Plans for the €2 billion development of the Docklands were revealed at the Galway City Community Forum AGM at the Menlo House Hotel last night. A series of phases would see a process of dredging and reclamation and the completion of a quay wall and rail-link according to representatives of PJ Tobin and the Harbour Company. The project is expected to be completed by 2019.
The proposal aims to move the existing tidal port into a deepwater site which would allow for the inclusion of much bigger ships than is currently possible. At the moment only ships weighing under seven thousand tonnes can enter the docks. If the new plans are implemented the docks will be able to accommodate ships weighing up to twenty thousand tonnes. This will open Galway Bay up to passenger liners, vehicle carriers, bulk oil carriers and other large ships resulting in a great economic boost for the city.
Revenue of 12-25 million euro a year is forecast from cruise liners alone. Jobs would also be provided by form of transporting and containerism. It would strengthen Galway’s ability to live up to it’s “gateway” designation under the national spatial strategy and would open what has been referred to as the “blue highway” for the large scale transportation of products to and from the Docklands. Also central to this project is the provision of a freight rail system. It is hoped that the plan will elevate Galway’s maritime opportunities as it will capitalise on the city’s close position to the sea.
The program was originally created at the invitation of Galway West Minister Eamon O Cuiv by a think-tank of civic, business, tourism, harbour and marine executives and presented to the Taoiseach in February of this year as part of the National Development Plan currently under preparation for 2007-2013.
Due to the fact that the developers are in the very early phases of planning, detail of designs were vague and many questions went unanswered. Of particular interest was how exactly the renovations would integrate into the future plans for the city’s infrastructure as a whole. However, the representatives of the organisations involved will return in a number of weeks to carry on dialogue to open communications with city interest groups.
