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The Irish Independent has reported
that horsetrainer, Aidan O'Brien has claimed that his
world-famous Ballydoyle stables would cease to operate
if a multi-million euro waste treatment plant is built
beside it.
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Mr O'Brien was speaking at the opening of a Bord Pleanála
hearing into plans to build an animal-waste bio-energy
plant. |
Thr proposed plant would process 215,000 tonnes of waste
containing potentially BSE-infected material. "There's
no doubt it would be the end of Ballydoyle" - said Mr
O'Brien. "This would be a disaster for us - the two things
cannot work together.
"We train elite equine athletes at Ballydoyle - so,
obviously air quality and surroundings are vital."
The proposal has met with stern opposition from big guns
John Magnier - who owns Coolmore Stud - and also from many
local residents.
Consultants for Green Organic Energy (GOE) - the company
behind the proposal - opened the hearings, which are expected
to end late next week.
South Tipperary County Council refused GOE permission to
build the plant last August on environmental grounds.
Paul Barrett, project manager behind the plant, outlined
GOE's plans to build both a bio-gas plant and a separate bio-diesel
plant with ancillary works on the 15-hectare site. He said
the bio-gas plant would process 215,000 tonnes of byproduct
from the meat industry per year and would, in turn, contribute
15-megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
GOE is made up from three companies - Dawn Meats, Bioverda,
a subsidiary of NTR (National Toll Roads) and Avglade - who,
between them, control 30pc of all animal byproduct produced
in the State. At present, 80pc of Irish-produced animal byproduct
is exported for incineration.
According to the Irish Independent, Mr Barrett told
the hearing that the plant would create "no odour issues"
and that there would be no "process water discharge"
to local water sources. He also stressed that the plant meets
all required emission standards.
Dr Martin Hogan, an environmental and human health consultant,
said there would be no hazardous waste entering the plant.
He claimed the potential for human health impacts from the
proposed facility would be "negligible".
GOE's Barrett went on to claim that the plant would serve
to "reduce Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions and produce
a constant supply to the energy grid."
Witnesses for GOE are to continue to deliver evidence - with
representations from Coolmore, Ballydoyle and local interests
to follow. Star trainer Aidan O'Brien remained unconvinced
that the plant would prove harmless to the local environment
and to the local horsetraining industry. He told the Irish
Independent - "It would be a great disaster after
the huge investments made in Ballydoyle and the equine industry
in the area over the years. The two industries couldn't work
together."
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