state of the nation northern ireland infrastructur
TRANSCRIPT
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8/6/2019 State of the Nation Northern Ireland Infrastructur
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We nd the overall state o the inrastructure in Northern Ireland
is at a tipping point. This is refected in the award o a Grade
C which signies the need or investment to enable eective
unctioning and avoid inrastructure ailure in the next ve years.
northern irelandTHE STATE OF THE NATION BRIEFING
infrastructure2010
the
stateof thenationinfrastructure2010
THE STATEOF THE NATION
infrastructure2010 01
uK overview
Inrastructure is vital to our way o lie. We
rely on an eective, working inrastructure
network or clean water, transport to and
rom work and the heating or our homes.But inrastructure aects more than our daily
lives; it enables a working economy giving
us the means to move goods and generate
electricity to power machines and equipment
and maintain the development o the country.
Studies have shown that good inrastructure
results in positive economic growth1. Both the
OECD and HM Treasury have acknowledged
that growth in UK productivity has been held
back by under-investment in inrastructure
particularly transport and communications.
ICEs inquiry has ound that we now stand at
a cross roads. Major decisions must be takennow to ensure that our energy, water, waste
and transport systems continue to unction
eectively as well as helping us meet
emissions targets and adapt to climate change.
These decisions cant wait. I we delay,
in less than ve years much o our
inrastructure will be ineective.
northern ireland overview
We nd the overall state o the inrastructure
in Northern Ireland is at a tipping point.
This is refected in the award o a Grade C
which signies the need or investmentto enable eective unctioning and avoid
inrastructure ailure in the next ve years.
The marked exception is our ports and
harbours which ICE NI believe are well
maintained and in good condition. The
ambitious redevelopment o Warrenpoint
Harbour provides a good illustration o sectoral
development which is driven by positive
leadership ocused on economic sustainability.
ICE NI maintain that all sectors require ongoing
unding to deliver the quality o lie which we
take or granted. However, ailure to invest
in the three key areas o renewable energy,
waste and food risk management will be
critical and have major detrimental eects.
Northern Irelands potential ailure to meet
European Directives in these areas will result
in inraction charges which represent a
diversion o monies away rom departmental
budgets. ICE NI has previously asserted that
our government should ocus on paying
or inrastructure and not inractions.
1. Going or Growth, OECD, 2009, highlights that investment in physical inrastructure
increases long-term economic output more than other kinds o physical investment.
c
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Key recoMMendations
The NI Executive should view European
Directives as positive drivers for change.
Compliance will enable our government to
achieve stated targets across a range of policy
areas including to:
Harness our plentiful wind resource to
increase energy security, whilst reducing our
dependence on imported fossil fuels and
simultaneously delivering a lower carbon
energy supply.
Tackle our growing residual waste problem
whilst reducing carbon emissions and
supplying energy as heat.
Create jobs and retain our skills base which is
in danger of being seriously depleted as
migration for work outside Northern Ireland
starts to take hold.
A sound functioning infrastructure has
the capability to deliver economic and
social aspirations. It is the resilience of our
infrastructure which will determine our
economic competitiveness, our attractiveness
for investors and visitors.
Government must act to encourage,not inhibit economic growth.
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current view
the positive iMpact of
privatisation
The electricity inrastructure within Northern
Ireland was privatised in 1993 and since
then has shown large improvements in
key perormance indicators. These include
eciencies in controllable operating
expenditures and core prices and improvements
in customer minutes lost and complaints. Also,
the dominant company NIE has achieved no
deaults against its guaranteed standards within
the last our years. There are however, currently
no environmental Key Perormance Indicators
(KPIs) in place, although ICE NI understands
that the regulator is currently reviewingincentives to add environmental targets.
the single MarKet
The electricity industry in Northern Ireland has
been signicantly changed by the introduction
o the Single Electricity Market (SEM). This
brought together two wholesale electricity
markets on the island o Ireland creating a single
market or the wholesale trading o electricity.
In this market all generators over 10MW, in the
north and south, sell all o their electricity to a
gross pool and all suppliers buy their electricity
rom this pool. A single market operator
administers the market unction or the SEM.
the wind in the west
Renewable incentive schemes require
increasing levels o wind generated energy
to be connected to the grid resulting in
new major inrastructure proposals to
accommodate the movement o this energy.
