Wilderness Experience and importance of landscape scale

Amendment : Recognise that some cutaway and cut-over boglands may have the characteristics of represent degraded

landscapes and/or brownfield sites and thus may potentially be fit to

absorb a variety of development provided that the development

proposal does not increase Green House Gas emissions or damage protected habitats or species

LR T1

Endeavour to increase the territory of County Kildare designated to

nature from 3% to 27%- 30% by the end of this Plan period, in response to
the Government’s commitment to designate 30% of the territory of
Ireland for nature by 2030 and in accordance with the EU Biodiversity
Strategy 2030. This may can be achieved by the development of the
proposed Midlands Peatlands National Park National Peatlands Park (see objectives in
Section13.6).

13.4.4 The River Liffey and the River Barrow Valleys

Reference to the River Barrow forming part of an SAC should be added to this paragraph for consistency with

13.4.5 Rye Water Valley at Carton SAC

13.5.2 Views to and from Waterways

13.6.2 Forest Parks, Woodlands & Boglands

Approximately 9,200 ha of land in Kildare is under forest cover. Forests and woodlands provide benefits over and above the revenue yielded from timber and other wood-
based  products.  These  include  recreational  and  tourism  amenities  for  local communities. Table 13.8 outlines recreational woodlands in the county.

12.5.3 County Kildare Biodiversity Action Plan 2009-2014 The Council adopted its first Biodiversity Action Plan in April 2009 in accordance with the National Biodiversity Plan. The County Biodiversity Plan provides a framework for conserving biodiversity and natural heritage at a local level. It complements the Kildare Heritage Plan by including detailed actions to deliver positive outcomes focused on species and habitats. A key focus of the plan is gathering information on and managing the biodiversity resource, education, awareness raising and the promotion of effective cooperation between stakeholders. The County Kildare Biodiversity Plan will be reviewed during the lifetime of this plan.  Insert :  A new County Kildare Biodiversity Action Plan will be published by 2024

Reason; a central Kildare resource containing biodiversity aims, objectives and initiatives is essential. This document will illustrate the large reach, responsibility and accountability of the Council and partner organisations for biodiversity, healthy rivers, water quality  and the protection of nature. This new enhanced objective to reach 27% of land for nature (see ch 13) should provide the cornerstone of the Plan with milestones for the achievement of this target. A published document will help inform the public, ensure implementation and form a tool to keep track of progress

Comment : The acknowledgement and recognition of the positive contribution of our natural assets is very welcome.

Reason : for consistency and linkage with RE O127 which states  “ Support in conjunction with Offaly County Council, Laois County

Council and all other relevant stakeholders such as Bord na Mona,

Coillte and the NPWS, any proposal for a new National Peatlands

 Park centred in Kildare on Bord Na Mona cutaway bogs in

Kildare, Laois”

Insert new action to implement objective in LR040

LR A 13 Engage with the Department of Housing , Local Government and Heritage and other County Councils and relevant stakeholders to advance the delivery of a new National Peatlands Park ( see EC A7)

 13.3 Landscape Character Assessment

Actions

It shall be an action of the Council to:

Amendment : Revaluate West Kildare Bogs to Class 5 and postpone decisions which would impact the landscape until an updated County Landscape Character assessment is completed. This would ensure the Bog of Allen’s potential for rewilding and tourism is not irreversibly damaged by any proposed developments in the intervening period.

Reason: The original LCA was undertaken in 2004 and undervalues the Bog of Allen historical, cultural, religious and environmental importance. It also fails to reflect the significant rehabilitation and scientific research carried out in many of these peatlands and the growth of both domestic and international tourism to West Kildare over the past 18 years. It is also now widely accepted that Irelands raised bogs have global significance as a carbon store and ecosystem treasures and that their protection and rehabilitation is the first line of defence in mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity. 

Amendment : Recognize the importance of the nationally-important greenways and blueways as presented in the Green Infrastructure Concept map and identify important clusters of core areas/nodes/stepping stones which can have strengthened landscape protections in recognition of their importance of peatlands nature/tourism hubs as identified in the Barrow Blueway Economic Plan, the West Kildare Just Transition Plan and the Kildare Tourism Strategy.

Reason: The existing Landscape Character Map was prepared in 2004 and fails to take into account significant new developments in County Kildare including:

• Significant peatlands in the landscape – in 2004 the peatlands of Kildare were largely considered as industrial production areas but since the cessation of peat harvesting in 2020 these areas have emerged as a major new opportunity for the development of biodiversity areas to meet the new 27% protected area target and the proposal for a National Peatlands Park on the Ballydermot Bog complex and a Peatlands Park on Umeras Bog which are recognized as core areas in this draft County Development Plan (section 12.14.5)
• The construction of the 5th national blueway – the Barrow Blueway and the development in this County Development Plan of a new Green Infrastructure Map which recognizes the importance of Green and Blue corridors joining the core areas and nodes/stepping stones in the county.
• The peatlands nature tourism opportunities identified in the West Kildare Just Transition Plan, the Barrow Blueway Economic Plan and the Kildare Tourism Strategy.

Change: The current Matrix for the Impact of Development on Landscape is based on impacts in 2004 and is outdated and the landscape impacts on the core/nodes/corridors in the Kildare County Council’s Green Infrastructure Strategy need to be revised before the Wind Energy Strategy is adopted and impacts considered within 2000m of Landscape Sensitivity Areas.

Reason: The current Matrix for Impact on Development on Landscape is only based on a distance of 300m from significant Green infrastructure. This was based on a 2004 Landscape Character Assessment when wind turbines were only 50m in height. Given that turbines are being proposed in County Kildare which are 220m high it makes no sense to only consider a 300m distance from corridors/nodes and core areas and a distance of 2000m would be considered reasonable in relation to the height of turbines.

Change: The inclusion of the Allen Lullymore  Bog Group is important as this is the view looking westward from Lullymore which is an established peatland tourism hub in West Kildare.

Reason: The panoramic and uninterrupted views across the Bog of Allen to the west are celebrated and promoted internationally by Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park (which attracted over 54000 fee paying visitors in 2019) and the IPCC.

Objectives

It is an objective of the Council to: