PRESS RELEASE

Deputy Kelleher calls for a special study to be commissioned on Cork Harbour.

"In view of the on going Main Drainage Scheme it is vitally important that Cork Corporation and Cork County Council take into account that huge potential that there is in Cork Harbour for recreation and amenities to be developed as the harbour cleanses itself over the year.

When the Main Drainage Scheme is completed there will be a significant interest by people in developing sporting and recreational amenities along the harbour front. With this in mind Cork Corporation and Cork County Council must now plan ahead to ensure that there's no obstacles in developing this natural harbour to it's fullest potential.

While welcoming the Cork Area Strategic Plan from 2001 to 2020 there seems to be a lack of vision in utilising this facility. While the dockland development in the upper harbour is welcome there is obviously a need to look at developing right around the harbour to Roches Point.

I am concerned that the Cork Area Strategic Plan seems to suggest a prohibition of development in the lower harbour area and that if this is adopted in the County Development Plan it could stagnate potential infrastructure needs for tourism, recreation and sport amenities in the lower harbour.

While the Cork Area Strategic Plan has a lot of positive aspects to it and lay's out in some detail it's vision of the diversity of Cork and it's surrounding areas over the next 20 years. It is fundamentally flawed and completely neglects and over looks the potential that exists at our doorstep.

The fact that large tracks of the harbour area are designated either costal project, rural conservation zone or green belt could stymie this growth."

Deputy Kelleher says " it is vital that Cork County Council in particular would take into account the views I have expressed and when they are publishing there draft Development Plan that they should immediately undertake a study of how the harbour could be developed as the Cork Area Strategic Plan failed to do so."