Energy rom wind is generated predominantly
in the west and north-west o the region,
with the centre o population mostly
concentrated on the eastern sea-board.
north-south interconnection
A restriction has been identied in energy fows
between Northern Ireland and Republic o
Ireland (ROI). To address this issue, in December
2009, a submission was made to the Planning
Authorities in ROI and NI to build an additional
interconnection. As ESB announced in July 2010
that they would purchase the transmission and
distribution network in Northern Ireland, the
planning application has to be resubmitted. Not
withstanding this delay, the completion o this
project will reduce costs or all customers within
Ireland. However, possible delays in planning
could prevent the delivery o any government
target set or 2020.
current priorities
european directives
driving the change
The Department o Enterprise, Trade and
Investments completion (DETI) o the
Strategic Energy Framework as well as the O
Shore and On Shore Strategic Environmental
Assessments, will provide strategic direction
or Northern Ireland in relation to the EU
renewable energy targets or 2020.
The European Directive on Renewables
is aimed at increasing renewable energy
production together with energy savingsand energy eciency. This is to be enorced
by 5 December 2010 and requires a number
o actions including a National Renewable
Action Plan and development to allow the
priority access o renewable generation.
Another directive that will aect the
electricity industry is the common rules
or the internal market in electricity which
requires that member states bring the
directive into orce by 3 March 2011.
energy
Condition And CApACity
The aging network, parts dating from the
1930s, and the overall asset base require
signicant replacement. New power stations
were connected to the network in the 1990s
and renewable generation is currently
increasing.
ResilienCe
The regulatory structure includes a capacity
payment which supports security of supplyby providing payments to generators for
availability as well as electricity generated.
However, all of the fuel used in Northern
Ireland, which is predominantly gas, is currently
imported. There is no signicant storage in the
region. Currently there is adequate generation
capacity to meet energy demand.
sustAinAbility
Currently carbon is not measured in this
sector and there is no requirement to reduce
the carbon footprint at this time. Without
substantial new infrastructure government
targets for renewable generation for 2020 will
not be met.
impACt of signifiCAnt Cuts
All the companies regulated are requesting
additional funding. Further budget cuts would
have a signicant impact particularly if they
were to be sustained..
five yeAR view
The Draft Strategic Energy Framework
document published by government and the
Strategic Environmental Assessments that are
currently being carried out for both Off Shore
and On Shore Renewable Generation will
provide a clear strategic lead for electricity.
However the timeliness of these documents to
address targets for 2020 is a concern.
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2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
MW
2008 2010 2012 2015 2020
YEAR
RENEWABLE ENERGY LEVELS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Renewable Electricity
Wind
Other Renewables
Renewable Electricity
Wind
Other Renewables
RENEWABLE ENERGY LEVELS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
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THE STATEOF THE NATION
infrastructure2010 02+03
the renewable challenge
Currently the network company, NIE, has
been able to accommodate all requestsrom renewable generation and has put
in place plans to create increased capacity
allowing additional connection. However
without the delivery o substantial new
inrastructure to upgrade the grid, uture
renewable generation will be curtailed or
large periods o time, reducing the likelihood
o government targets or levels o renewable
generation or 2020 being met. Timerames
to receive planning or these types o
inrastructure projects is a major consideration
in the overall timetable or delivery.
The uptake in ROCs (Renewable ObligationCerticates) has meant the supply company is
acing increasing requests or connection o
renewable generation at all levels within its
network. This is driving innovative solutions as
well as major new inrastructure requirements
to meet these requests. Up to 50% additional
transmission inrastructure will be required
to connect all new renewable generation
currently within the planning process with
possible expenditure o up to 1 billion.
future aspirations
Joined up strategic policies
Within Northern Ireland there are a number
o departments with responsibility or
dierent areas associated with EU targets
or 2020. DETI is responsible or setting the
targets in respect o renewable generation;
Department o Environment (DOE) is
responsible or carbon reduction and climate
change issues. The Department o Social
Development (DSD) takes the lead on tackling
uel poverty in Northern Ireland, a large
part o which is the Warm Homes Scheme.
Finally carbon reduction targets or transport
could be viewed as the responsibility o theDepartment o Regional Development (DRD).
The disjointed nature o policy development
and implementation on the renewables ront,
is illustrated by Belasts bid to become a electric
vehicle pilot scheme. ICE NI understands that
both DRD and DOE are jointly heading the
Plugged in Places bid or an electric vehicle pilot
scheme or Belast. A third department, DETI,
is also involved, to ensure that the additional
energy demand can be accommodated.
