5 November 2001

MAJOR INVESTMENT IN WATER AND SEWERAGE PROJECTS IN NEWTOWNABBEY

DRD Water Service is planning to invest almost £28 million on water and sewerage projects in the Newtownabbey area over the next three years.

Details of the investment were outlined by Deputy Divisional Water Manager for Eastern Division, Bill Gowdy and Joe Millar, Contract Services Manager, Northern Division, as they presented the Capital Works Programme to a meeting of Newtownabbey Borough Council tonight.

Mr Gowdy told Councillors that Eastern Division planned to spend almost £20 million over the next two years on a number of water and sewerage projects in the area.

He said: "The extension of the Ballywonard Service Reservoir and the provision of a pumping station to serve Ballyvaston Service Reservoir are nearing completion. This £2.58 million scheme will help to provide security of water supply and improved operating pressures to customers in the supply area.

"A £2.05 million scheme to improve sewage treatment at Greenisland and to accommodate future development is also making good progress. Pipelaying is now complete on the sewer from Ballyhenry to Monkstown to serve a proposed new development and design is ongoing on a scheme to alleviate flooding at Kings Avenue, Doagh."

Presenting the Capital Works Programme for Northern Division, Mr Millar said that projects valued at £769,000 were under construction or scheduled to start before April 2002. In addition, he said schemes totalling £6.9 million are planned for the following two years.

He said: "Work is continuing on a programme of watermain schemes designed to improve water quality through the replacement of old spun iron mains, at a cost of around £243,000."

Turning to a proposed £6 million scheme to upgrade sewerage facilities at Ballyclare Waste Water Treatment Works, Mr Millar said it remained on schedule with an expected start date of late 2002. Improvements to the Ballyclare Town Sewers are expected to start at the same time at an estimated cost of some £700,000.

Councillors were given a presentation updating the current position on the scheme and highlighting the proposed two main options. They are to pump Ballyclare wastewater to Greenisland Treatment Works or to construct a new works on the existing site. Public consultation is continuing and no decision has yet been taken on the preferred option.

Referring to a review of Water Service’s capital investment plan, which is currently underway, Mr Gowdy said that the funds available to Water Service could provide many improvements to water and sewerage facilities but cannot meet all levels of capital investment needed.

"Work which has presently been identified to upgrade water and waste water treatment works, pipelines and other equipment will cost more than the funding that is available over the next few years.

"A review of annual investment plans is being carried out but it will be necessary to set priorities in line with the expenditure available and, at the same time, support the effective development of Northern Ireland as a whole.

"Deferment of projects is possible and significant changes to the timing of individual projects will be conveyed through normal consultative channels between Water Service and District Councils."