Dunmore East Residents' Association has lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála against the granting of planning permission by Waterford County Council for work on the cliff-face close to the fishing village.
The group, which includes residents and conservationists, claims that the proposed work by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources will threaten the survival of a colony of kittiwakes.
What makes this colony of the small oceanic gulls different is the fact that they are inhabiting cliffs adjoining the pier, close to the main street of the village, whereas generally kittiwakes nest on cliffs which are inaccesible to humans.
The work at Dock Road, where the kittiwakes are nesting, includes plans for a 14½-metre-high concrete wall to prevent people climbing the cliff. Two ledges and 12 holes in the concrete wall are to be provided for the kittiwakes.
Mr David Sutton, a retired engineer and member of the residents' association, is critical of the plans and believes that further studies need to be carried out.
"Due to the absence of long-term geological surveys and engineering studies, the question of the cliff collapsing has not been quantified. In layman's terms, if it hasn't fallen in the past 30 years, why should it fall now?"
Mr Sutton is also concerned that the proposed work will result in the birds never returning to Dunmore East.
"It is proposed to place chicken wire on the cliff, which could pose a serious threat to the birds and could result in a number dying. Once the work begins, the kittiwakes will leave the area and may never come back. The colony is a source of great interest to tourists and locals and the site is recognised under EU regulations as being of special scientific interest."
However, Mr Geoff Power, a local Fianna Fáil councillor, maintains that the work should go ahead as soon as possible.
"The cliff-face at Dock Road has been declared unsafe and there is a danger of the road collapsing. You don't need to be an engineer to know that the remedial work is necessary," he said. "Articulated trucks travel to and from the quays. It is only a matter of time before the road collapses if the work is not carried out."