a myopic, ineffectual, ecological disaster of a strategy thought up by a State sanctioned body w/a horrendous environmental record. canalising rivers costs more money long term, both on site & downriver than proper, thoughtful management of a catchment area.
& this isn't a 1 time deal, see my tweet from August 2018. that was after months of the same, middle of the river construction. this will be a normal event in Bandon now, since rivers with no banks & dredged bottoms require constant upkeep.
this is because creating a canal increases both the flow speed & water volume during storms, increasing flooding risk & damage downriver. the removal of banks & river beds also increases sediment rise which will need to be frequently cleared out, costing millions every year.
This picture is from the River Bandon, taken in July 2018. It’s grey from both concrete dust & silt runoff from the amount of spoil taken from the river bed. The locals call this “the mountain.”
this flood scheme benefits "the boys." another, common sense strategy that doesn't make a canal out of a river would benefit the town, the economy, the rivers catchment area, communities downriver, the environment & the wider ecology by maintaining & restoring multiple habitats.
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