Waterford City's quays are about to get an attractive glass wall, a new walkway and other landscape features as part of a major flood protection programme which has just begun in the heart of the city.

The flood protection works include the replacement of the existing railings along the south quays with a transparent floodwall glass panel system and a combination of masonry walls, glass walls and earth embankments on John's River to Hardy's Bridge. The first phase of the flood protection works have just got underway at the Tower Hotel end of the Quay.

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Mr. Martin Mansergh, TD, visited Waterford on Monday to see the first of the glass floodwalls erected. Minister Mansergh said this was the first time that such an extensive area of glass floodwall had been constructed in Ireland. He pointed out that the height of the wall was determined by health and safety considerations and said the anticipated flood levels would be well below the full height of the wall. He said OPW officials and their consultants RPS with City Council officials had engaged in much research and deliberation before deciding that the walls, which preserve views of the river from the street, were a viable option.

The Minister said he was aware that the members and officials of Waterford City Council and the citizens of the city were very proud of the river and of how much it enhances their environment. They were determined that all of this should not be lost in dealing with the flood risk which has been a long running problem in the city. Happily it was possible to find a solution in this case that fully satisfied both objectives. OPW were dealing with similar issues of loss of river views in order to prevent flooding in other towns and he hoped some solutions could be found.

The Minister said the contract was being undertaken by Waterford City Council and funded by OPW. He said the design and management of the scheme was being overseen by a joint steering committee, which was now working to implement other phases of the overall scheme. He complimented the City Manager and the other city council officials on the excellent co-operation with OPW to achieve their shared objectives.

The Mayor, Cllr Jack Walsh, is glad to see the works commence. "As well as improving our flood defences at previously vulnerable locations, the overall scheme will improve the attractiveness of our quays and help us take more advantage of the amenity that having more than a kilometre of river frontage in our city centre offers," he said.