A Vision for Dublin Bay

logo_dublincityDublin City Council is asking people to give their opinions on how the Dublin Bay and Port Area could best play a role in the city in the years to come. The City Council today presented a Report to the Elected Members on the potential, into the future, for economic, cultural and social development in the Dublin Bay and Port Area. A Vision for Dublin Bay will be on public display from next Monday 1st October 2007 for the next 8 weeks until Friday 30th November 2007 and is available from today on the Dublin City Councils web site. Everybody is welcome to give his or her views. The Report outlines a vision for the area around Dublin Port and poses three questions:

* Can Dublin City Council and Dublin Port Company partner to achieve growth for the region and the long-term profitability of a world-class port?
* Can the lands in Dublin Port be redeveloped to create an urban quarter that is a model for sustainable economic and family life?
* Can Dublin Bay, through a local and national partnership be established as a national reserve to protect its unique heritage and environment?

“Dublin is a maritime city – like Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Rotterdam and we need to think now about how our vision for the bay and port area is developed to maximise its economic, social, recreational and amenity value for Dubliners and visitors to the city” says Michael Stubbs, Assistant City Manager. “The docks enjoy roughly the same amount of waterfront as the stretch of land from Sutton to Fairview or the stretch from East Wall to Merrion. Very little of this waterfront is available for recreational use at present and it has huge amenity potential. Water quality in the Bay is Blue Flag standard and we could have new beaches, new parks and new waterfronts – all within easy access of the city centre, providing people with additional ways to access the Bay and promoting a high quality standard of living in the area.”

If the port were relocated the Consultants estimate that up to 55,000 people could easily be accommodated in the area and it would provide the opportunity for many more to work there. The possible creation of a new south Bull Island to mirror the existing Bull Island on the north of the Bay envisages a valuable new recreational amenity and protection against future flooding of the city.

“This is a discussion document to kick off the debate on how Dubliners want to see the Bay and Port area developed and used in the years to come and we want to hear from everybody who has an interest in Dublin and the Dublin Bay and Port area,” says Michael Stubbs. “The study is a first step towards the development of a masterplan for the area to protect its heritage, to enhance its vitality and to ensure its sustainability”.

The Government signalled in the National Development Plan that they would be reviewing the role of Dublin Port. The findings of this Report and any comments thereon will be submitted to Government for consideration as part of that review. In this regard it needs to be reiterated that the redevelopment of the Port area within the city is predicated on having a viable alternative on the East Coast.