Durkan urged to do more to local beaches

Durkan urged to do more to local beaches

21 October 2015

THE environmental health of Lecale’s beaches topped the agenda during a Stormont debate yesterday afternoon.

During the session, South Down MLA Chris Hazzard urged Environment Minister Mark Durkan to prioritise the beaches’ health as local people continue the drive to secure prestigious EU bathing water status for beaches stretching from Strangford to Dundrum.

Mr Hazzard said there are more than a dozen beaches dotted along the Lecale coastline, with beautiful scenery and delicate ecosystems. But he warned the absence of the European bathing water designation means Northern Ireland Water is “free to pump sewage into the Irish Sea at various points.”

The MLA argued that unlike North Down’s so-called “gold coast” where EU bathing status was accredited “without any fuss or campaigning,” local communities in South Down are being forced to jump through unwarranted hoops in their campaign to protect and enhance our local coastline. 

Mr Hazzard continued: “Crucially, with EU bathing water status would come a responsibility for NI Water to cease pumping raw sewage into local waters and suitably invest in upgrading the existing sewage infrastructure throughout Lecale.

“This would also have a hugely positive effect for the wider Lecale area as the existing poor sewage infrastructure is often cited as a barrier to economic growth and development in places such as Ballyhornan, Killough and Kilclief.”

The South Down MLA has also welcomed Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s recent decision to establish a beaches forum.

He added: “I have asked Minister Durkan, in partnership with the new forum, to prioritise EU bathing water status as it will be a real catalyst for environmental and economic improvement throughout Lecale.”

Meanwhile, Ulster Wildlife and Lecale Conservation are organising a litter pick along the Killough shoreline next month. Confirmation of the November 4 event comes after Ulster Wildlife co-ordinated Northern Ireland’s Coastwatch surveys, eco-audits of the local coastline completed by enthusiastic citizen scientists.

Volunteer surveyors in Killough discovered the shoreline and its wildlife are suffering from large amounts of litter, rendering the beautiful coast unsightly and unsafe. In order to clean the beach, the litter pick has been organised for Wednesday, November 4, with organisers hoping local people will support the event.

“Keeping on top of litter is an ongoing problem,” said Doris Noe from Lecale Conservation. “All willing hands are welcome to join this litter lift and use this opportunity to find out a bit more about our local wildlife.”

Killough’s shoreline has been made more accessible through a coastal walk known as The Ropewalk, which was recently improved with an added wildlife-friendly area full of nectar-rich plants for birds and pollinators. Ulster Wildlife is also working with community groups all over Northern Ireland to help them protect their local marine wildlife and habitats.

The organisation’s Living Seas Officer, Dave Wall, said marine litter, and in particular plastic waste, is a huge threat to the seas, killing at least a million birds and hundreds of thousands of marine mammals and turtles every year. 

He added: “Plastic litter is not biodegradable and contaminates every aspect of our marine environment, so every local beach clean helps to save wildlife for years to come.”

Anyone interested in taking part in the November 4 litter pick, which is being supported by Newry, Mourne and Down Council, is asked to meet at Quay Lane in Killough at 11am on November 4.For more information contact Dave Wall, telephone (028) 9046 3126 or email Dave.Wall@ulsterwildlife.org.