Whilst ICE NI understands and welcomes
the act that the DETI Minister chairs a
cross departmental group on energy, co-ordination between these departments is
vital i Northern Ireland is to meet the targets
required. ICE NI calls or government to
again consider the need or one department
to have overall responsibility or energy.
strategic policy platforM leading
to clear strategic obJectives
Strategic direction rom government is also
a critical requirement and it is important
that the work associated with the Strategic
Energy Framework, the Strategic Plan and
the Strategic Environmental Assessment iscompleted as soon as possible. ICE NI urges
that these completed documents are not
merely aspirational but provide clear direction.
fast tracK planning for
critical infrastructure
The UK government has acknowledged that
the planning process can lead to signicant
delays in the delivery o inrastructure
projects and has completed a review and
implementation to streamline this process.
ICE NI calls or this work to be extended to
Northern Ireland as a matter o great urgency.
heat, the untapped energy
Approximately 80% o energy consumed in
NI (excluding transport uel) is in the orm o
heat (60% domestic: 20% industrial) mostly
supplied by ossil uels. Whilst DETI would like
to set a target o 10% renewable heat by 2020,
it currently has no statutory powers to do so.
However, ICE NI understands that DETI has
commissioned an assessment o the potential
development o renewable heat in the region.
case study:
the warM hoMes scheMe
The Warm Homes Scheme is the Departmento Social Developments primary tool in
tackling uel poverty. Since the inception
o the scheme in 2001, some 70,000
insulation and heating interventions have
been made across Northern Ireland.
In July 2009, the scheme was reocused
targeting people on low incomes who require
help to improve the energy eciency o
their homes.
The Scheme, which is open to home-owners
and private tenants, provides a host o
heating and insulation measures.
Householders in receipt o a speciedqualiying benet who currently have solid
uel heating, Economy 7, Liquid Petroleum
Gas heating or no heating system at all
could receive a ully controlled energy-
ecient oil or gas central heating system.
The Scheme is jointly delivered across
Northern Ireland, on behal o the
Department or Social Development by
Bryson Charitable Group and H&A
Mechanical Services, who each serve
13 council areas across the region.
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current view
strategic connections
The sector has successully delivered the
procurement and construction stages o
the road contracts on the Key Transport
Corridors (KTCs) within the Regional
Transportation Strategy (RTS). These
improvement schemes have included grade
separation o major junctions on the A1
section o the E01 European corridor.
leaving the car behind
The same RTS has delivered better public
transport access such as the rebuilt Newry
Station and successul Park & Ride schemes.
Within the Belast Metropolitan Area Plannew commuter trains have generated
improved passenger numbers, journey times
and reliability. Similarly, there is condence
in Metro bus travel due to improved
requency on the Quality Bus Corridors,
investment in new buses, reorganisation o
the Metro network and the introduction
o the 60+ travel concession scheme.
boats and planes
The extension and development o Victoria
Terminal 4 at Belast port or Stena Line/
Belast Harbour Commissioners has helped
to reduce erry journey times to Scotland.
The recently redeveloped Warrenpoint
Harbour has also provided a signicant
boost or the economy in the area.
Both regional airports in Belast have continued
to adapt their terminal acilities to better meet
the changing requirements o air travellers.
current priorities
roads
strategic routes
The delivery o the upgrading contracts on
the KTCs such as the A5 rom Ballygawleyto Strabane and the A8 at Ballynure are
pivotal to this sector. ICE NI would encourage
Government to ensure these projects are not
postponed. Likewise the A2 Carrickergus
upgrade rom Jordanstown through
Greenisland should be resolved without delay.
the Missing linK
ICE NI would also like to see accelerated
progress on the multi-level ree fowinterchange at Yorkgate junction which
serves the M2/M5 corridor, Westlink and
the M3/Sydenham Bypass corridor. ICE NI
understand that with the recent opening
o the nal section o the M1/A1 scheme,
the Yorkgate junction is the only set o
trac lights between Larne and Dublin.
