NI Water has announced that the first phase of a major £8 million flood alleviation project is progressing well in South Belfast.
The work, which is scheduled to be completed in the Autumn, involves upgrading the local sewerage infrastructure, which will substantially reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the Marguerite Park area, whilst paving the way for future works in the Sicily Park area.
The overall project involved constructing over 1.3km of new large diameter sewer from the ‘Grovelands’ area of Musgrave Park, through the park grounds, Musgrave Park Hospital and Malone College, crossing under the railway line and through an area of private land into Diamond Gardens/Marguerite Park and Donegal Park.
To date the water company has laid over 1000 metres of pipework – following the completion of what it describes as “a challenging programme of tunnelling”, the work is now around 80 percent complete, with the final section of work on Phase one now progressing.
Phase 1 of the major project will increase the capacity of the existing network substantially reducing the risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the Marguerite area in the future. Phase 2 will address out-of-sewer flooding in the Sicily Park area. Commencement of Phase 2 is dependent on the completion of a separate, long-term project to extend the Belfast Storm Water Tunnel.
BSG is the main contractor for this project, with Atkins providing design and Project Management Support.
Mark Sefton, NI Water Project Manager, said:
“NI Water is progressing well with this major Flood Alleviation Project. We are now in the pipelaying phase in the Diamond Gardens, Marguerite and Donegall Park area, with around 80 percent of pipelaying now complete. We anticipate the project will be complete in the Autumn following extensive reinstatement work.”
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd commented:
“I’m delighted to see the progress on this flood alleviation scheme at Marguerite Park which is part of the Living with Water Programme (LWWP). The LWWP is an excellent example of how we can work together to deliver integrated sustainable drainage solutions to manage flood risk, enhance our environment, and allow our local economy to grow. When finished this scheme will reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the immediate area caused by weather events. “
NI Water’s capital funding for year 1 of its business plan was secured and the business is looking forward to the necessary funding being put in place across the full six-year period to 2027.
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