Public consultation on future of Shannon Estuary

CLARE County Council has announced the commencement of public consultation on the new strategic plan for the Shannon Estuary.

Clare county manager and chairman of the steering group overseeing the plan, Tom Coughlan said this is a very exciting initiative for the Shannon Estuary and for Clare, Limerick and Kerry.
“For the first time, we are developing a single strategic plan for the whole Shannon Estuary, including the lands immediately adjacent to the estuary,” he said.
Encouraging interested parties to make a submission, Mr Coughlan said the plan “will identify the nature and location of future development on the estuary and allow us harness its potential to a greater degree”.
The Shannon Estuary runs from Kerry Head and Loop Head as far as Limerick City. The estuary, with its sheltered character, is Ireland’s premier deepwater port, routinely catering for ships up to 200,000 deadweight tonnage, with key ports at Limerick and Foynes. While it supports a variety of economic uses, the waterway is also rich in natural resources, wildlife and ecosystems.
According to Gordon Daly, senior planner with Clare County Council, the aim of the Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) is to identify the nature and location of future development, economic growth and employment that can be sustainably accommodated within the estuary. Such developments may include, but are not limited to, port functions, shipment, aquaculture/mariculture, fisheries, tourism, leisure, industry, energy generation, fuel storage, aviation, transportation and agriculture.
However, as the estuary is home to a number of environmentally sensitive sites, Mr Daly cautioned, “The SIFP will also aspire to achieving a careful balance between promoting development and protection and conservation of this natural resource”.
The strategy is being funded by the local authorities in addition to Shannon Foynes Port Company and Shannon Development. Shannon Foynes Port Company is responsible for all maritime activities and port management on the estuary and is currently in the process of preparing a masterplan for the Port of Foynes and Limerick Docks, which will input into the preparation of the SIFP.
In addition to the local authorities, Shannon Development and Shannon Foynes Port Company, the steering group comprises representatives from the Mid-West Regional Authority, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Shannon Airport, Clare/Limerick Energy Agency, OPW, National Parks and Wildlife Service, National Monuments Service, OPW, Shannon River Basin District Project, Marine Institute and the Environmental Protection Agency.
All submissions or observations should be made to Sheila Downes, RPS Consulting Engineers, Annacotty, County Limerick or Sheila.Downes@rpsgroup.com.
The closing date for submissions or observations is on or before Friday, October 28.
The SIFP is expected to be completed and adopted by way of variations to the county and city development plans of the four local authorities adjoining the Shannon Estuary by December 2012 and will be subject to further consultation when a draft strategy has been prepared.