Councillors to object to minister's order for mussel farm the size of 12 GAA pitches in Kinsale Harbour
More than 300 people attended a public meeting in Kinsale on Sunday to raise concerns about the proposed mussel farm in Kinsale Harbour.
Cork county councillors are to lodge a formal objection to a decision by the minister for agriculture Martin Haydon to grant planning permission for a controversial mussel farm the size of 12 GAA pitches in Kinsale Harbour.
Standing orders were suspended at a meeting in County Hall when the issue was raised by Fianna Fáil councillor Gillian Coughlan. She said the council, as both the planning authority and the Kinsale port authority, had previouslyobjected to the mussel farm, as had around 1,000 people.
Ms Coughlan said on foot of the ministerial order granting permission, hundreds of people attended a public meeting in Kinsale last Sunday at which numerous expert speakers outlined why it shouldn’t proceed.
“To say people were disappointed and dismayed is an understatement,” she said. “It would be insane to let this go ahead.”
She said it will cover 23.16 hectares of the seabed and abuts the shipping lane. Ms Coughlan said mussels can get into boat engines and cause damage and a marine biologist had advised against locating such a project in the harbour.
Ms Coughlan claimed it could have a negative impact on the town’s economy as “Kinsale is the jewel in the crown of tourism” in the region.
Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan, who runs a restaurant in the town, said the proposed mussel beds will be located between Charles Fort, James Fort and the Dock Beach.
“Shrimp fishermen there will be impacted. Mussels will disseminate everywhere. I’m concerned the beach will be destroyed by dredging and mussel shells will wash up there. A huge amount of private boats are anchoring there and RNLI could get called out to more boat engine breakdowns,” she said.
Independent councillor John Collins said Mr Haydon had claimed it's in the public’s interest to grant permission.
“If he was in Temperance Hall (where the public meeting was held) he'd know it's not in interest of people of Kinsale and surrounding area,” Mr Collins said.
He added he’s aware of a demonstration which is being organised against the mussel farm in the town next Friday and said the business will employ no more than six people directly.
Independent councillor Alan Coleman said there is universal opposition across a wide range of Kinsale society. He said the council, itself rather than just councillors, should lodge a formal objection and must do this within the next three weeks before the deadline for receipt of objections expires.
Fianna Fáil councillor Audrey Buckley, who chairs the council’s Coastal Special Purposes Committee, also agreed that the council should put in a formal objection. “I feel it’s outrageous this planning permission was granted,” Mayor of County Cork Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Carroll said.
Council chief executive Moira Murrell said she will have to look into whether council officials would make a formal objection as a local authority. But she said while this is happening her officials will put together a file for submission on the councillors’ behalf as an objection.
Ms Coughlan urged Ms Morell to make a formal objection as well. “We're the port authority and should stand up to the minister, otherwise what next?” she asked.
