Sir, – I believe the master plan for Dún Laoghaire Harbour (Editorial, July 4th) makes sense, is based on sound planning principles, provides greatly enhanced public access and amenities, will generate substantial employment and allow the harbour to be financially self-sustaining. Most importantly, I believe it will lead to a harbour that future generations can continue to enjoy and be proud of.
Those who viewed the plan during the extensive public viewing could see how, through efficient use of space, it provides substantial new public access to the waterfront, camouflages ferry activities, increases capacity for boats, improves sailing facilities and provides space for shops, restaurants and marine businesses that will complement the visitor’s experience. The proposed Diaspora museum, while ambitious, would place the harbour on the world map for Irish people and architecture fans everywhere.
Housing is an important part of the plan. Worldwide experience has found that mixed use developments with both commercial and residential activities create the most vibrant, active and liveable communities. At night and during long winter months Dún Laoghaire Harbour can be a lonely place. The presence of permanent residents, in family-sized and -priced homes, subject to the restricted building height limits of the plan, would significantly enhance public safety and reduce anti-social activity. With one of the fastest growing populations in Europe, there will be buyers for those homes in a few years’ time.
Job creation is one of the plan’s most significant benefits. We need the 2,800 construction jobs and 1,600 permanent jobs that DKM Economic Consultants estimate would result from building and operating the new facilities provided for under the plan.
The harbour is a manmade structure that is very expensive to maintain. Up until now, frequent ferry service paid that cost. With low-cost airfares and declining passenger ferry traffic the harbour company must find new sources of revenue to maintain both the sub-structure of the harbour and its many visible public amenities. Thankfully, the master plan provides for sufficient economic activity to generate those revenues.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour belongs to the people of Ireland. Its future development must satisfy a variety of needs, enable the harbour to be financially self-supporting, be respectful of its heritage, contribute to the beauty of its setting and enhance public accessibility. I believe the plan is effective in filling this role. I urge people to learn more about the plan, after which I think they too will support it. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Further to the Editorial on the Dún Laoghaire harbour plan (July 4th) and David Kelly’s response (July 6th), I would like to draw attention to a similar development plan for the Hernesaari harbour area in Helsinki.
Each summer about 300,000 cruise ship passengers arrive at Hernesaari and Helsinki city wants to further capitalise on that while crucially also providing residential and entrepreneurial opportunities for inhabitants.
The plan seeks to integrate a new residential area for up to 20,000 residents with docking for up to five modern cruise liners. In addition: a scenic walking route along the bay into Helsinki centre, a harbour market and workshop village where entrepreneurs can display and sell their wares to cruise tourists, a summer waterbus service to the city centre, a number of marinas, and a helicopter deck on the outermost edge of the development to accommodate short flights across to Tallinn.
The residential development will be low-rise, in keeping with the low profile of Helsinki and seeks to partly accommodate Helsinki’s growing population; likewise I am sure Dublin’s population will also rise over coming decades, and hence also Dún Laoghaire’s.
I consider the integration of cruise ship docks, new apartment residences, and particularly the new entrepreneurial opportunities, as in the Hernesaari harbour plan, to be sensible. What seems to be missing from the Dún Laoghaire harbour plan is something akin to the entrepreneurial workshop village and guided bay trail of the Hernesaari plan. – Yours, etc,