AQW 28931/22-27

Mr Andrew McMurray
Alliance Party
South Down

Tabled Date: 18/06/2025
Answered On Date: 08/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, pursuant to AQW 28107/22-27, (i) to provide further detail on the options explored in NI Water's modelling work in relation to reducing the risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the Marguerite area of Newcastle; and (ii) whether NI Water will engage with the Newcastle Regional Community Resilience Group prior to taking a decision.

Answer:

I have liaised with NI Water and they have advised as follows:

(i) Whilst a possible storage solution has been identified, further refinement is required through modelling and additional surveys, to ensure the possibility of localised out of sewer flooding is reduced as far as possible. When considering solutions to reduce the risk of out of sewer flooding, NI Water will run various scenarios through their model and may carryout additional site surveys to ensure assumptions made are correct. NI Water will always endeavour to find the best solution in economic, engineering buildability and environmental terms.

(ii) As above, any solution identified will be the best solution in economic, engineering buildability and environmental terms, taking into account the layout of our existing infrastructure at the location. Once NI Water is satisfied that the solution referred to above provides the optimum protection possible to reduce this risk of out of sewer flooding from our network, the details of the solution will be shared with the Newcastle Regional Community Resilience Group. Any works proposed following the modelling works will be subject to budget availability.