Waterford City & County Council has commenced a programme to redevelop the landscaping on the seven roundabouts on the N25 Dungarvan Bypass.
The roundabout on the Youghal Road entrance to Dungarvan will be re-landscaped with a seaside/maritime theme. The Council’s Environment Department in partnership with the Arts Office is now inviting artists to submit proposals to work on the old sea buoy at this location using a maritime theme.
Full details and the application form are available below or by contacting the Arts Office on 058-41416. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 12 noon on Wednesday 9th November 2016.
05/09/2016. FREE TO USE IMAGE. Pictured at City Hall, Waterford City at the installation of “Waterford 2016” painting by by Irish artist, Blaise Smith which is 5 metres in length. Picture: Patrick Browne
The Office of Public Works and Waterford City & County Council commission a new large scale painting for Waterford Flood Defence Works
The Office of Public Works and Waterford City & County Council have recently commissioned Irish artist, Blaise Smith, to create a new large-scale painting that reflects a 21st century view of Waterford city under the ‘Per Cent for Art Scheme’ for flood defence works.
In 1735, Waterford Corporation, as it was then known, commissioned a painting of the city from Dutch painter, William Van der Hagen (d. 1745). This painting still hangs today in the Bishop’s Palace, one of Waterford Treasures’ award winning trilogy of museums, and is considered to be a painting of national importance. The new painting entitled “Waterford 2016”, 5 metres in length and comprised of 52 panels, will act as a companion painting to the Van der Hagen painting. The view is from the same vantage point – showing the city from across the river Suir as it stands today with all the changes that have taken place over the span of two hundred and eighty years.
Blaise Smith A.R.H.A. is a leading Irish figurative painter. Speaking about this commission, he said: “Like the Van der Hagen from 1736, I hope that my painting will be viewed in 280 years’ time and people will marvel at how the city looked in the past. Hopefully another lucky artist will be commissioned then, and will be facing an even bigger painting challenge than I am at this time.”
Speaking ahead of the unveiling of the painting, the Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Adam Wyse has acknowledged the significance of the painting: “This painting allows us to reflect, not only on the past, but on the future, and the great potential that Waterford has. The fact that we now have two tremendous paintings of Waterford, separated by almost two hundred and eighty years, is a testament to the pride we hold in this beautiful city, just as our predecessors did before us.”
Waterford City & County Council requested that the Percent for Art funding relating to these vital works be used to commission a new painting of the City of Waterford from across the River Suir. Waterford City & County Council considered it fitting and appropriate that the proposed art commission would stem from works undertaken on the river itself.
This new painting will form part of the State Art Collection, while residing permanently on display in Waterford City. The painting will hang in the vestibule of City Hall in Waterford City for future generations to enjoy.
For further press information, please contact Claire Feely or Emma Kelly at Elevate PR on 01 662 56 52 or email claire@elevate.ie / emma@elevate.ie
Notes to Editors
Details of Painting
Artist: Blaise Smith
Title: Waterford 2016
Date: 2016
Media : Oil on 38 x 38 cm Gesso panels (52 in an array of 4 x 13)
Overall dimensions: 494 cm x 152 cm (unframed)
Photography from this event will be available from Patrick Browne Photography, 086 2515700 or brownesphotography@me.com
Background to Flood Defence Works in Waterford
The city of Waterford has a long history of flooding from the River Suir and John’s River. The Flood Relief Scheme was carried out by Waterford City and County Council with funding provided by the Office of Public Works. Works were carried out on a phased basis with approximately 1.5km of glass and reinforced concrete walls being constructed along the river Suir Quays, Scotch Quay and Waterside which were completed in May 2011. Further works were commenced in November 2011 which comprised the construction of flood walls and embankments on the River Suir, John’s River and the Lisduggan Stream and sections of the Tramore Road were raised and upgraded. All of these works are now substantially complete with some minor works remaining to be carried out. The flood relief scheme provides protection to 334 residential and 186 commercial premises.
