Sewerage scheme no longer a pipe dream with works underway

BY MARTIN WALSH  

THE laying of the first section of pipeworks for the €10m Courtmacsherry-Timoleague Sewerage Scheme is expected to be completed by early September during which time temporary traffic lights will remain in operation close to Courtmacsherry village.

The first road cutting of the trench took place on Thursday last to facilitate the placement of a 355mm and a 250mm pipe related to the sewerage scheme and a 125mm pipe for the upgrading of the water supply scheme.  

The pipe laying procedure began adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant site and first section will end near the Courtmacsherry Community Centre. 

 The procedure for the remaining section from the treatment plant to Timoleague will be executed in a different fashion and will involve coring a channel for the three pipes.

The project itself is a joint venture between Glan Agua Limited and MEIC and is set to take around 18 months. 

 Some 20 people are currently involved in the works and traffic disruption is being kept to a minimum.  

Meanwhile, walkers along the popular Courtmacsherry-Timoleague walkway are being safely escorted past the working section at certain points.

Works are continuing at the treatment plant site less than a kilometre from Courtmacsherry village.  

The base for inlet works is already in place and excavations for the settlement tanks are well underway.

 It is envisaged that the current access to the plant site will be reinstated once the works are finished with future and permanent access off a minor road nearby.

When completed the scheme will bring significant environmental, health and economic benefits to the area and also provide a platform for future growth. 

For some 20 years the Courtmacsherry Development Association had lobbied officials and politicians to get the green light for the sewerage scheme.