Dublin Port launches 2011-2040 Masterplan

[Catmalojin]

Dublin Port to reclaim land in expansion plan

Updated: 11:54, Wednesday, 6 April 2011

The Dublin Port company will be renewing attempts to reclaim land from Dublin Bay to cope with a projected doubling of trade by 2040.

An Bord Pleanála turned down permission for a 52-acre infill at the eastern end of the north port area last year on environmental grounds.

But the port company today announced a period of public consultation on options to expand the port's capacity, saying that a total of nearly 100 acres may be required.

The options included a refined expansion plan for the area refused by An Bord Pleanála, as well reclaiming land at the south docks at Poolbeg and infilling in the part of the existing north port area.

The company also says it needs deeper berths to cope with the increasing size of ships. It suggests dredging along the North Wall and rebuilding that quay to provide berths for cruise ships.

It is also proposing to dredge the Alexandra basin in the northern port area.
Dublin Port Company Chief Executive Eamonn O'Reilly pointed out that port volumes previously quadrupled between 1980 and 2010.

The figures started to grow again last year following the downturn and even with an estimated growth of just 2.5% a year, this would mean trade doubling to 60m tonnes by 2040.

A period of public consultation on the options is due to begin with port customers, local residents and the city council until the end of May and a master plan is to be drawn up by the end of the year.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar today welcomed the consultation initiative, saying the smooth running of Dublin Port is vital to the national economy.

The previous expansion plan was opposed by environmentalists, residents in the Clontarf area who feared it could cause flooding, and Dublin City Council, which said it could interfere with amenity plans for Dublin Bay.

An Bord Pleanála refused the expansion on the grounds that it could interfere with an area covered by the EU Bird Directive.

Dublin Port already handles half of the country's imports and exports.

Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0406/dublinport.html

Dublin Port Company Masterplan 2011 -2040

Dublin Port Company Masterplan launched by Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar T.D.

DUBLIN PORT TO DOUBLE THROUGHPUT TO HANDLE 60 MILLION TONNES BY 2040

CONSULTATION PROCESS ON MASTERPLAN DEVELOPMENT LAUNCHED BY TRANSPORT MINISTER, LEO VARADKAR TD

‘Vital national infrastructure’ necessary for future competitiveness and economic growth

Dublin Port Company today announced the commencement of a wide-ranging, public consultation process to devise a Masterplan for the long-term development of Dublin Port, Ireland’s most important port. Over the next 30 years, based on even the most conservative estimates, Dublin Port will need to double its throughput to handle 60 million tonnes per annum and ensure it can continue its vital role in sustaining economic competitiveness and job creation, servicing Ireland’s export and import trade.

A public consultation process, which will continue until 31st May 2011, will involve a series of stakeholder meetings at every level, including customers, business groups, statutory bodies and local councils. There will also be public information days in community venues around Dublin between 2pm and 8pm at Seán O’Casey Community Centre in East Wall on Tuesday, 26th April, Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA in Ringsend on Wednesday, 27th April and at Clontarf Rugby Club on Thursday, 28th April. A detailed Issues Paper has been developed and submissions are being sought from all those with an interest in the future development of the Port and of Dublin city. The full Masterplan will be published by the end of the year and will form the basis of future developments at the Port.

Dublin Port Company Chief Executive Eamonn O’Reilly said the Port currently brings in over half the goods Ireland imports and is again approaching capacity constraints. "Dublin Port has not added any new land in the last 30 years and in that time we have quadrupled the volume of goods going through it. We now handle €35 billion per annum in trade going in and out of the Port and will easily double our volumes again by 2040. We need to grow, in a way which better integrates the Port with the city and which contributes substantially to improve both the natural and built environments. However, how we do all of this needs to be tempered and modulated by the needs of the city and its citizens. Hence, we are launching this consultation exercise to elicit the views and opinions of planners, citizens, other State bodies and anyone with a keen interest in the future development of this great city".