Maintaining our roads
In stark contrast to the successul delivery o
capital schemes, ICE NI would urge Government
to give nancial priority to maintenance o
the regions secondary road network whichhas suered in recent years rom continuing
budget cuts. The poor perormance and quality
o these assets has been urther exacerbated
by surace deterioration and rost heave
experienced during the cold winter o 2009-10.
public transport
inter-urban linKs
The reliability o inter-urban Goldline
bus services are improving as the KTCs
are developed, with a 20% increase in
passengers since 2004. However, the
legacy o under-investment in public
transport is particularly evident in the rural
transport hubs in the west o the region.
new trains
The provision o the Spanish rail manuacturer
CAF train sets has improved reliability
and public condence in the suburban rail
network with annual passenger numbers
increasing to 10 million journeys, the most
passengers per year since 1965. Translink has
set a target delivery date o 2012 or a urther
20 CAF train sets. ICE understand that the
construction o these trains is on programme.
access for all
The capital investment at bus terminals
and rail stations to ensure compliance with
the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
is laudable and ICE NI want to see this
programme continue. In our opinion priority
should be given to the development o
Gamble Street rail station to catalyse modal
change or journeys to/rom the Cathedral
Quarter with the new university campus
and Clarendon Dock areas o Belast city.
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transport
condition and capacity
Key transport routes are well served by well
maintained infrastructure across this sector.
However, the secondary road network and
local public transport require investment.
resilience
All infrastructure across this sector is susceptible
to serious weather events which are likely to
increase in frequency due to climate change.
sustainability
Carbon accounting has not been properly
addressed in this sector to date except perhaps
for air trafc. In fact, GHG emissions have
actually risen in the transport sector over the
last ve years.
iMpact of significant cuts
Cutting funding in this sector will be
detrimental to its ability to deliver a sound and
effective infrastructure. This is particularly in
terms of encouraging the behavioural change
to the use of public transport and to stem the
chronic deterioration of the secondary
roads network.
five year view
Strategies are in place with ability to deliver,
but this is dependent on funding and planning.
The exception again is air transport where a
regional strategy is now overdue.
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THE STATEOF THE NATION
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bus priority and rapid transport
Within Belast, the QBCs (Quality Bus Corridors)
continue to develop with improved requencieson Metro services leading to a 30% increase
in patronage over the last ve years. However,
average bus speeds on the QBCs are still
below the 10 year BMTP (Belast Metropolitan
Transport Plan) targets and these need to be
addressed. The integration o Metro services
within the City Realm pedestrianisation has still
to be delivered. ICE NI notes the slow progress
on the proposed Rapid Transit system or Belast
and would like to see a rst stage cross-city
route to Titanic Quarter implemented as soon
as is practicable. Ultimately, ICE would like
to see a high speed rail link between Belastand Dublin with a journey time o one hour.
ports and airports
linKing the ports
The delivery o the new Stena port at Cairnryan
is crucial or this sector. With the likely demise
o the HSS service, a more reliable all-weather
port is essential or the conventional roll-on
roll-o shipping service. ICE NI would like to
see oot passengers better served on the GB
mainland by reconsideration o the opening o
the rail branch to Cairnryan to serve both the
P&O and Stena Line port acilities. Access to
Belast and Larne ports will be urther improved
through development o the KTCs and the
planned multi-level Yorkgate interchange
getting the right strategy
ICE NI would like to see a speedy resolution
o the proposed runway extension at
George Best City airport but the decision
should be embraced within a viable air
transport strategy or the region.
the way ahead
Money for Maintenance
DRD must be congratulated on their continuing
investment in the KTCs on target with the
current 10 year RTS. However, it must be
recognised that the projected RTS road
maintenance budget has not been realised and
that the backlog on the secondary and urban
road network needs to be urgently addressed.
Joined up provision
In the current RTS/BMTP review or Greater
Belast, the grade-separated interchange
or the KTCs at Yorkgate requires priority
within the next 10 year period. However, this
target needs to be matched with the explicitdevelopment o a low carbon based Rapid
Transit System to boost public condence
and accelerate behavioural change through
improved park & ride acilities. This system
should integrate, rather than compete,
with the current Translink investment in
enhanced QBCs and the urban rail network.
all island air transport strategy
A more robust regional air transport strategy
or the island o Ireland needs to be put
in place by the relevant Governments.
case study:
warrenpoint harbour
Warrenpoint Harbour is in the process o major
phased redevelopment, with the opening o
a 21 million deepwater quay in June 2010
a key component o the entire project.
The quay creates two new deepwater berths
and can handle ully-laden container vessels
and other cargo ships o up to 10,000
tonnes. The harbour will now also serve a
twice-weekly container service with Cardi
Container lines, ollowing the opening o
a new roll-on roll-o acility in 2009.
