Councillor still hopeful over marina plan

HOPES that a €10 million marina will be constructed in Dungarvan have been revived by a former mayor of the town.

Waterford County Council’s newly appointed business co-ordinator Brian Rafferty has said the creation of four marinas in the harbour would generate thousands of jobs.

But in what has become a long-running dispute, a number of elected public representatives have accused Mr Rafferty of having “pie in the sky” aspirations.

While Independent Town Council member Michael O’Riordan also believes talk about developing four marinas is an “utter nonsense”, he is convinced a modern marina will be developed locally in the near future.

Five years ago two British-based companies sought to put themselves in line to construct a 120-berth marina.

But their insistence on developing up to 80 apartments at Walton Park in Abbeyside as part of the overall project was given the thumbs down by the local authority and the whole development fell through.

“There is no way we will ever allow any kind of commercial or residential development in Walton Park,” said Mr O’Riordan.

“That can never be any part of a marina project.”

During the mayoral term of Mr O’Riordan in 2004, a Northern-based company expressed interest in the marina project.

A committee was set up comprising representatives of the local sailing and sea angling clubs and various commercial interests with the hope of developing the project.

“Consultants were engaged to carry out a detailed site survey to identify the most suitable location within the inner harbour for a marina that would cater for anything between 100 and 400 craft,” said Mr O’Riordan.

Three sites were identified and further investigation of the one in the Boreenatra area on the sea front is now planned.

Mr O’Riordan said the Department of the Marina and other State agencies are being contacted in relation to funding the project.

The provisional cost of the proposed marina is being estimated at between €5m-€10m.

The councillor is in no doubt about the benefits that would accrue to Dungarvan is the marina project is brought to fruition. But he said the construction would not solve the town’s unemployment problems, which have grown with the loss of 400 jobs following the closure of the Waterford Crystal plant.

“Forget about this talk of developing four marinas because that just will not happen,” said Mr O’Riordan.

“However providing one major marina is within our capacity, be it a local authority owned one or a public/private partnership project. Either way we must, and will, ensure that it comes to pass.”