€50m harbour development at Dunmore East opposed

The Port of Waterford company has objected to a planning application for a proposed €50 million harbour development at Dunmore East which is expected to create an estimated 50 jobs.

The company opposed the application, which was lodged with Waterford County Council by agents Kirk, McClure and Morton last month on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

The company objects to the proposed construction of a new harbour basin including berthing quay, to the seaward side of the existing harbour at the Co Waterford fishing village.

The development is to include reclamation to form a harbour working area and associated breakwaters.

It says the planning application fails to "clearly specify the precise purpose and future uses" of the harbour facilities.

Without adequate conditions, the company claims a precedent will be set for the introduction of heavy commercial cargo handling that could visually and aurally pollute the village

Ben Gavin, chairman of the Port of Waterford, said in principle it welcomed the development of new harbour facilities at Dunmore East to cater for the fishing fleet and enhance visitor appeal.

"But we wouldn't like to see Dunmore East emerge as a quasi-cargo port," he added. "This is a prospect that ought to concern the tourism promotion agencies, as well as bodies representing the fisheries sector."

The company believes the streaming of different marine activities between Dunmore East, Belview Port and Waterford city to be the most efficient option, with different categories of vessel catered for at each location. It hopes the coastal village will continue to concentrate on fishing and leisure-related activities, while Belview and the city facilitate heavy commercial and tourism users respectively.

The planning objection urges Waterford County Council to enforce specific and enforceable conditions should it approve the department's planning application.

The company claimed that if legally binding conditions were not enforced in conjunction with the granting of planning permission, it would contravene the department's own Ports Policy Statement, National Spatial Strategy and regional policy guidelines, including the Waterford County Development Plan.

In addition to limiting operating conditions, the Port of Waterford is also seeking the removal of exempted development rights in the harbour area to mitigate against "incompatible commercial activities".

Jonathan Torrie, chairman of the Dunmore East Harbour Users' Group, said if a condition of planning stipulated that the harbour could not handle bulk items, that would be no problem.

Mr Torrie, also appointed as chairman of the harbour's interim advisory board by the Minister, added that he would like to see an exemption where, for example, a vessel had to come in for a salting operation.

The Department of the Marine confirmed that it would not object to the inclusion of a stipulation, stating that the proposed harbour facility would be restricted to fishing and leisure activities.