According to the Warrenpoint Harbour
Chie Executive Peter Conway, the
modernisation o the harbour constitutes aneconomic driver or the whole region which
introduces over 3 million o purchasing
power into the local economy each year.
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current view
ICE NI believe that although DRD Water Service
and its successor, Northern Ireland Water
(NIW) have eected signicant increases in
compliance and have made plans or uture
investment, ull compliance with the regulations
or both water and waste water has yet to be
achieved. Further, levels o customer service in
NI do not yet match the levels enjoyed in the
rest o the UK. However, NIW is working hard
to improve eciency and delivery o its service.
water treatMent
50% o water production is now the
responsibility o a Public Private Partnership
(PPP) concessionaire, under the Alpha project.
waste water treatMent
30% o the waste water treatment is now the
responsibility o a PPP concessionaire under
the Omega project. There is an ongoing
programme o improvements in the treatment
works through an Integrated Waste Water
Treatment Framework.
infrastructure
There is an ongoing programme o water mains
rehabilitation and sewerage improvements
under various ramework contracts.
current priorities
good enough to drinKCompliance on drinking water quality has
increased to 99.66%. The upgrading o
water treatment works has made signicant
improvements in drinking water quality and
plans are in place to exceed this gure during
the Price Control period 2010 to 2013.
ICE NI understand that leakage rom water
mains has been reduced to allow a per capita
consumption o 136 litres per head per day.
However, this still represents a relatively high
consumption and more work on leakage
remains to be done.
More required for
waste water coMpliance
Waste water, at 88% compliance, continues
to all well below that in the rest o the UK
and it will take a number o years o sustained
investment to bridge the gap. NIW plan
to increase the compliance target to 91%
during the Price Control Period 2010 to 2013
provided adequate unding is secured.
Maintaining the MoMentuM
The programme o water main replacement
is continuing to improve drinking water
quality. The ongoing sewer rehabilitationprogramme is reducing pollution and out
o sewer fooding. ICE NI urge that this
programme be adequately unded to ensure
that NI customers enjoy the same standards o
customer service as those in the rest o the UK.
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water andwastewater
Condition And CApACity
The infrastructure is currently adequate but will
require increased maintenance as it ages. The
infrastructure will struggle to meet increasing
demands on water and sewerage services.
ResilienCe
The water network is generally adequate.
However, during times of exceptional demand
there still remain areas where the consistent
supply and distribution of drinking watercannot be guaranteed.
The sewerage infrastructure is generally
adequate. However, there are signicant
areas where the system lacks capacity leading
to out of sewer ooding and pollution.
sustAinAbility
Carbon is not currently counted in this sector.
The use of green energy is being explored.
impACt of signifiCAnt Cuts
Any reduction in funding will have a signicant
effect on the provision and maintenance of
the infrastructure with a detrimental effect on
customer services.
five yeAR viewStrategies are in place to comply with drinking
water and environmental legislation, and to
improve the levels of customer satisfaction.
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THE STATEOF THE NATION
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greening our water
NIW monitors its impact on the environment
through an Environmental ManagementSystem. As one o Northern Ireland Electricitys
(NIE) largest customers the company is
exploring the use o green energy and is
investigating opportunities or the use o wind
and water energy. NIW plans to increase the
use o green energy rom the current 8%, to
10% by the end o 2010, and to 15% by 2015.
regulated future a fair price
In addition to the Drinking Water Inspectorate
and the Northern Ireland Environment
Agency, NIW is now subjected to independent
regulation by the Northern Ireland Authorityor Utility Regulation (NIAUR) as the economic
regulator responsible or saeguarding customer
interests. This is an identical agency to OFWAT.
water charging
the elephant in the rooM
Charging or water services continues to
be debated within Northern Ireland. ICE
NI believe that i water and sewerage
delivery is to improve, then a secure
charging mechanism must be established.
The introduction o a separate charging
mechanism should simultaneously promote
the ecient use and conservation o water.
future aspirations
Taking current views and priorities into
account, ICE NI believe that the key areasor improvement are as ollows:
Continued delivery o the capital investmentprogramme to ensure ull compliance
with the EU directives and an integrated
asset management approach by NIW to
investment taking into account compliance,
sustainability and capital eciencies.
A planned and sustained approachto the operations and maintenance
o the existing inrastructure.
Greater eciency as a result o newtechnology and better processes in key areas.
