THE Port of Cork yesterday rubbished a rival port’s objection to its plans to build a €226 million container and cargo terminal at Ringaskiddy in Co Cork.
Port of Cork chief executive Brendan Keating described the Port of Waterford’s objection as “deeply flawed in substance” and “anti-competitive in its motivation”.
Mr Keating made the comments during his submission on the opening day of An Bord Pleanála’s oral hearing into the infrastructure project.
The proposal involves the development of a new container terminal and multi-purpose roll-on/ roll-off berth on 37 hectares at Oyster Bank, Ringaskiddy. The proposal includes plans to reclaim 18 hectares.
The Port of Waterford confirmed yesterday that it had lodged an objection against the project in January.
“The Port of Waterford is of the firm view that what is proposed is unwarranted and unnecessary in a context where ample port capacity exists on the island of Ireland,” a spokesman said.
“We further contend that the application made by Port of Cork is ill-conceived, unviable and unsustainable.”
But Mr Keating said the submission is to be regretted, and pointed out errors in the figures.
He said Waterford claimed Cork handled 970,000 containers in 2006. The figure was actually 184,000 units with 4,410 roll-on roll-off freight units, he said.
“This significant errorundermines many of thearguments in the submission,” he added.
He also claimed Waterford had failed to take account of recent reports on capacity prepared by the IrishExporters Association and IBEC.
He said capacity at Cork was not keeping pace with growth, forcing it to turn business away, especially at weekends.
The new facility at Oyster Bank is crucial for Cork, the local region and for the nation, he said.
David Holland, SC for the Port of Cork, accused the Port of Waterford of having abandoned the traditional and proper co-operation and respect between competing nationally important ports to make an unprecedented submission.
He said the Port of Cork and its expert advisers are of the view that the proposed development will notinvolve any unacceptable environmental damage, is a development of national importance and will constitute a signal contribution to the well-being of Cork, the south-west and mid-west.
If this project does not proceed, it will damage the future economic development, he said.
In his opening address, board inspector Paul Caprani said the National Roads Authority and the Health and Safety Authority had both turned down his request to attend the hearing.
Joe Noonan, solicitor for Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association (CHEPA), said he was concerned by this development and requested that both organisations be directed to attend and answer questions.
Mr Caprani said he would consider the issue later.
Speaking afterwards, CHEPA chairman and Mayor of Passage West, Cllr Dominick Donnelly, urged the board to use its statutory powers to force the NRA to attend.
Environmental officer with Fáilte Ireland Mary Stack told the hearing her organisation wanted the hearing to consider thepotentially negative impact of the proposed development in relation to visual amenity, future navigability and water quality for theviability of tourism amenities in the harbour area.
More than 500 submissions have been received by the planning appeals board in relation to the project.
The hearing continues today when the Port of Cork’s engineering experts are expected to justify the project’s massive reclamation and dredging operation.
The hearing is expected to take up to three weeks and a decision is due in early June.
Irish Examiner
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