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A new approach to coastal management in Cork Harbour was
unveiled by Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign
Affairs, when he launched a new Management Strategy for the
Harbour in Cobh, Co. Cork.
Cork Harbour is a unique resource and presents very real
management challenges associated with, for example, flooding,
water quality, industrial expansion, environmental protection,
marina development and recreational usage. This Strategy is
based on a voluntary partnership between key management agencies
and local stakeholders - including Port of Cork, Irish Naval
Service, Local Authorities, Government Departments, Chamber
of Commerce, Fáilte Ireland, community development
agencies and the IDA.
The aim of the Strategy is to bring all those involved in
the development, management and use of Cork Harbour together
in a framework which encourages the integration of their interests
and responsibilities to achieve common objectives in a sustainable
manner. Development of the Strategy - and its subsequent implementation
- will put Cork Harbour at the forefront of coastal management
practice in Ireland.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Martin said - “What is significant
about this Strategy is that it is endeavouring to pull all
the strands together - and, I think if we were honest, we
were fragmented in the past in terms of approaching development
of the Harbour.”
The Minister referred to the dramatic changes of what were
iconic industrial features of the Harbour in recent times,
with the closure of ISPAT and IFI. "I take up the
point that the Strategy represents a historic opportunity
to realise a different future of Cork Harbour, which integrates
the different functions of the Harbour. As a Government
Minister, I wish to both promote and profile Cork Harbour
as being the centre for education, training and research in
relation to all things maritime” - he added.
The Strategy is the culmination of over three years work,
co-ordinated by the Coastal & Marine Resources Centre
(CMRC), University College Cork and the Planning Policy Unit
in Cork County Council, as part of an EU Interreg Project
- COREPOINT (Coastal Research & Policy Integration).
Commenting on the launch, Jeremy Gault, Deputy Director CMRC
& Corepoint Project Manager, expressed his delight that
the Minister for Foreign Affairs had agreed to launch the
Strategy, which is of relevance to anyone with an interest
in the sustainable management of Cork Harbour.
He said - "Producing the strategy has been an exhausting
- but worthwhile - task that would not have been possible
without the support of the joint co-ordinators of the Planning
Policy Unit of Cork County Council." He paid tribute
to the members of the Cork Harbour Forum and the Strategic
Advisory Group for their time, energy and commitment in bringing
this Management Strategy to fruition.
In addition to the Strategy, an Action Plan will be developed
for the period 2008 to 2011, based on priorities identified
from the Strategy document. This will form the next step in
the implementation process and funding has already been secured
to facilitate this through an additional EU project.
To download the Cork Harbour Integrated Management Strategy
(Executive Summary) - Click
Here
To download the Cork Harbour Integrated Management Strategy
(Full document) - Click
Here
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