The uture perormance o NIW will be very
much dependant on a sustained income
stream. ICE NI is rm that the political
posturing on water charges is no longer
tenable, especially in light o the reduction
in the Northern Ireland block grant.
case study:
sewer networK
Belasts sewer network which dates
back to the Victorian era was sueringas a result o sustained underinvestment
coupled with inadequate capacity as a
result o the citys continued expansion.
To address the problem, Northern Ireland
Water (NIW) commenced a 160 million
Storm water Management project aimed at
improving water quality in both the River
Lagan and Blacksta River, while reducing the
risk o fooding within the inner city. It also
incorporated the rehabilitation and upgrading
o the sewer network to ensure compliance
with European Union environmental standards.
Funding or the programme o works was
secured through the Reinvestment and Reorm
Initiative (RRI), established by the Northern
Ireland Assembly and HM Treasury in May
2002 to resource inrastructure upgrades.
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current view
The waste management sector in Northern
Ireland is evolving to meet recycling targets
and diversion o waste rom landll. Theperormance and development o the
regions waste management sector is
summarised under the ollowing headings:
reduction on
the reliance on landfill
The percentage o municipal solid waste
going to landll has reduced rom 82%
in 2004/05 to 68% in 2008/09.
iMproveMent in recycling
Recycling and composting or municipal solid
waste has increased rom 18% in 2004/05 to32% in 2008/09. This has mainly been due
to the widespread introduction o kerbside
collection o recyclables, kitchen and garden
waste. ICE NI would like to congratulate
both the Local Councils and the NI public
or the continued success o this initiative.
progress towards developMent
of new treatMent infrastructure
Materials recovery and composting acilities are
either in place or in the development phase.
The remaining residual waste inrastructure will
require mechanical biological treatment (MBT)and energy recovery (EW). The procurement
o these acilities is currently underway.
construction waste
The WRAP initiative on Halving
waste to landll is operational and
extends to Northern Ireland.
current priorities
In order to improve the current waste situation
within Northern Ireland, ICE NI believe that
the ollowing measures are necessary:
tacKling waste issues at source
Reducing the amount o waste which is
generated is a key policy driver and whilst not
specically linked to capital inrastructure, it is
an area where continued revenue investment
is required to promote waste reduction
through education and awareness raising.
recycling realities
The new Waste Framework Directive will
require member states to achieve a 50%
recycling rate or municipal waste by 2020.
ICE NI believes that NI can meet these
targets but improvements in the provision
o, and access to, kerbside, bottle bank and
household recycling centres are necessary.
Keeping it local
In order to acilitate a wider range o materials
which can be recycled it is necessary that
suitable end markets are available not just
within the EU or UK but in the local NI area.
This will also serve to improve the local
economy and provide a closed loop cycle
or waste / resources / materials. At present
limited local end markets are available which
may restrict the quantity and type o materials
which can be recycled at a local level.
waste
Condition And CApACity
Currently infrastructure in this sector is
limited with landll sites, household recycling
centres, transfer stations and materials
recovery stations predominating. Alternative
waste management systems associated with
composting, mechanical biological treatment
(MBT) and energy recovery (ER) infrastructure
are in the development phase.
ResilienCe
The lack of MBT or ER facilities to date in NIhas resulted in an unsustainable reliance on
landll for residual wastes. The current land
lling option would appear to be available
in the short to medium term but leaves NI
non-compliant with EC Directives, with the
consequent environmental and nancial
impacts.
sustAinAbility
New infrastructure, such as MBT and ER, will
result in a signicant carbon reduction when
compared to landlling of wastes. This
will be particularly through minimisation of
methane production, a green-house gas over
20 times more potent that CO2. In addition the
energy recovery component will displace the
need to combust other non renewable fuels.
impACt of signifiCAnt Cuts
The need to deliver new infrastructure,
namely MBT and ER, is driven by regulatory
requirements and is likely to be delivered
through PFI procurements. If central
government support were reduced this may
result in procurement and hence delivery being
slowed down.
five yeAR view
The required infrastructure is identied in the
Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI)
and capital budgets have been identied for
the delivery of the facilities; there is a clear
and well structured strategic lead for waste
management infrastructure in NI.
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the residual challenge - the
provision of residual waste
treatMent infrastructure for
Municipal waste
It is generally accepted that inrastructure
will be required to deal with the materials
which remain ollowing recycling. This
residual treatment inrastructure will thereore
be a key deliverable or NI to provide an
appropriate waste management system.
