22 Feb 2005

Cork Harbour put under the knife?

Experts in the field of coastal erosion, climate change, economics, environmental awareness, education, resource management and marine law will gather in Cork tomorrow, Wednesday, 23 February for the launch of a new €4.2 million research initiative, Corepoint. The project which involves five countries across North-West Europe is being coordinated by the Coastal and Marine Resources Centre (CMRC) at University College Cork (UCC).

To mark the launch of Corepoint, an innovative "Expert Surgery" will take place during the day on board a local vessel and will provide the opportunity for those with an interest in the Harbour area to quiz internationally renowned experts face to face. Given the expertise available it is envisaged that a range of issues will be raised.

According to Project Manager, Jeremy Gault (CMRC) "In the Cork Harbour area, topical issues include waste management, the planned incinerator, reclamation of old industrial sites such as ISPAT and IFI, ongoing pressure from development of new marinas, and water quality". He continued "these issues, whilst important for our region, are not unique but are common to the coastlines of Ireland and Europe. In many instances, coastal management issues can be very difficult to resolve in an amicable and effective manner. By drawing on the vast experience of the panel of expertise it is hoped to provide some potential international solutions to a local problem."

A key aim of the Corepoint project is to bring research centres and local authorities closer together and enable them to work in partnership to improve planning for local coastal areas. One such partnership will see the CMRC and Cork County Council working hand-in-hand to provide information to facilitate effective planning within the environs of Cork Harbour. Researchers working in Cork Harbour will examine areas of coastal vulnerability, rates of habitat loss, tourism pressures, options for disused industrial sites and the potential impacts of sea level rise. By working in partnership the research conducted will dovetail exactly with the information requirements of the planning authority. A similar partnership will be undertaken between Donegal County Council and the University of Ulster, Coleraine and between a number of other research centres and local authorities in other countries across Northwest Europe.

Cllr P.J. Sheehan, County Mayor, welcomed the innovative initiative between the CMRC and the County Council and their work on Cork Harbour. "This is a very exciting and innovative initiative which fosters closer links between the academic/research world and those practitioners working at the coal face in Cork County Council." He added "it is very appropriate that the Council should be involved in this project". He referred to the Planning Department which is the biggest in the State dealing with 10,000 planning applications a year noting its reputation in the regular attainment of the National Planning Awards (most recently Bantry Bay Charter & County Development Plan).

The Corepoint Project is funded by the EU's North West Europe INTERREG IIIB programme.

The "Surgery" will be followed by the official project launch to be performed by the County Mayor, Cllr P.J. Sheehan tomorrow Wednesday, 23 February at 5pm, Port of Cork Harbour Office, Custom House Quay.

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