05/09/2016. FREE TO USE IMAGE. Pictured at City Hall, Waterford City at the installation of “Waterford 2016” painting by by Irish artist, Blaise Smith which is 5 metres in length. Picture: Patrick Browne The Office of Public Works and Waterford City & County Council today unveiled a commissioned piece by Irish artist, Blaise Smith, under the Per Cent for Art Scheme for flood defence works. The new large-scale painting reflects a 21st century view of Waterford city and is entitled “Waterford 2016”. It is 5 metres in length and comprised of 52 panels, and acts as a companion painting to the 1735 commission by Waterford Corporation, (as it was then known), from a Dutch painter William Van der Hagen (d. 1745). Blaise Smith has taken his view from the same vantage point; showing the city from across the river Suir as it stands today, with all the changes that have taken place over the span of two hundred and eighty years.
Blaise Smith A.R.H.A. has recently completed a portrait commission for the Abbey Theatre. He has exhibited widely in Ireland and abroad. His project SCHOOLWORK which involved 20 paintings of an Irish Secondary School won an AXA Business to Arts Award in 2012. His portraits have been shown in the BP Portrait Award in the National Portrait Gallery in London and most recently his Landscape “The Join” won the Carlow AIB Eigse Award for most outstanding work in 2015.
Beach goers and swimmers alike are asked to be vigilant as several members of the public have reported Portuguese Man O’War jellyfish both in the sea and washed up on shore.
The sightings were on Ardmore beach, Clonea beach (Castle end) and Tramore beach.
The sting from these creatures is very painful and can be fatal – even when the animal is dead, so please do not touch or pick them up etc.
The basis of the scheme is that repair and improvement works to suitable vacant properties are funded to bring them up to the standard for rented accommodation and the cost of the works is then deducted from lease payments over an agreed lease term.
A key component of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is a new scheme, the Vacant Housing Repair and Leasing Initiative, which targets the delivery of social housing and also ensures that existing housing stock is used to the maximum degree possible.
Waterford City and County Council have piloted and progressed the initiative with Department of Housing Planning Community and Local Government support. CSO Census data and local studies have indicated that there are significant numbers of vacant dwellings in Waterford City & County. The Vacant Housing Repair and Leasing Initiative (also known as Repair and Leasing Initiative or RLI) is intended to target these properties as a possible source of social housing and also provides the property owner with an income stream that may be otherwise unavailable.
Wednesday, September 28th 2016 was World Rabies Day and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is taking the opportunity to highlight the importance of continuing vigilance against rabies.
Ireland is fortunate to have been rabies free since 1903, but as rabies cases have been reported in pets and wildlife in Europe in recent years, Ireland is not free from risk.
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) estimate that approximately 60,000 people across the world die every year from rabies and that Rabies is still endemic in 150 countries/territories worldwide. Most human deaths occur in children in developing countries. The majority of these deaths are preventable by increasing public awareness and access to canine rabies vaccine. Rabies eradication requires a multidisciplinary effort between health, veterinary and local authorities. By working together rabies can be eliminated for good.
In 2015 the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with partners, the Global Alliance for the Control of Rabies (GARC) announced their framework for eliminating rabies by 2030.
The Department emphasises that Irish citizens can play their part in achieving this vision. Whilst the risk to Ireland is considered low, increasing animal movement across Europe means that we in Ireland must remain vigilant.
The illegal importation of dogs, cats or other pets is the most likely way that rabies could be introduced. If you are travelling with pets within the EU (including the UK) or importing pets into Ireland, it is a legal requirement for them to be vaccinated against rabies. Full details can be found on the Department’s website at the following link:
As part of the Well Festival, we are running a session for Community and Voluntary Groups on ‘Making your Own Movie’, perfect for recording your events in-house or putting up that clip up to make your social media posts stand out.
This session will also give you an opportunity to network with other community groups.
Would you like to be able to make videos for you and your community group? Our one-hour film making workshop will give you practical experience in hands on film-making. The group will become a working film crew learning sound, camera operation, continuity, lighting, and how to set up and record a shot for editing.