A time critical aspect is the need to have
additional landll diversion capacity in place
to meet a 2013 Landll Directive target which
limits the amount o biodegradable waste
allowed to be landlled. Without this
diversion Northern Ireland could be susceptibleto European inraction nes or non-compliance.
constructing sustainability
The reduction o waste and improved recycling
or waste arising at construction sites and
the increased use o recycled materials in
the industry is another key challenge.
The Site Waste Management Plans Regulations
2008 have been enacted in England only and
similar legislation may be benecial in Northern
Ireland to encourage all relevant projects to
have good waste management practices inplace. However the additional regulatory
burden would have to be considered in the
current economic situation and other options
should be explored to reduce site waste.
future aspirations
Taking current views and priorities into
account, ICE NI believe that the key areasor improvement are as ollows:
Local authorities should set challengingtargets to improve recycling. Measures
could include; widespread access to
kerbside schemes, schemes accepting a
wider range o materials, provision o
better quality household recycling
centres and increased access
to bottle banks.Further development o the end markets
or recyclable materials particularly at a local
level, thus allowing a wider range o materials
to be recycled and improve thelocal economy.
The three NI waste management groupsmust progress at pace with the procurement
o the time critical residual treatment
inrastructure and NI government should
assist to ensure that the risk o planning
and construction delays are minimised.
Contractors should be encouraged to sign
up to the Halving Waste to Landll initiative
being operated through WRAP. Further to
this, designers and contractors should have
an increased awareness o using recycled
materials in the construction industry.
case study: arc21 residual
waste treatMent proJect
The project is currently in procurement with
the contract due or award in late 2010/early 2011. The project will entail the delivery
o Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT)
and Energy rom Waste (EW) acilities.
The project will enable wastes which are
not recycled or composted to be treated.
The treatment will involve MBT where
ront end recycling will be undertaken
and EW where considerable energy
will be recovered and exported to the
electricity network and heat markets.
The project will enable the councils which are
part o arc21 to meet targets or the diversion
o bio-degradable municipal waste rom
landll and will assist in meeting recycling
requirements. In addition, the acilities will
provide capacity or commercial and industrial
wastes generated by businesses in the region.
The project is strategically signicant
and is one o the largest PPP type
projects to be undertaken in NI with an
anticipated value o circa 1 billion.
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current view
flooding whos responsible?
In Northern Ireland responsibility or
fooding issues lies with several government
departments; DARD Rivers Agency or fuvial
food emergency response, alleviation and
deence; Northern Ireland Water or storm
water run o and out o sewer fooding;
and DRD Roads Service or road drainage.
Each o these authorities as well as the
Blue Light services and more recently
the Local Councils, provide a co-ordinated
emergency response to fooding events.
land use planning
The introduction o Planning Policy Statement
15 on Planning and Flood Risk in June 2006 hasraised the prole o food risk in the context
o land use, development and inrastructure
provision. The precautionary approach o
this document has minimised the number o
inappropriately sited developments and has
thereore assisted in managing the food risk.
flood Mapping
The strategic food map or Northern Ireland
was launched in November 2008 by DARD
Rivers Agency and it provides a public source
o inormation on the risk rom rivers and the
sea including a climate change scenario.
increased intensity
of extreMe events
The last three years, in particular, have
demonstrated the clear need or proactive
Flood Risk Management in Northern Ireland,
as there have been a number o weather
events that resulted in signicant fooding.
The event in August 2008 is considered
to be the largest in living memory and its
impact was very widespread with in excess
o 1,600 dwellings and businesses directly
aected and many others threatened. This
event also inundated the newly constructedBroadway underpass, which cut o the main
link into Belast rom the west o the region.
call out the tasKforce
Most recently, the Fermanagh food event in
November 2009 demonstrated the impact
on the society with numerous key roadscut o by rising waters. Given this recent
history o fooding and in response to the
Fermanagh event, the Northern Ireland
Executive ormed a Flooding Taskorce to
review the perormance o those involved
and to identiy any changes which may be
required. The nal report rom this group
was published in the summer o 2010.
the legislation
The EU Floods Directive was transposed into
local regulations in November 2009 and
is called, The Water Environment (FloodsDirective) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
current priorities
fast approaching targets
the challenge to the
collaborative approach
The continued implementation o the EU
Floods Directive presents the opportunity
to deal with the wide range o food related
issues across the region. It requires many
departments, agencies and other bodies to
engage in order to draw up a Preliminary
Flood Risk Assessment. This assessment is
to consider impacts on human health and
lie, the environment, cultural heritage and
economic activity, with a legislative completion
date o December 2011. The inormation in
this assessment will be used to identiy the
areas at signicant risk which will then be
modelled in order to produce food hazard
and risk maps. These maps are to be in place
by December 2013 and will include detail on
the food extent, depth and level or three risk
scenarios (high, medium and low probability).
flood risKManageMent
Condition And CApACity
Whilst the infrastructure is in an acceptable
condition at present, it is an aging asset;
development has not kept pace with the
demands that our society has placed on it.
