Limerick Remediation Project is Public Sector Project of the Year
The remediation of Limerick’s old Gasworks site, which is being led by Ervia and Gas Networks Ireland, has won a major award. The Limerick Gasworks Remediation Project was the recipient of the Public Sector Project of the Year Award at this year’s Ireland Chapter of PMI’s National Projects Awards.
The former gasworks site at the Dock Road in Limerick is being remediated to facilitate future development and will benefit both the local environment and the wider Limerick community. The project involves removing a significant amount of coal tar from the site using environmentally sustainable techniques, while maintaining protected structures on the site. The remediation project is now half way to completion.
The gasworks site played an important role in Limerick’s industrial past. Before the introduction of natural gas, in the 1800s, the gas used to light Limerick’s street lights was made from coal. The coal tar, which is a by-product of that process, is being removed from the site.
The project completed its first phase early this year with the removal of over 70 tonnes of residual coal tar from the site using a pump and treat process. The licence to clean up the site was obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency and planning permission was granted from Limerick City Council in 2013. On completion, the project site will be developed in accordance with the Limerick City Development Plan.
Commenting on the win, Kevin McSherry, Head of Major Projects with Ervia; “We are extremely proud of the success of the project to date, which we can very much attribute to the great work by our innovative team to solve a legacy environmental issue. Managing our environmental impact, including legacy impacts from many years ago, is a key priority for Gas Networks Ireland and the wider Ervia group, and we look to reduce our carbon footprint where possible. The pump and treat method which we have used has a significantly lower impact on the environment than other, more traditional, remediation methods. We are very grateful to local businesses and the local community who have cooperated with us throughout the project journey to date, to ensure that we can reinstate the Dock Road site to its highest potential.”
The Limerick Gasworks Remediation Project beat off stiff competition from other very notable public sector projects by both Fáilte Ireland and the HSE, and the design of the new National Children’s Hospital. The Awards were held in Dublin on Wednesday the 1st of November.
Gas Networks Ireland is the business division of Ervia that owns, operates and develops the natural gas network in Ireland and connects all customers to the gas network. Gas Networks Ireland delivers natural gas through the pipeline network to over 680,000 customers throughout the country.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Murray
Aimee Beale
086 151 4024
abeale@murrayconsultants.ie
Gas Networks Ireland
Mary O’Mahony, PR Manager
021 4534545 / 086 834 2277
mary.omahony@gasnetworks.ie
Notes to Editor:
About Gas Networks Ireland:
Gas Networks Ireland is the business division of Ervia that owns, operates and develops the natural gas network in Ireland and connects all customers to the gas network. Gas Networks Ireland operates one of the most modern and safe gas networks in the world, consisting of 13,000km of pipeline around Ireland. We ensure that almost 680,000 homes and businesses receive a safe, efficient and secure supply of natural gas, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Ervia is a commercial semi-state multi-utility company with responsibility for the delivery of gas and water infrastructure and services in Ireland.