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THE MANAGER OF Northern Ireland’s major freshwater lake has suggested that water rates could be the key to addressing crumbling wastewater infrastructure and the impact on waterways.
It comes as the Stormont Executive works to halt an environmental crisis at Lough Neagh where noxious blooms of blue-green algae have covered the surface of the water across the past two summers.
The lough is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in Ireland or the UK, supplies 40% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water and sustains a major eel-fishing industry.
But it is facing a “perfect storm” of a crisis caused by pollution, nutrients, climate change and invasive species, according to Gerry Darby, manager of the Lough Neagh Partnership.
He praised the approach and actions taken so far by Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir but warned of wider problems that need a whole-of-Executive approach.
In an interview with the PA news agency, Darby said the Lough Neagh Action Plan, and particularly the setting up of a stakeholder forum led by Muir, was very positive and a first for a minister.
He said 10 of the actions have already been implemented, including water inspectors and looking to the private sector for innovation, but it will take decades to start to see improvement.
“Is the nutrient level going to come down immediately, no it’s not, is the level of phosphorus going to come down, probably not, but at least you can now begin to look at setting targets,” Darby said.
“It’s important to remember it’s not just farmers, there are a lot of nutrients coming in off the waste management processing units within NI Water and septic tanks – we’re all contributing to it and other factors such as topography, there is only one river out of the lough, there is not great flow to flush it out.
“There is also climate change as well as invasive species in there. It all came together to create a perfect storm and at least the minister has engaged with many organisations to try and find solutions.
“It will be a long-term solution, nobody has ever suggested that the reduction of nutrients in Lough Neagh is going to happen overnight, it is estimated that it will take somewhere between 10 to 20 years before we’re beginning to see change.”
However, Darby said part of the problem is that people assume the blue-green algae is the only problem in the lough, pointing out the absence of a navigation authority as well as the waste water system which was described by the head of NI Water as being “at breaking point”.
He said addressing the waste water system will require the hard choice between trying to secure more money from the London Government, rejigging the already strained Stormont budget or considering charging water rates.
While non-domestic water charges already apply in Northern Ireland, there has been strong political opposition to introducing domestic water charges.
“The other elephant in the room is the money needed for infrastructure for waste water management. This year the budget of NI Water for capital investment has been cut in half. That is a big, serious issue that politicians need to find an answer to,” Mr Darby said.
“There are three choices – you ask Westminster to cough up more, Stormont reprioritises budgets, or else the big controversial one is that you introduce water rates, which is pretty standard in the rest of the UK.
“I couldn’t comment on that personally but I think it is something that needs to be given serious consideration to in the context of the issues also facing Belfast Lough.
“The problem of course is that it is political dynamite.”
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Whatever about Status Yellow, don’t forget Operation Green on Friday week. Get them yokes gone for good this time!
@Finian McG: No doubt you’ll be voting far-right. I prefer the Greens and other decent parties, thanks.
@Finian McG: anyone but the greens and SF
@Brendan O’Brien: adding to the problem
@Brendan O’Brien:
LOL ! Delusions of grandeur…
@Shane O Mac: By not voting far-right? Seriously?
@Brendan O’Brien: 1mm to the right is “far right” apparently.
@Kieran Menon: No, that would be the centre or, at most, the centre right.
@Brendan O’Brien: Is Anyone except the greens far right Brendan.
@Finian McG: it’s not like any of you were voting for my beloved greens in the first place. They’ve delivered much of their manifesto so green voters like myself are pleased with their performance.
@eoin fitzpatrick: tool
@Brendan O’Brien: I wonder why I’m not surprised!
@eoin fitzpatrick: Go sell your lettuce somewhere else, we are all stocked up.
@Brendan O’Brien: Greens and decent don’t go together.
@Brendan O’Brien: the greens like piling on useless carbon taxes on you and all how decent is that?? Brenden B.
@eoin fitzpatrick: did Duffy no just stop 300 homes being built because “it overlooks my kitchen”
Feck the greens
@Brendan O’Brien: Far right…you don’t even know what it means, clearly.
@damien leen: tell us then, Damien, what does far right mean to you?
@Kevin Kerr: We don’t have any far right parties.
As usual, …..an article about some chilly weather a-coming & it’s hijacked into political mud slinging & juvenile reamblings
@Kevvy kerrr: No surprise at all. The kids are using mummy’s mobile. I wish she would keep them away from it.
Israel condemned last night by all political parties for their attack on Palestinians. There was little mention of the Hamas and Hezbollah attacks that started the conflict. Although I think Martin did condemn Hezbollah / Hamas. Anyway, most people label Israel right wing.
Israel formed after the holocaust. Nazi’ are considered right wing. Nazi’s were supported during the war by the Palestinians.
It can get very confusing when people are labelled right wing.
@AnthonyK: Israel had a plan hatched long before the holocaust. Chaim Weizmann had the ear of British parliament via his acetone, and he pushed Herzrl’s Der Judenstaat relentlessly. The idea that Hammas started the conflict last October is ignorant and insulting. The Jews are aware of the awful nature of the atrocities they’re committing. It’s a moral price they’re prepared to pay to ensure they’re survival as peoples.
@Pól Pot: *their survival….
@AnthonyK: You can be bloody sure they’re right wing. No confusion.
