THE PORT of Cork will learn today if it has been successful in a planning application to develop a €160 million container terminal at Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour amid objections by a number of groups and individuals living in the lower harbour.
An Bord Pleanála confirmed that a decision had been made yesterday on the application by the Port of Cork but the order had to be finalised by the board of An Bord Pleanála and the applicant and objectors will be informed of the decision today.
The application was made under the Strategic Infrastructure Act and resulted in an oral hearing that ran for 15 days in Cork in April when planning board inspector Paul Caprani heard submissions from 56 witnesses.
The proposal involves the development by the Port of Cork of a new container terminal and a roll on/roll off berth on 37 hectares at Oyster Bank in Ringaskiddy which will involve the reclamation of 18 hectares of land from the sea.
The Port of Cork submitted at the hearing that the move was necessary in order to enable the port facilitate larger container ships and more frequent services which are not possible due to the narrowness and depth of the channel at the Tivoli terminal.
However, the proposal has met with some strong local opposition in the lower harbour, with the Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association arguing that Marino Point on the other side of the harbour was more suitable given the existence of a rail link.
The Port of Waterford also opposed the move, arguing that the proposal would hinder the achievement of balanced regional development, leading to a potential illogical redistribution of all-island freight and logistics traffic.
Today’s decision will be closely watched by Cork City Council, which is hoping that the Port of Cork will be successful in the application as it will allow the port to start moving operations down the harbour and begin freeing up dockland area for development.