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You are here: Home > Services > County Development Board > County Delelopment Plan > The Environment

The Environment

• Introduction
• Landscape
• the Water Environment
• Agriculture
• Forestry
• Extractive Industry
• Waste Management
• Built Environment
• Open Space & Recreation
• Conservation, Heritage & Culture

4.5 Policy on Extractive Industry

North Tipperary contains extensive reserves of sand and gravel, which are worked at many locations across the County. The Council recognises the importance of quarrying and other extractive industries to the economic life of the County. However, such activity shall not be allowed at the expense of avoidable or irretrievable losses of natural resources. The overall quality of the environment affected by extraction should be preserved or improved over time so that future generations are not disadvantaged by the activities of the present.

Figure 4.2: Quarry in Operation

Section 261, of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 will provide for the registration and control of quarries.The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has produced "Quarries and Ancillary Activities - Guidelines for Planning Authorities" which provides a practical guide to the implementation of section 261 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. This will enable the Council to:

• Impose, restate, modify or add conditions on a quarry;
• Require a planning application to be made; and
• Require the submission of Environmental Impact Statements 

The Council will carry out a 'State of Quarries in North Tipperary' Report in 2004 in order to identify the total number, location and nature of all active and dormant quarries in the County. The Council will pursue enforcement action, where necessary, in respect of unauthorised operations without benefit of planning permission.

Figure 4.3: Disused quarry used as a scrap yard

In the past many were operating outside of planning control or in breach of the permission granted. The Council has also received reports of some cases of dumping and land filling without the benefit of licence or planning permission.

Figure 4.4: Silt ponds situated beside a stream

Policy ENV 16: Quarries

It is the policy of the Council that in assessing applications for new quarries or extensions to existing quarries the following will be considered:

1. the impact of the proposed development on the quality of the landscape, particularly sensitive landscape and protected views;
2. the impact of the proposed development on the archaeological and architectural heritage;
3. the impact of the proposed development on pNHAs and cSACs;
4. the suitability of the local road infrastructure and impact of the increased traffic on road safety;
5. impact on the amenities of the surrounding residents;
6. the current land/quarry resource of the applicant and the necessity for the current proposal. The Council will seek that current quarries are worked out and restored before new sites are allowed;
7. require that development is phased and that each phase is rehabilitated before the next phase is developed/commenced;
8. applicants shall submit a restoration programme with their application on the manner and timing of restoration;
9. in open cast workings the direction of operation shall be hidden from public view and, if necessary, boundaries of working areas adjusted to preserve trees and hedgerows for screening.

Note: A significant bond will be required to ensure that the infrastructure and restoration works are carried out. The developer will also be required to make a financial contribution towards the cost of upgrading the local road network serving the site.

In addition to the above the Council aims to facilitate quarrying activity which is directly related to the implementation of national public infrastructure projects that are objectives of this plan. A temporary planning permission may be granted provided that:

• the site is close to the project concerned (within 10 miles/16 km);
• the restoration of the site will take place within the time frame of the temporary permission.

Policy ENV 17: Supply of Quarries

It is the policy of the Council to promote an environmentally sustainable approach to minerals planning, in particular by:

• preventing the wasteful use or sterilisation of mineral resources;
• encouraging the use of secondary and recycled aggregates; and
• seeking to secure future levels of mineral production that respect the nature and scale of the environmental constraints in the County.

The Council will adopt a 'supply-led' approach to minerals in North Tipperary by ensuring that there are adequate quarries available to meet the needs of the County. The Council will,

however, seek to ensure that proposals for new quarries will not result in prolonging the life of existing quarries, or 'hoarding' of resources.

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