@Pól Pot: You correctly point that Hamas didn’t start the conflict last October. NO, it would be more correct to say they started it in 2005, after Israel withdrew from Gaza and left them with a modern & well developed region on a prime Mediterranean coast. But such was their obsession to destroy Israel that they have ended being destroyed themselves. (And don’t mention walls, blockades, etc. – this all happened after their suicide campaign against Israeli civilians).
@Thomas Sheridan: Ye know nought.
@Thomas Sheridan: Deir Yassin massacre?
@Thomas Sheridan: I’m sure you’re wrong. Was it not the day before my 20th birthday? Either that or at the signing of the Balfour agreement which robbed generations of Palestinian people of their land and homes, in favour of Jews. Either way it goes back a bit. The only certainty is that Israel stole the land.
@AnthonyK: you seem to be under the illusion that the Hamas attacks started the conflict. Let me clarify for you and hopefully ease your confusion. The conflict started in well before October 7th and dates back to 1949. 2023 was the most deadly year on record for Palestinian children since records began. Up until the 7th October that was. It was one of the bloodiest years in the history of Gaza for Palestinian civilians. Then October 7th happened. Everyone and condemned October 7th. Everyone who supports Palestine condemned October 7th. It shouldn’t happen. Why can you not condemn Israel’s actions? Maybe learn more than “WhAt AbOuT oCtObEr 7Th” before commenting on the matter?
@Eoin Jackson: I also struggle to believe October 7th happened without Israel’s blessing. This is a state that spends trillions on defence. Has an incredible intelligence agency in the Mossad that had Hamas infiltrated on nearly every level. But you’d have us believe that it was a complete surprise attack and the Israeli leadership had absolutely no idea it was brewing. Yeah, I have a bridge to sell you and it’s going at a great price, a special discount for you…
@AnthonyK: Hamas was formed in 1987. Explain the Nakba and genocidal ethnic cleaning for 40 years prior to that.
@Paul Whitehead: Take that up with the Turks that owned it before the Jews returned, or the Arabs that abandoned their land at the behest of their invading Arab neighbours
@Thomas Sheridan: Was never abandoned. Not ever. Consistently populated.
@Paul Whitehead: no such thing as Palestine. Never existed.
@Pól Pot: it wasn’t, it has been colonised by Arabs rats.
Great weather for a trip to the Sally Gap
@Ronan Mc: And no doubt, people will try to get there!
@Brian Hunt: let Darwin look after it, people should be left too it don’t bother saving dumbos lol
I’m just waiting for the hired hacks to ambush anyone who suggests Climate Change is a scam cooked up by government to increase taxes!
@Brian Hunt: Up to $41 billion in World Bank climate finance unaccounted for, Oxfam finds
Published: 17th October 2024
Up to $41 billion in World Bank climate finance —nearly 40 percent of all climate funds disbursed by the Bank over the past seven years— is unaccounted for due to poor record-keeping practices, reveals a new Oxfam report published today ahead of the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington D.C.
@Brian Hunt: Plants the world over are absorbing about 31% more carbon dioxide than previously thought, according to a new assessment developed by scientists. The research, detailed in the journal Nature, is expected to improve Earth system simulations that scientists use to predict the future climate, and spotlights the importance of natural carbon sequestration for greenhouse gas mitigation.
@Finian McG: Oxfam has its own governance and accountability issues to deal with.
Ireland’s top scorer, Robbie Herzl.
@Pól Pot: one of Ireland’s best ever players and started his.career as a manager very well
I wonder what Gom will need rescuing off a mountain over the next few days,
Has LIDL got any bread left??
@Paul Whitehead: time to get the jcb out
@Paul Whitehead: Yes, but running low on bog roll!
@Paul Whitehead: they have their ski gear on offer
@P. V. Aglue: We may need it with this appalling weather alert. It’s terrifying. I can see white on the roof of my neighbour house.
@Marco Ilariuzzi: Things are bad but surely we cannot go down that road again.
Jesus it’s cold out there.
@Phillip Smyth: baby its warm in here.
@Willie Marty: give it over.
Those lovely high energy bills, highest in Europe gonna come in real handy now…What am I talking about, forgot about the couple of €125 payments towards energy bills from this wonderful government, that’ll get us through the winter!
Did sleepy cycle to cop meeting and eat bugs? he did in me b olocks
There’s all them IPA’S in nice comfy hotels paid for by us tax payers whilst our own Irish women and children and men sleep on the freezing streets. It’s Sickening. I’ve two girls if I didn’t I would take one or two homeless people in it’s shameful what this current government has done
@Kevin Daly: And I guarantee you Kevin that the same government (more or less) will be back in power in a few weeks. The electorate are thick.
@Kevin Daly: They also live in tents. Nobody cares what you think Kevin because you would never take any rough sleeping people.
Drill baby drill is it so? Where will these climate change deniers find an Irish Trump to vote for ?
Someone with a huge jet and a cavalcade of limos to move him around and of course who would to speak up for the “people ” and be besties wurh criminals and abusers of all sorts like himself ?
@Margaret Gallagher: give it a rest and go and do some housework
FFS it’s only frost
@Paul Doheny: it’s not only frost. It”s cold enough that the water on the ground will freeze. Could be quite dangerous for people walking/ driving early tomorrow.
@Tomas Barrett: well bring out the gritters hardly any out last time we had bad weather were the County Councils asleep at wheel. No accountability like!!
Change from the typical.
Storm coming Saturday.
@P. V. Aglue: bigger one Friday week-Hurricane Simon.
@Willie Marty: light breeze Simon.
This is dreadful news
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