ResilienCe
The ood defences and drainage assets are an
integral part of providing protection to the
community but with the very likely impacts of
climate change their performance will diminish.
sustAinAbility
Environmentally sensitive maintenance
is carried out to our river network and
Environment Impact Assessments (EIAs) are
completed for all drainage related capital
works projects. However, carbon is not
counted and there is still scope for much
improvement in this area.
impACt of signifiCAnt Cuts
Sustained cuts would eventually impact on the
operation of this sector, the results of which
would be compounded by likely impacts of
climate change.
five yeAR view
A cross- sectoral approach is required; theFloods Directive will drive the industry in this
direction. Individual agencies and departments
with responsibility must engage with this
process if there is to be genuine improvement
in ood risk management.
cgrade
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THE STATEOF THE NATION
infrastructure2010 10+11
the new Mantra:
prevent, protect, prepare
Flood Risk Management Plans can thenbe produced to indicate to policy makers,
developers, and the public the nature o
the risk and the measures proposed to
manage these risks. The management
plans are to ocus on prevention, protection
and preparedness rather than the largely
reactive approach o old. The Flood Risk
Management Plans are to be complete by
December 2015 and in order to ensure
community buy-in they will require input rom
interested parties during their development.
Keeping focused
coMes with a price tag
Maintenance o drainage assets is key to
managing food risk and this activity will
continue as a priority. Capital expenditure
to replace ageing or inadequate drainage
inrastructure; to construct new works to
accommodate development; and to increase
the level o protection rom fooding, is
also ongoing as resources permit. The
food events over the last three years have
reinorced the need or such expenditure and
an increased unding level must be provided.
These are dicult economic times but wemust keep ocused on the long term aim o
reducing the food risk in Northern Ireland.
future aspirations
Continue to deliver the requiremento the EU Floods Directive.
Continue to maintain and improve thedrainage and food deence inrastructure
in a sustainable and aordable manner.
Ensure joined up Government whendealing with the natural phenomena that is
fooding, which is likely to increase in severity
i climate change predictions are realised.
ICE NI believe that the ability o the Northern
Ireland government to deal with fooding needs
to improve through shared responsibility and
a joined up approach to deal with this natural
phenomenon and i climate science provescorrect, the challenge is only set to increase.
case study: MoneyMore
flood defence scheMe
The Moneymore Flood alleviation scheme,
completed in 2009, achieved the highestever score in the Construction category o
the UK wide Civil Engineering Environmental
Quality (CEEQUAL) awards. The award
recognised the environmental quality and social
practices o the scheme, which addressed
the risk o serious fooding to more than
100 houses rom the local Ballymully River.
The appointed contractor, Dawson Wam,
was aced with many challenges during
the construction including the constraints
o bird nesting and sh spawning seasons,
the proximity o houses to the construction
work and the clients desire to make energysavings through the choice o materials
and the construction methods adopted.
Clearly these challenges were met, and the
CEEQUAL Award served as an endorsement o
Rivers Agencys commitment to dealing with
the threat o fooding in a sustainable manner.
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8/6/2019 State of the Nation Northern Ireland Infrastructur
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THESTATEOF THENATIONINFRASTRUCTURE2010
View the ull report online atice.org.uk/stateofthenation
thestateof thenationinfrastructure2010
northern ireland
regional grades
contact
a
b
c
d
e
fit for the future
adequate for now
requires attention
at risK
unfit for purpose
ICE Northern Ireland143 Malone Road
Belast
BT9 6SX
t +44 (0)28 9087 7157
f +44 (0)28 9087 7155
ice.org.uk/northernireland
For more inormation on the State o the
Nation Inrastructure 2010 report,
please contact ICE Public Aairs:
t +44 (0)20 7665 2150
ice.org.uk/stateothenation
Registered charity number 210252.Charity registered in Scotland number SC038629.
THE STATEOF THE NATION
infrastructure2010 12