State of the Nation Northern Ireland Infrastructur

8/6/2019 State of the Nation Northern Ireland Infrastructur

1/12

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

grade

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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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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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


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.


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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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


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.


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


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.


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


11/12



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.


12/12

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

e [email protected]

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

e [email protected]

ice.org.uk/stateothenation

Registered charity number 210252.Charity registered in Scotland number SC038629.


infrastructure2010 12

Documents

State of the Nation Northern Ireland Infrastructur