Campaigners have pledged to use a monitoring committee set up by Cork County Council to ensure a €56 million landfill at Bottlehill, north Cork, is operated in accordance with EPA and An Bord Pleanála requirements.
Bottlehill Environmental Alliance spokesman John O'Riordan said yesterday the group planned to participate fully in the monitoring committee to ensure the 250 acre landfill was operated in accordance with the terms of its licence and planning conditions.
"The monitoring committee will be important in terms of giving whatever level of confidence can be given to the people of Bottlehill that the place is being developed and run properly, in accordance with the conditions laid down by both the EPA and An Bord Pleanála," Mr O'Riordan said.
"There's a very significant job of work to be done by the monitoring committee if they are to ensure that the landfill site is developed and operated properly."
Mr O'Riordan was speaking as construction work began on the 250-acre site. The work was delayed until yesterday because of a requirement that work could not start until the hen harrier breeding season was over.
The first unit at Bottlehill is expected to be open to receive waste by March 2006.
The facility - which will receive up to 5.3 million tonnes of waste over 20 years - will be developed on a gradual basis by Cork County Council which obtained a licence from the EPA in June 2004 after securing planning permission from An Bord Pleanála in February 2004.
The landfill will accept waste following the segregation of materials at a materials recovery facility operated by Greenstar at Forge Hill near Cork city, and the consignment of material suitable for composting to Cork County Council's own composting facility at Rossmore.
One of the conditions governing the operation of the Bottlehill landfill was the requirement of a monitoring committee with local representation. Bottlehill Environmental Alliance will have four members on the group.
Carrignavar, Glenville and Mourneabbey community councils will also have one member each on the monitoring committee, while two county council staff will also be on the board. It will be chaired by Fine Gael councillor Patrick Buckley from Banteer.
