construction traffic.
Stop The Spin spokesperson Noelle Aller Ontalba said: “Enerco’s proposed works will undoubtedly cause significant and prolonged disruption to our local communities, who are already deeply concerned about the developer’s proposed industrial-scale wind farm close to Bantry. Enerco’s own literature states that only 100 – 150 metres will be completed per day. At this rate, the grid construction phase will extend over many months. There will be ongoing road closures, diversions and restricted access causing severe disruption to residents, farmers, local businesses, tourists and many more. Continuous heavy machinery along country roads will also have a detrimental effect on roadside habitats, hedgerows and biodiversity areas.”
Noëlle adds: “While the developer indicated that cabling will be located within the ‘public road corridor’, this raises concerns for our community regarding the proximity of works to private property boundaries, potential encroachment and access issues during construction plus the long term high voltage infrastructure adjacent to homes. There remains widespread confusion among residents regarding their rights in relation to such works, particularly where road boundaries intersect with private dwellings and land. We are urging the public to study this
proposed underground cabling route on www.stopthespin.ie and include its impact on local communities – already living under the threat of Enerco’s proposed 14 turbine wind farm.”
Noelle concludes: “A newly emerging comparison has arisen with the ongoing construction of the Railyard development in Cork city. This residential tower is set to become Ireland’s tallest residential building with a height of 85.35 metres. To put that into perspective, the proposed Maughanaclea wind turbines will reach a height of 169 metres, almost twice the size of the Railyard development and will fundamentally forever change the sensitive landscapes of The Maughanaclea Hills and rural lands of Kealkill, Coomclogh, Cousane and the Mealagh Valley.”
Stop the Spin campaign is urging the public to be aware that Enerco’s application has now being lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) and has been granted Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) status. https://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/case/324165
The public will have just six weeks to review extensive documentation, but it is vital to have an understanding of the scale of what is being proposed and write submissions (objections) to ACP. There is no standard right of appeal following the decision.
Help and advice on how to object is available on www.stopthespin.ie
Spokesperson for Stop The Spin
Noelle Aller Ontalba
086 806 7474
noelle.aller.ontalba@icloud.com
