THE contamination of a water stream flowing beside the former Showgrounds at Ballintemple, close to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, was not caused by the stadium’s redevelopment, according to contractors Sisk.
Visible water contamination at a stream near the construction site of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork. Video: Larry Cummins
The area has been earmarked to be turned into a public park but water in the stream has been turned a light grey colour in recent days. Construction manager of the Pairc Uí Chaoimh redevelopment, Dave Cotter of Sisk, confirmed to the Evening Echo that the contamination of the stream, by a so far unknown substance, was not caused by works being carried out on the stadium.
“We are aware of it but it’s coming from further upstream from us. We’ve done an investigation on it and we’ve spoken to City Council on it,” he said.
“We’re not pumping into that stream at all, [the contamination] is there before it reaches us and it runs parallel with our site but we’ve had City Council out and they are aware of it and they have proved that it is not caused by us.”
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The contaminated stream water, flowing beside the former showgrounds at Ballintemple. The area is earmarked for re-development as a public park- Marina Park. Pic: Larry Cummins
Cork City Council did not comment on the cause of the contamination but they did confirm that an investigator had been on site to assess it. Denis O’Regan, a local, who has campaigned against certain aspects of the redevelopment of the stadium said that Sisk had been cooperative in their dealings with local residents. However, he expressed concern for the wildlife that lives in the area if the cause of the contamination cannot be found.
“There are two channels there, one on the northside and southside of the stadium and they both feed into the Atlantic Pond. It’s a difficult site that they are working on and it appears they have been doing their best,” he said. “There is some interesting wildlife there. You’d see otters. You’d also see herons and shoals of mullet. There’s a good bit of wildlife,” he added.
The new stadium will have a capacity of 45,000, is reported to cost €78m and will feature 40 bars. Access to the stadium will be via 72 turnstiles and it will be the first stadium located inside a Municipal Park.
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