CHAPTER 9 RURAL LAOIS
Section 9.4: Peatlands
9.4.1 Future Use of Bord na Mona Lands
We note the text in the draft plan which references the future use of our industrial peatland sites in particular the text stating that “The company’s estate is characterised by large tracts of land in dispersed landholdings. This, coupled with proximity to the national electricity infrastructure and relative isolation from residential areas, is particularly suited to the development of renewable energy such as windfarms and solar farms and other large-scale energy dependant industrial development”. In this regard, we note the Councils support for longer-term strategic planning for these areas in particular, the inclusion of the following policy objectives:
- RL 9: ‘Plan and prepare for the future use of large industrial peatland sites when peat harvesting finishes in conjunction with NPWS, Coillte and ESB/Bord na Mona and other stakeholders’.
- RL 10: ‘Support the longer-term strategic planning for industrial peatland areas, which should include a comprehensive after-use framework plan for the industrial peatlands and associated infrastructure which addresses environmental, economic and social issues including employment and replacement enterprise reflecting the current transition from employment based around peat extraction.’
We note the references throughout the draft plan to the preparation of a comprehensive after use framework plan for the industrial peatlands, in particular the inclusion of Policy Objective BNH 33 which states the council will “Work with relevant agencies such as Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, Bord na Mona, NPWS, Coillte and adjacent Local Authorities to prepare an integrated afteruse framework and management plans for the peatlands and related infrastructure.”
Bord na Móna published its first long-term land use strategy, Strategic Framework for the Future use of Peatlands in 2011. Much of the strategy outlined in this framework document still holds true and is relevant; however, with the significant and accelerated change that has taken place in the intervening period and with the emergence and identification of new potential future land uses, we have engaged in a review of this framework. As outlined previously the Bord na Móna landholding is a land resource of national significance that offers a range of opportunities and options for new beneficial uses. It is clear that these lands have the potential to support national policy objectives across a range of sectors including rural development and employment, renewable energy, recreation and tourism, and biodiversity. We expect to publish a revision of the Strategic Framework in the coming months and it will be made available to stakeholders.
Policy Objective BNH 37 states that the council will “Support relevant agencies to provide for the future sustainable and environmentally sensitive use of large industrial peatlands at Cuil Na Mona.”
Bord na Móna supports this policy. Central to this sustainable transition is the use of our land bank for a range of beneficial commercial, environmental and social uses such as renewable energy, industrial uses (including but not limited to data centres), biomass cultivation, aquaculture, herb cultivation, ecosystem services and biodiversity as well as recreation and tourism. In many cases these uses can be co-located thereby providing enhanced benefits to the areas in which such developments are located.
Policy objective BNH 35 states that the Council supports “the designation of a National Park for the peatlands area in the Midlands in conjunction with adjoining Local Authorities.”
While Bord na Móna supports the intent of this policy we will need to ensure that any proposals are compatible with our integrated land-use strategy (such as renewables, industrial, and amenity), which are in support of other national polices and maximising the overall potential of the land-bank. The Bord na Móna land bank provides a unique opportunity for a wide range of uses and it is important that this is developed in a structured and planned way with all the necessary stakeholders.