Here’s the presentation and discussion from the Dublin City Council consultation meeting held:

The DCC Rainscapes Dodder Consultation Meeting 15-07-2021

The cocktail of pollutants that wash off our roads and car parks can have devastating impacts on the wildlife that lives in our rivers ! “ Not if we can help it” say the River Dodder community and their local government, Dublin City Council team.

If you live, play or visit down the Dodder in Dartry, Milltown, Donnybrook, or Ballsbridge, you can input to help protect your river and your wildlife. Rainscapes is the new project that Dublin City Council have just lauched to see what works best. Here’s the intro. There’s more consultation coming next month. But don’t wait till then, input any early ideas, and let’s collaborate to protect our lifeline.

The project aims to create new green spaces, make enhancements to existing green spaces and change the appearance of some hard surfaces. This will provide benefits to the local community and at the same time protect the Dodder and Santry rivers by cleaning the rainwater that flows off our roads before it gets to the river. Climate change in the impacts it can have on society is a key issue that we have to address.  The change in approach to how we manage rainfall can create more climate change resilient urban environments.

The proposed changes will be designed to provide the benefits to the local community and where appropriate opportunities will be taken to:

• Support health and wellbeing

• Provide informal play opportunity

• Attract desirable wildlife

• Reduce flood risk

• Adapt urban development to minimise impact of climate change

More detail on the DCC site (and stand-by for upcoming Dodder consultations on 15 June, tbc): https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/environment/flood-and-water-framework-directive/river-santry-and-river-dodder-rainscapes