The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is undertaking a review of the scientific evidence around the impacts of sand dredging under the Lough Neagh Action Plan. However, it has emerged that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency has written to the Department for Infrastructure to advise a review of existing permissions and licences be undertaken in light of a recent study of commercial sand dredging.
The South Antrim MLA is calling on Minister Kimmins to pause sand extraction from the Lough until an urgent review is completed.
Urging the Minister to protect Lough Neagh, Mr Blair said, “We now have a clearer picture of the impact of sand dredging and it is critical that the Infrastructure Minister now acts to help secure the future of Lough Neagh.
“The science is telling us that churning up the bed releases the nutrients held there and exacerbates the blue-green algae blooms that are wreaking havoc on communities, local livelihoods, ecosystems, and the quality of our water.
“I am calling on the Infrastructure Minister to pause all commercial sand-dredging activities until a review of planning permissions can be carried out and revised environmental assessments undertaken. Anything less will fail the Lough and my constituents who live with the consequences of this crisis.”
Lough Neagh’s bed and soil are owned by the Earl of Shaftesbury and John Blair MLA also urged the Infrastructure Minister to work with the Alliance DAERA Minister to see transfer to public ownership.
“We have a unique opportunity to see the bed and soil of Lough Neagh transferred to public ownership without charge. I am pleased to see the progress Minister Muir has made with the Earl of Shaftesbury and it is now up to the Infrastructure Minister to facilitate the transfer to Waterways Ireland, NI Water or her Department. From there, we can build the consensus required to realise community ownership as a longer-term goal.”
The recent study referenced by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs can be viewed here: