North Down to benefit from £35 million water treatment plant

A new £35 million state-of-the-art water treatment works to serve North Down and Ards has been unveiled by the Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson.

Speaking to the Assembly on Tuesday February 26 Mr Robinson said that he had decided that the new works should be located at a site adjacent to the Donaghadee Carpet factory on the High Bangor Road, Donaghadee.

The Minister explained that he decided on the Donaghadee site, instead of an alternative site in Newtownards, following extensive consultation with local public representatives, district councils, and local residents.

The Minister said: “The new works will provide modern wastewater treatment facilities in the area for the first time. The practice of discharging largely untreated wastewater from large coastal towns to the sea, without any treatment, is unacceptable in the twenty-first century."

The new treatment works will consist of a totally enclosed plant designed to a high architectural standard, and will provide the essential infrastructure, which is needed to cater for new inward investment and growth in the area.

Mr Robinson said: “This scheme represents a significant investment in the area, and reinforces my commitment to upgrading wastewater treatment facilities throughout Northern Ireland.”

A planning application for the preferred site will now be submitted to Planning Service and initial land acquisition procedures will begin in the near future.

Subject to satisfactory progress on these and the project procurement process, it is intended that construction of the new works will start in 2005 and take two years to complete.

New pumping stations will be constructed at Donaghadee, Millisle and at Briggs Rock near Groomsport. The treated wastewater will be discharged into the sea off Briggs Rock.

(AMcE)