Bandon Flood Relief Scheme
Protecting 392 properties with a €30.5m flood defence scheme
Client:
Office of Public Works (OPW)
Cork County Council
Location:
Cork, Ireland
Dates:
2011- 2020
Capital Investment
€30.5 M
Sector:
Sub-Sector:
Overview
Background: Bandon, an area of Potential Significant Flood Risk (APSR) is one of the largest towns in West Cork with origins dating back to the early 17th Century. Much of the work undertaken on this flood relief scheme includes both Recorded Monuments and National Monuments. For many years the town and surrounding area have suffered significant flood events that caused damage to properties and losses to businesses. The flooding is primarily due to high flows in the Bandon River and its tributary, the Bridewell River, which exceed the channel capacities. In February 2011, the Office of Public Works, in partnership with Cork County Council, commenced initial feasibility and investigations. This was one of the first schemes to be designed using a pilot Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Studies (CFRAM Study). The CFRAM Study policy was a shift to catchment-based, flood risk-management measures. In 2011, the OPW appointed ByrneLooby-Ayesa (then known as ByrneLooby, PH McCarthy), as the lead consultant to the scheme. Our scope included the hydrological studies and assessments, hydraulic modelling of flood flows in the Bandon River and its tributaries, examination of flood risk management options, and selection of preferred options based on environmental, social, technical, and economic criteria.
There were five distinct stages in the project, and ByrneLooby-Ayesa provided assistance and consulting support across all stages and acted as Employer's Representative:
- Stage I: Feasibility Study and Preparation of a Flood Risk-Management Plan;
- Stage II: Public Exhibition;
- Stage III: Detailed Design, Confirmation and Tender;
- Stage IV: Construction;
- Stage V: Handover of Works.
New flood defences were constructed to contain flood water within the Bandon and Bridewell River and the Mill Stream. The scheme also included the construction of new defence walls and embankments along the Bandon River, the underpinning/mini pilling of Bandon Bridge which required extensive archaeological works and temporary protection and the construction of a rock ramp for fish passage. Additionally, rip-rap revetment details were designed for the dredged profiles of the river. The old steel footbridge was replaced with a new three-span steel footbridge to increase capacity and safety. Further works included the construction of new RC culverts, local drainage works in and about the town of Bandon together with extensive brick paving and landscaping.
Scheme elements:
- River dredging
- Flood defence walls
- Embankments
- Pumping stations
- A new pedestrian footbridge
- Fish pass construction
- An underpinning of Bandon Bridge.
Official opening of Bandon Flood Relief Scheme: On 9 December 2022, the completion of the new Bandon Flood Relief Scheme was officially marked by the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, where Minister Patrick O’Donovan unveiled a plaque to mark the completion. Read more
Innovation/ Value Add
The client tasked ByrneLooby to deliver a passive scheme with as little human intervention as possible. Through intelligent design and detailed planning, the scheme was almost entirely passive, with no human intervention required for the scheme to perform, a significant win for the client.
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