AN environmental group is calling for a halt to the building of a windfarm sub-station near Kilmichael because they claim heavy siltation from the site is threatening a freshwater pearl mussel habitat.
By Kieran O’Mahony
AN ENVIRONMENTAL group is calling for a halt to the building of a windfarm sub-station near Kilmichael because they claim heavy siltation from the site is threatening a freshwater pearl mussel habitat, which is protected under the Wildlife Act.
The Macroom District Environmental Group (MDEG) has expressed its concern about works at the site at Carrigdangan being operated by Keel Energy, which is constructing a windfarm.
Joe Franz of MDEG told The Southern Star that they are calling for the works to be stopped and they fear that damage has already been done over the past two months.
The group has claimed that heavily silted drainage water from the site is entering the Carrigdangan stream, which is in turn impacting on the River Bandon SAC (Special Area of Conservation.)
The site of the works is about 8km upstream from Bandon SAC and the nearest known freshwater pearl mussel habitat downstream from the sub-station is roughly 3km away, at Aultagh Woods.
Neither Keel Energy nor Cork County Council had any comment to make at time of going to press.