Time: Tuesday 4 October, 11am, Central Library Central Library
Tutor: Niamh Moroney, Artist in Residence with Central Arts.
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week takes place this year between 26th September and 2nd October.
The aim of the campaign this year is to highlight the fact that carbon monoxide (CO) can, and does, kill. It is colourless, odourless, hard to detect and it can kill in less than three minutes.
On average, six people in Ireland die every year as a result of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. But there’s a lot you can do to safeguard against it.
Remember:
Carbon Monoxide can be produced by ANY fuel that burns, including coal, turf, oil, gas and wood.
Service fuel burning appliances and have chimneys swept annually.
Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
The campaign is being fronted by Tommy McAnairey, the ballad-singing canary created to drive awareness about carbon monoxide, and will feature across all national and local media with a significant social media presence. There will also be radio and TV coverage as well as media interviews with people directly affected by carbon monoxide. Rory Cowan, star of the hit comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys, is a campaign ambassador for Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week this year due to his own personal experience with carbon monoxide exposure.
Waterford City & County Council has commenced a project to control Japanese Knotweed in public open space and on public roads.
Members of the public are asked to report sightings of the invasive Japanese Knotweed by emailing details of the location to japaneseknotweed@waterfordcouncil.ie
What is Japanese Knotweed ?
Japanese knotweed is a non-native invasive perennial (plant that lives more than one year) species in Ireland. Since it was introduced as an ornamental plant in the 19th Century from Japan, it has spread across the UK and Ireland, particularly along watercourses, transport routes and infested waste areas.
It is rhizomatous (produces underground stems) with distinctive branched hollow, bamboo-like canes that can grow to over 3m in height. Red/purple shoots appear early in spring but as the canes grow, the leaves unfurl and the plant turns green. The mature canes are hollow and have a characteristic pattern of purple speckles. Flowering occurs in late summer/autumn and consists of creamy white flowers.
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 11 Subsection (1) (b) (iii) Roads Act 1993 that Waterford City and County Council propose to declare a road at Sruh, Lismore, Co. Waterford to be Public Road. Road is 172 meters in length running from the centre of the road, from its junction with L1004.
A map indicating the road to be taken in charge is available for inspection during normal office opening hours by interested members of the Public for a period of one month up to and including 19th October 2016 at the following locations:-
Roads Dept, Waterford City and County Council, Civic Offices, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
Roads Dept, Waterford City & County Council, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford.
Submissions or observations with respect to the proposal to declare the road to be a Public Road may be made in writing to the Director of Services, Roads, HR and Emergency Services, Waterford City and County Council, City Hall, The Mall, Waterford not later than 4pm on 2nd November 2016.
Waterford City and County Council propose to make changes to the Traffic arrangements on Bilberry Road and Quarry Road. These changes are;
the making of Bilberry Road from one way from a point approximately 900m north of Rice Bridge to a point approximately 80m south of the Junction with Quarry Road. The direction of travel will be northbound. The road will be narrowed and the remaining space set aside for the extension of the Waterford Greenway along this portion of the road.
On the section of Bilberry Road and Grattan Quay from Rice Bridge to the point where the road is to be made one way, the road will remain two way but shall be narrowed and a shared footpath / cycle way shall be provided.
On Quarry Road, at the junction with Gracedieu Road, the road shall be narrowed and the provision of a footpath linking Bowefield and Gracedieu Road shall be provided. Traffic lights will be installed to implement a shuttle traffic flow on the narrowed section.
These changes are intended to be temporary, as it is an objective of Waterford City and County Council to widen Bilberry Road and Quarry Road in the future to allow for the development of the former Waterford Stanley Site and to allow the development of lands in Gracedieu East. The timing of these road improvements will depend on the developments taking place in the area and the availability of funding for the road widening.
The Waterford Greenway will open shortly extending from Dungarvan to Bilberry along the route of the old railway line. From Bilberry into Grattan Quay, this line is not available. As the land along the river Suir develops, the greenway will be extended alongside the river to Grattan Quay. As an interim measure pending the development of that land, provisions are being made to provide connectivity along the road to Grattan Quay.
