Atlantic Pond Flooded

dewdrop · 04-06-2017 6:33pm #1

Recently you cannot walk round the Atlantic Pond as the water had flooded the footpaths. Initially I thought it might be because of a high tide but not so as it has not receded. The exit for the water at the Blackrock end through an iron grill seems at least partially blocked by a wooden pallet. Dont know if this is the cause. Before they start spending millions on the area which is indeed welcome this type of problem should be rectified.

bogman · 23-01-2018 3:42pm

Late last summer while visiting the Atlantic pond I noticed all the trees out in the island on the pond appeared dead except for two or three towards the middle, none of the trees had any leaves and appeared bleached, I have some photographs and will upload them in a day or so, normally you would hardly see the Herons & Egrets nesting on the trees because of the leaves, I revisited the pond a few times since and nothing has changed, I blamed pollution carried downstream from the industrial area up the marina, petro-chemical residues as I often get this smell while walking the pathway towards the pond, I was then told that on one occasion the sluice gate failed and the island flooded because of in ingress of salt water (which is a possibility)
I returned today to do a bit of investigating, I had seen the iron grate that you mentioned badly blocked in the past, its in a terrible state and needs re-positioning and repair, you will see this from my images, the sluice is much farther on, on the bank of the river Lee and appeared to be slightly blocked today, you can access this area at low tide near where the wall has collapsed and has been fenced off, some hope of this ever been repaired id say, makes me wonder if the Cork city council has an Environmental officer that has any say, influence or interest in the matter, a walk down the Marina looking at all the litter leaves me in no doubt.

Water exiting the Atlantic pond bound for the river Lee, grate badly positioned and blocked occasionally.

Another view of this grate.

Next stage after it passes under the pathway.

IMG_20180122_155500_zpsdi72eqyf.jpg?t=1516631558

As viewed from the pathway.

At the end of that section and just before it exits the sluice gate another damaged barrier, there is a huge amount of litter dumped above this, plastics mostly, appear to have been dumped from the locked up works situated there.

IMG_20180122_160513_zpsgbtqlmcl.jpg?t=1516631558

IMG_20180122_160513_zpsgbtqlmcl.jpg?t=1516631558

The"one way" hinged sluice gate allowing water flow from the Atlantic pond directly into the Lee, the base of this seems to be blocked,

Damaged river wall at the location where the water flows into the Lee.

No leaves but not surprising at this time of the year, Heorns, Egrets and Cormorants in the trees yesterday.

GavRedKing · 23-01-2018 7:17pm

The place is in an absolute state.

It has the potential to be a nice area but it has been neglected for quiet a long time now.

namloc1980 · 23-01-2018 8:27pm

Development of the Marina Park masterplan is supposed to sort this out but honestly I wouldn't have much confidence in the Council to actually follow through on that plan.

whisky_galore · 24-01-2018 9:21am

Something, something...lack of resources...

With the exception of the stadium, that whole area has an air of neglect about it.

AugustusMinimus · 24-01-2018 9:56am

A new park is to be built around the stadium and will incorporate a remodelled Atlantic Pond.

That training pitch beside the stadium should never have gone ahead as it will divided the park from the Atlantic Pond. It should have been congruous.

namloc1980 · 24-01-2018 10:38am

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

A new park is to be built around the stadium and will incorporate a remodelled Atlantic Pond.

That training pitch beside the stadium should never have gone ahead as it will divided the park from the Atlantic Pond. It should have been congruous.

In the far off distant future perhaps. The Marina Park plan was launched in 2013 which is nearly a full 5 years ago now at this stage. Wouldn't be holding my breath on this happening.

razorblunt · 24-01-2018 11:09am

I heard it's now under 007 feet of water.

GavRedKing · 24-01-2018 11:25am

namloc1980 wrote: »

In the far off distant future perhaps. The Marina Park plan was launched in 2013 which is nearly a full 5 years ago now at this stage. Wouldn't be holding my breath on this happening.

The old showgrounds was knocked a few weeks back, I'm not sure of the site is fully cleared though.

Coming down the hill towards the stadium and CAV, you can see the site was pretty flooded the other day so I dont think there will be all that much work done or complete for a few months yet.

namloc1980 · 24-01-2018 11:28am

GavRedKing wrote: »

The old showgrounds was knocked a few weeks back, I'm not sure of the site is fully cleared though.

Coming down the hill towards the stadium and CAV, you can see the site was pretty flooded the other day so I dont think there will be all that much work done or complete for a few months yet.

My point is that in 5 years there's been very little done down there. At this pace we might have something resembling a park in the 2030s. Remember it's 7 years and counting since the Tramore Valley Park was supposed to be open.

GavRedKing · 24-01-2018 11:33am

Oh I agree with ya there, I just think there will be a push on to get something open up down there in time for the summer months and potential championship games down the Pairc.

namloc1980 · 24-01-2018 2:28pm

GavRedKing wrote: »

Oh I agree with ya there, I just think there will be a push on to get something open up down there in time for the summer months and potential championship games down the Pairc.

I doubt it, as far as I know the plan for was that Phase 1 would be open in 2019, and essentially nothing is happening down there at the moment so that schedule looks optimistic at best. Phase 1 is just the area around where the showgrounds were to the west of the stadium. The Atlantic Pond area to the east of the stadium is to be developed in future phases which aren't even funded at this point.

Rooy · 24-01-2018 3:05pm

According to the Echo it went out to tender last Nov , but i havent heard updates since.
http://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Council-seeks-tender-offers-for-first-phase-of-Marina-Park

Rooy · 24-01-2018 3:08pm

Might have been linked already , but here is the Council masterplan for the Marina Park.

http://www.corkcity.ie/services/recreationsport/marinaparkmasterplan/

whisky_galore · 24-01-2018 4:19pm

GavRedKing wrote: »

The old showgrounds was knocked a few weeks back, I'm not sure of the site is fully cleared though.

The artist's impression of the development, presumably during a drug induced state.
http://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Demolition-work-underway-at-the-Showgrounds-to-make-way-for-new-Marina-Park-eafd28f0-019f-46a2-b545-6f6f15b6c3c4-ds

mainMediaSize=MEDIUM_type=image_x0=27.59_y0=0_x1=79.31_y1=100__image.jpg

mainMediaSize=MEDIUM_type=image_x0=27.59_y0=0_x1=79.31_y1=100__image.jpg

GavRedKing · 24-01-2018 4:22pm

The marsh land just before the pump house is also under used, I know in the plan above its included in the development but probably far off.

I seen just off the road in the bushes there appears to be someone or some people living in there in tents.

The tents have been there for a good few weeks now too, with the winter and the leaves coming off the bushes it became far more noticable.

bogman · 24-01-2018 9:51pm

The marsh land that you mention is in an appalling state, there is a huge pile pf rubbish dumped on one side, we ar indeed a filthy race.
These are the images of the bleached trees on the island that I photographed a few months back

They dont show up quite as dramatically in the third shot but what you can see is that all the trees on the perimeter are devoid of leaves

So what killed these trees (that is if they are dead and they appear to be) pollution or flooding through a damaged sluice gate back during the summer, how long more will the Herons and Egrets nest in the island

GavRedKing · 25-01-2018 12:56pm

I think there was a few amatuer tree surgeons in there too when the storm hit a few months back, seen a guy loading up his boot with a hefty amount of timber at the gate into recently.