By Chelsie Kealey
A 3.3 million pounds dredging operation is taking place in Belfast on the river Lagan.
The Department for Communities has assigned ABCO Marine Limited, a Northern Ireland company, to deliver the project.
The large scale operation is set to remove thousands of tonnes of silt from the river bed which is fine sand or clay.
The project aims to improve the water quality, the unique eco-system and improve the river for rowers.
The last time silt was removed from the Lagan was in 2011.
The Permanent Secretary at the @CommunitiesNI Tracy Meharg talks about the new £3.3m investment to dredge the river Lagan in #Belfast #News #River #NorthernIreland pic.twitter.com/0S98Oq2zjk
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) October 17, 2019
The work will be carried out in a phased manner and is set to be completed in March 2020.
Permanent Secretary at the Department for Communities, Tracy Meharg said:
“The River Lagan Dredging Project is a significant strategic investment by the Department to further strengthen the continued regeneration of Belfast.
“The investment is essential in ensuring its future as an integral part of Belfast City Centre’s offering to residents, businesses and visitors alike.
“The River Lagan area is a key amenity in the City Centre and is extensively used for walking, cycling and rowing.
“Maintaining navigation along the River will allow its continued use as a recreational waterway and will help improve water quality.”
River Manager, Peter Gallagher said:
“The silt is largely organic material and removing it will help the impounded River Lagan’s bespoke aeration system to function more efficiently through a deeper water column in order to combat fresh and saline water stratification which can be problematic within the impoundment.
“Water quality has improved noticeably in recent years thanks to NI Water infrastructure improvements and we hope this project will build on that good work and help us to continue to improve the river corridor’s ecology.”
He added: “As well as improving the habitat for wildlife a healthy river environment will help promote the development of economic infrastructure and encourage business growth.
“The works will also reduce flooding risk by improving the drainage capacity of the river and the back drainage systems which flow into it.”
John McGill, Director, ABCO Marine Limited said:
“ABCO Marine is delighted to be awarded the River Lagan Dredging Project for the Department for Communities.
“We are very aware of the importance of the River Lagan to both the river users and key stakeholders.
“ABCO’s primary objective will be to deliver the works safely, with minimising the impact on river users and reducing the impact on the environment.”
During the operation sections of the river from Stranmillis Weir to Lagan Weir will be closed for approximately six weeks.
The Department has said that as sections of the dredging works are completed parts of the river will be handed back to rivers users.
More detail and updates on the project are available at https://www.communities-ni.
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