The section of road identified in 1 above, and here via maps and drawings, the road is too narrow to provide any footpath / cycleway and maintain 2 way traffic. This section of road will be one – way heading towards Quarry Road.
The section of road identified in 2 above is being made 2 way so the businesses and houses on this section of the road will not have to follow long diversions via Quarry Road and Gracedieu Road to access the city centre, but will be able to exit onto Rice Bridge to access the city centre.
There is also no footpath provided between Bowefield and Gracedieu Road, to allow access to Gracedieu Road and the schools complex on Carrickphierish Road. As the road here is too narrow to accommodate two way traffic and a footpath, a one -way shuttle system will be implemented here to allow the construction of a footpath linking Bowefield and Watersgate to Gracedieu Road.
Due to essential maintenance works, there will be Water Supply disruption in Tramore and Butlerstown Co. Waterford, from 10.00pm Wed 21/09/16 until 8.00am Thursday 22/09/16.
Waterford City & County Council, in partnership with Irish Water, will work to minimise the impact of any disruption to service & will restore normal supply as soon as possible.
Customers are advised to run their taps if they experience discolouration when supply is restored. WC&CC and Irish Water apologise for any inconvenience and the Irish Water Customer Contact Centre can be called on 1890-278-278.
Public Consultation Day
Are you interested in the draft Flood Risk Management Plans for your area?
A public consultation is currently underway seeking public and stakeholder comments and observations on the measures now being proposed as the preferred and feasible measures, to address known significant flood risk for a particular area.
Further details on this consultation, including the date by which comments and observations are required, are available on the OPW website: www.opw.ie/FloodPlans
You are invited to the following consultation event where members of the public can ask questions in relation to the draft Flood Risk Management Plan specific to their particular area.
The Park Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
Tuesday 27th September 2016: 2:00pm – 7:00pm
The area included in the draft Flood Risk Management Plans are: Dungarvan, Dunmore East and Tramore and Environs.
Waterford City & County Council are introducing a Choice Based Letting Scheme on a pilot basis for certain council properties in Waterford city and county areas.
The pilot Choice Based Lettings Scheme will go live on the Council’s website at 9 a.m. on Friday 16th September.
The Council will be seeking expressions of interest from anyone currently on the housing list who may be interested in becoming a tenant of certain properties advertised through the scheme.
The council properties will be advertised each week from 9 a.m. on Fridays to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and it is only during this time that an expression of interest on a property can be submitted. For the pilot phase the Council will advertise a handful of properties on a weekly basis, or as they become available. If there are no properties available, the website will indicate this. Access to the Choice Based Letting (CBL) system is via the Council website at http://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/departments/housing/choice-based-lettings.htm
Waterford City & County Council has commenced a programme to redevelop the landscaping on the seven roundabouts on the N25 Dungarvan Bypass.
Beach goers and swimmers alike are asked to be vigilant as several members of the public have reported Portuguese Man O’War jellyfish both in the sea and washed up on shore.
The basis of the scheme is that repair and improvement works to suitable vacant properties are funded to bring them up to the standard for rented accommodation and the cost of the works is then deducted from lease payments over an agreed lease term.
Wednesday, September 28th 2016 was World Rabies Day and the 
As part of 
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week takes place this year between 26th September and 2nd October.
Waterford City & County Council has commenced a project to control Japanese Knotweed in public open space and on public roads.
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 11 Subsection (1) (b) (iii) 
Waterford City and County Council propose to make changes to the Traffic arrangements on Bilberry Road and Quarry Road. These changes are;
Due to essential maintenance works, there will be Water Supply disruption in Tramore and Butlerstown Co. Waterford, from 10.00pm Wed 21/09/16 until 8.00am Thursday 22/09/16.
Public Consultation Day
Waterford City & County Council are introducing a Choice Based Letting Scheme on a pilot basis for certain council properties in Waterford city and county areas.
