Sea Plane Base 'Takes Off'

The River Shannon is to be boosted with news of a base for seaplanes being built at Lough Derg.

The building plan was approved by An Bord Pleanála at the end of November after the board rejected appeals against the proposal from An Taisce and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).

Local anglers and residents had also appealed Clare County Council's decision to grant planning permission for the base at Mountshannon, which is to form part of a network of facilities by Harbour Flights Ireland Ltd for a seaplane service around the country.

Harbour Flights Chief Executive Emelyn Heaps said he was delighted with the decision, and hopes to start flying tourists in next year.

Mr Heaps said the base at Mountshannon is just one location from which the seaplane service will operate, with other locations at Foynes, Limerick city, Galway city, Inishmore, Cobh, Waterford and Dublin.

In its ruling, the appeals board gave the project planning approval after finding the proposal would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity; would not give rise to creation of a traffic hazard; would not be prejudicial to public health, and would not have significant effects on the Natura 2000 site - Lough Derg (Shannon) Special Protection Area.

In its appeal, Inland Fisheries Ireland stated a plan to locate an airport on Lough Derg with aircraft coming in at high speed would pose a risk to anglers, fisheries staff and other boat users.

The IFI, incorporating the former Shannon regional fisheries board, argued the construction of an airport on the lake would be an infringement of the fishing rights or property rights on the lake, but failed to stop the plan taking off.

(BMcC/KMcA)