Andrew Doyle TD has welcomed the announcement that The Minister for Natural Resources has applied for planning permission to Wicklow County Council to undertake essential public health and safety works at Tigroney West, Avoca, Co. Wicklow.
“After on-going dialogue with the Minister and Stakeholders, I very much welcome that the intent of these works is to address the serious public health and safety issues that are a legacy of the mining era at Avoca. The works will conserve certain mine heritage features on the site, including the ore bins, the ‘850 adit’ portal and ‘flat rod tunnel’, all of which are in poor condition. There will be improvements to the local environment as a result of better water management” Doyle said
It is proposed to regrade and cover the spoils area to prevent further contamination of groundwater and run-off to the Avoca River as well as capturing drainage and surface run-off from the site. The surface water on site will be managed by a series of channels and through piping the mine discharge from the ‘850 adit’ underneath the spoils to a constructed culvert. These works will have a measurable positive impact on water quality in the river, which is contaminated from legacy mine discharges.
Capping of the spoils will protect the local community and visitors to the Avoca area from any exposure to the spoils material and mitigate any health risk. The capped surface will be landscaped in a manner similar to the local surroundings. The ore bins and cribbing will be removed for repair and restoration and then re-erected at their current location during the works.
Construction works commence upon receipt of planning permission and are expected to take 3-4 months to complete. An industrial archaeologist will supervise the heritage aspects of the works and measures will be taken to minimise inconvenience to the local community.
“When these works are completed, it is hoped that consequential improvements in public access will reveal the tourism potential in the area and local environs. This may enable local voluntary organisations to pursue their aspirations to develop tourism opportunities around the industrial heritage at this part of the former mine site at Avoca, Co Wicklow” Concluded Doyle