Delay to terminal opening will cost business millions

BUSINESSES in the southern region stand to lose hundreds of millions of euro if there is any long delay in opening the Port of Cork’s proposed container terminal in Ringaskiddy, it was warned yesterday.

The port’s commercial manager, Captain Michael McCarthy, said it was vital the Government provides funding to the NRA to upgrade the Cork-Ringaskiddy road (N28), so it can handle the volume of traffic generated by a new €226 million terminal.

The NRA has told a Bord Pleanála oral hearing into the port project that, at best, funding for the N28 upgrade would not be available until 2011 while construction would take two years to complete.

Capt McCarthy said intensive lobbying of government ministers was underway to ensure funding was made available as soon as possible.

“The Port of Cork is involved in this lobbying campaign along with chambers of commerce, industry and the IDA,” said Capt McCarthy.

He emphasised the Tivoli container terminal is at capacity and unable to handle the larger container ships being built these days.

As a result, without the Ringaskiddy project, the Port of Cork could potentially lose a lot of business.

Capt McCarthy said vessels might have to divert to Dublin or Belfast, significantly increasing the cost to haulage companies that would be delivering to the south and south-west.

Capt McCarthy reiterated the Government had previously promised industries like Centocor, GalaxoSmithKline and Pfizer that it would upgrade the road.

The NRA’s manager for regional schemes, Paul Moran, has stated the N28 is already over capacity at peak periods, particularly at the Shannonpark and Shanbally roundabouts.

“This is causing major problems for IDA-attracted industries in the Ringaskiddy area and it would be vital the road is upgraded to attract more of these companies,” said Capt McCarthy.

He said despite the NRA’s refusal to give a timeframe commitment to the N28 project, Port of Cork management remains confident the Government will provide the necessary funding in 2011.

The NRA has already decided on a route for the N28. The road will be dual carriageway and designed to cope with an average daily capacity of 44,100 vehicles.

Capt McCarthy said when funding was secured, the port authorities would immediately start construction on the terminal, which will be situated on the Oyster Bank.

A number of local residents have, however, expressed concern that this construction traffic will lead to even further congestion on roads in the area.

It has been claimed massive infilling at the Oyster Bank will require about one lorry arriving at the 18 hectare reclamation site every minute.

The NRA has said if construction of the Oyster Bank terminal went ahead before the N28 was upgraded it would lead to extended tailbacks during rush hour and it would be up to the Port of Cork to provide a plan to mitigate against this disruption.

Claims were also made yesterday that noise levels during the terminal’s construction and when it is operational will be excessive.

The oral hearing is expected to conclude next Thursday. By then it will have lasted 15 days, making it even longer than the hearing into Indaver’s plans to build an incinerator in Ringaskiddy.

Inspector Paul Caprani is expected to finalise his report in June, at which stage An Bord Pleanála will publish its decision on whether or not the terminal can be built.