Speaking at the launch of the consultation process, Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport said a new plan for Dublin Port is vital to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the economy, and will play an important role in building national competitiveness, securing overseas investment and supporting tourism.

“I welcome the master-planning initiative being taken by Dublin Port. This is in line with international best practice and with measures to improve integrated transport planning more generally. Port master-planning is being addressed in the Ports Policy Review, which is currently underway. It is an important tool for ensuring the future development of Irish ports over the coming decades.

“It’s important that all of Dublin Port’s stakeholders have a say in the future of the port, from importers, exporters and ferry passengers to public bodies and local residents.

“I very much welcome this comprehensive engagement exercise in developing a shared vision for the future of the port and its part in our economic landscape,” added Minister Varadkar.

Among the issues to be examined in the consultation process are:

• Current and future land use within the 261hectares Port estate.
• Maximising Dublin Port’s position at the hub of Ireland’s road and rail networks, with more than 13,500 truck movements in and out of the Port on a daily basis.
• How Dublin Port links to and interfaces with the rest of the city.
• Environmental and sustainability priorities.
• The relationship between the Port and its local communities.
• The identification and securing of new lands for development of Port facilities.
• Maximising the tourism potential of Dublin Port for the benefit of the country. Over 80 cruise liners currently dock annually at Dublin Port, generating between €35 and €50 million in revenue for the city, while more than 1.8 million ferry passengers enter and exit the country through the Port.

Dublin Port Company Chairperson Lucy McCaffrey said the Masterplan would provide the blueprint for the third significant phase of development in the Port’s modern history. “The city literally grew up around the Port as a trading channel over the last thousand years and over the past century its central role in the economy has been cemented. Dublin Port is set to play a strong role in our national recovery. I would appeal to all stakeholders to input now into the plan for the next 30 years of its development”.

Further information on the Dublin Port Masterplan is available from dublinport.ie/masterplan

Date Published: Tuesday 05. of April 2011

A PDF of the Masterplan document can be found here.

I guess the proposals to move the Port to Bremore (near Balbriggan) are dead in the water now.

[nordisk celt83]

Dublin Port Company certainly don't want to move, but hopefull they'll be told to F-OFF in the future, and go up to Bremore...

I love this silly plan to reclaim 100 acres, it just makes their move to Bremore at some point more likely.
When will the idiots in DPC relaise that no one wants to infill the bay anymore, hence leaving their ability to expand dead!!!

Hurry up, sell the port, and send them to Bremore already!!!

[nordisk celt83]

This is the perfect opportunity for the Fine Gael to sell a state asset. (with commerical/residential/cultural planning for the area only)

[Catmalojin]

Originally Posted by nordisk celt83

This is the perfect opportunity for the Fine Gael to sell a state asset. (with commerical/residential/cultural planning for the area only)

?

That said, a mixed-use, medium- to high-density area would be brilliant there. Something like Vancouver.

[odlum833]

Originally Posted by Catmalojin

?

That said, a mixed-use, medium- to high-density area would be brilliant there. Something like Vancouver.

Bah, that doesn't have a Giraffe Only zoo

[JD47]

Originally Posted by odlum833

Bah, that doesn't have a Giraffe Only zoo

I laughed my head off the first time I seen that. Shamrog City the future of Dublin. What a load of bollocks

[JD47]

Originally Posted by Catmalojin

?

That said, a mixed-use, medium- to high-density area would be brilliant there. Something like Vancouver.

I agree with you. I would love to see some mid to highrise down there.

[nordisk celt83]

Even a national park/park would be better...

People in Dublin/Ireland really don't make the best of what they've got. The views out over the bay down at south wall are really really beautiful for a capital city to have on its doorstep.
The port/chimneys etc absolutely ruin it however... Dublin has the potential to have one of the best waterfronts in Europe down there with great views over the peninsula, islands, victorian seaside villages and mountains, but it just throws it all away for grime and grottiness. (the story of dublin it seems)

[Catmalojin]

Almost a year later...