To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, given ongoing cases of flooding in the area, for an update on the timescale to complete the Sicily/Marguerite Park flood alleviation project.

A NI Water project to reduce the risk of flooding and environmental pollution in the Marguerite Park Area commenced in April 2021 and is anticipated to take up to 2 years to complete. These works involve the construction of over 1300 metres of new large diameter sewers with around 800 metres being constructed using underground tunnelling techniques. The tunnel boring machine has now successfully completed three tunnel sections totalling a length of 430m. In August 2021, NI Water’s contractor completed works to upgrade an existing storm water culvert under the railway line to facilitate tunnelling works in the area. Traditional open dig excavation for the new sewers in the Diamond Gardens, Donegal Park and Marguerite Park areas is anticipated to commence in spring 2022.

The commencement of a flood alleviation project to address out-of-sewer flooding and environmental pollution in the Sicily Park area is dependent on the completion of a separate, long-term project to extend the Belfast Storm Water Tunnel. The project to extend the Belfast tunnel is scheduled to start in the later part of NI Water’s PC21 Business Plan period (2021-2027) with the Sicily Park flood alleviation scheme commencing after the tunnel extension is complete.

The Marguerite Park and Sicily Park flood alleviation projects are part of the draft 12 year £1.4 billion Living With Water in Belfast Plan which I hope to bring to the Executive for approval shortly.