Haulbowline Steelworks Site: Award of Ground Investigation Contract

Undated 2005

Cork County Council, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, announces the award of a contract to White Young Green Ireland Ltd. Apex Business Centre, Blackthorn Road, Sandiford, Dublin 18 to carry out a ground investigation on the former steelworks site at Haulbowline island.

This site, in common with redundant steelworks in other countries, is a 'brownfield' site which has been exposed to a wide range of raw materials and waste products associated with the steelmaking process over 60 years. The aim of the contract is to carry out a thorough investigation of the ground condition and groundwater quality by means of a series of trial pits and boreholes. Some of the boreholes will be drilled over water around the island to assess the impact of the site on surrounding sediments. A comprehensive chemical analysis will be carried out on soil and water samples to check for the presence of contaminants. This investigative phase is scheduled to take about two months.

Air quality monitoring stations are being established on Haulbowline, as well as in Cobh and south of the Haulbowline bridge, so as to ensure that no dust hazard occurs, or so that any dust problem which arises can be addressed at once.

Subsequently, the results of the investigation will be analysed by White Young Green Ireland Ltd. who will indicate what remedial work may be required in respect of contamination, and consider options for the further development of the site.

Cork County Council recognizes the concern amongst local residents about the condition of the site, and is pleased to award a major contract which will scientifically establish the problems which have to be addressed.



Picture shows Michael Cunningham, MD, White Young Green Ireland Ltd., Maurice Moloney, Cork County Manager, at the contract signing. Also included are Niamh Drew, DoEHLG, Kieran O'Brien, EPA, Keith Bywater, Project Co-ordinator, Michael Saville, Site Engineer, Padraig Barrett, Area Engineer, Carrigaline, Donal Hogan, White Young Green, Marian Salter and Joan O'Doherty, Infrastructure and Development, and Mary Stack, Environment Department, CCC.

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