Bord na Móna - Source Issue 7 - (Page 19)

‘‘ at the MoMent, the challenge is to generate coMMercial value, given the current econoMic cliMate and the physical nature of peatlands Pat Ring, Head of Property Development they have a keen interest in our plans.” challenges for the land and property team include identifying commercially viable opportunities. opportunities and workshops with the innovation team are planned to generate new ideas, says pat, adding that the sheer scale of land – 80,000 hectares – presents its own challenge. “there are potential liabilities and costs associated with that much land, such as illegal dumping, boundary issues and fires.” in addition to its peatlands, Bord na Móna also holds a number of commercial sites. through varying interests. Many of the legal technicalities associated with managing 20,000km of perimeter fall to the mapping section in land and property. “since day one, when about 70 per cent of the company’s land was bought by compulsory purchase order, we’ve been involved in mapping the land in relation to legal title,” says tom o’rourke, head of ‘‘ reSourceful mapping in land and property. having title transferred to Bord na Móna is vital in terms of joint ventures around future uses of the cutaway bogs. the initial drive around acquiring bogland centred on sod peat bogs such as clonsast, Balllydermot and timahoe followed by milled peat bogs for esB power stations, particularly rhode, ferbane, shannonbridge, lanesborough and Bellacorick. in the 1970s, Bord na Móna acquired 40,000 acres of land to shore up ireland’s energy supply in the face of the 1973 oil crisis, and this land is now the focus of land and property’s efforts to transfer legal title to the company. equally, mapping plays a role in legal disputes around trespass and boundary issues; as well as silting and flooding; fire; illegal dumping; and dust. “We also allocated turbary plots and those must be mapped,” says tom, adding that mapping is done under permit from ordinance survey ireland by tom and three associates using geographic information system (gis) project Manager and arcMap software. there are currently two conveyancing solicitors, together with two conveyancing paralegals employed in-house by the company, according to conveyancing solicitor sonya Mallon. this legal team works closely with the land and property department, together with the Mapping department, on a daily basis dealing with both title and commercial issues that arise from the above land bank. More info S for copies of A Strategic framework for the future use of Peatlands, contact Pat ring in Property Development or Karen Smyth in Marketing and communications. www.bordnamona.ie Source | 19 http://www.bordnamona.ie

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Bord na Móna - Source Issue 7

Bord na Móna - Source Issue 7
Contents
A Round-Up of News from Around the Company
Willow Harvest for Farmers
New Approach, New Business
Strategic Growth and Development
Challege and Change
Anua Beginning
Raging Inferno
Mapping a Sustainable Future
Project Update
Heritage Corner
Nationwide

Bord na Móna - Source Issue 7