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Massive development planned for east of Athlone

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Comments

  • #92
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Bullseye1 wrote: »
    I'm sure we could teach the Chinese a thing or two about corruption. Some nonsense being spouted here.

    Bad and all as corruption is here we allow free speech, don't occupy other countries (Tibet), threaten our neighbours with invasion/destruction (Taiwan) or plan worldwide military expansion.


  • #93
    zom
    Registered Users Posts: 1,908 ✭✭✭zom


    Funny that there is (and was) not much about it in the media. Seems like someone doesn't want a big audience, just fast and big business. Once you know recent Chinese migration politics this will be clear as their foothold in Europe. Unofficial information tells about planned 100mln migration to Africa, mostly because their natural resources. I would not expect really too much jobs for Irish either during construction or after. They are building ghetto in the middle of nowhere...


  • #94
    Pete_Cavan
    Registered Users Posts: 6,688 ✭✭✭Pete_Cavan


    zom wrote: »
    Funny that there is (and was) not much about it in the media. Seems like someone doesn't want a big audience, just fast and big business. Once you know recent Chinese migration politics this will be clear as their foothold in Europe. Unofficial information tells about planned 100mln migration to Africa, mostly because their natural resources. I would not expect really too much jobs for Irish either during construction or after. They are building ghetto in the middle of nowhere...
    Why do you not expect much jobs for Irish either during construction? We have laws here in relation to employment, working conditions, minimum pay, etc. as well as minimum levels of training for construction operatives (SafePass, CSCS, etc.). Do you think they are going to fly hundred of Chinese guys half way around the world, pay for their accommodation, pay to have them trained up and then pay them the same as Irish guys who are already here and have the required training already? I hate this kind of nonsense.


  • #95
    Bullseye1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,731 ✭✭✭Bullseye1


    Judgement Day wrote: »
    Bad and all as corruption is here we allow free speech, don't occupy other countries (Tibet), threaten our neighbours with invasion/destruction (Taiwan) or plan worldwide military expansion.

    So because their foreign policy does not agree with our views on how the world should be we tar an entire civilisation? If that were the case we wouldn't be dealing with the US, UK and many of our European partners.


  • #96
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Bullseye1 wrote: »
    So because their foreign policy does not agree with our views on how the world should be we tar an entire civilisation? If that were the case we wouldn't be dealing with the US, UK and many of our European partners.

    Good to see the spirit of appeasement lives on.

    2499413_478268e15a_m.jpeg

    Last OT post - I promise!


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  • #97
    Zachary Most Slipknot
    Posts: 0 ✭ Zachary Most Slipknot


    Pete_Cavan wrote: »
    Why do you not expect much jobs for Irish either during construction? We have laws here in relation to employment, working conditions, minimum pay, etc. as well as minimum levels of training for construction operatives (SafePass, CSCS, etc.). Do you think they are going to fly hundred of Chinese guys half way around the world, pay for their accommodation, pay to have them trained up and then pay them the same as Irish guys who are already here and have the required training already? I hate this kind of nonsense.


    It does happen!

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1065219.stm
    Indian stonemasons who were paid just 60p an hour have won £100,000 in compensation from their employers. The 10 men, who all come from the same area, lived in a shack on the site of a temple in North London and were paid a fraction of the minimum wage.
    They were enticed to work in Britain by a promise that they would earn twice the wages they would get in the northern province of Rajasthan.
    Their employers, Shirco Ltd, based in North London, will have to pay them retrospectively to bring their salaries up to the minimum wage of £3.70.
    The £10,000 each will receive is the equivalent of a large fortune in India, where they were earning between 5,000 (£117) and 8,000 (£150) rupees a month.
    Unless someone complains, it'll never be discovered!

    Anyway, listening to the RTÉ news this evening, it appears that the venture needs Chinese investment to happen! :rolleyes:


  • #98
    zom
    Registered Users Posts: 1,908 ✭✭✭zom


    Pete_Cavan wrote: »
    Why do you not expect much jobs for Irish either during construction? We have laws here in relation to employment, working conditions, minimum pay, etc. as well as minimum levels of training for construction operatives (SafePass, CSCS, etc.). Do you think they are going to fly hundred of Chinese guys half way around the world, pay for their accommodation, pay to have them trained up and then pay them the same as Irish guys who are already here and have the required training already? I hate this kind of nonsense.

    Go to the image and see HUGE estate of block of houses on another side of road:

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/images/2012/0501/291859_1.jpg?ts=1335942625

    It doesn't looks like houses for that few homeless Irish who will come to find work here. It looks rather like this:

    http://realtybiznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/China-real-estate.jpg

    They will probably be server by local shops and amenities provided by Chinese, products imported from China so I bet this will be Chinese ghetto rather then Irish estate.


  • #99
    Pete_Cavan
    Registered Users Posts: 6,688 ✭✭✭Pete_Cavan


    zom wrote: »
    Go to the image and see HUGE estate of block of houses on another side of road:

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/images/2012/0501/291859_1.jpg?ts=1335942625

    It doesn't looks like houses for that few homeless Irish who will come to find work here. It looks rather like this:

    http://realtybiznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/China-real-estate.jpg

    They will probably be server by local shops and amenities provided by Chinese, products imported from China so I bet this will be Chinese ghetto rather then Irish estate.
    Why dont you actually read something about the project rather than making up crap;
    http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/337acre-chinatown-hub-comes-to-athlone-3096482.html
    If plans come to fruition and another five phases can be filled - an estimated €1.4bn development - the full site would be operational by 2022, employing about 9,000 workers, two-thirds of whom must be Irish or European.
    They have not received planning permission for any residential space at all so no ghetto. The site "shall not be used for the purposes of on-site manufacturing, industrial use or retail use (retail use as defined in Class 1 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 as amended) unless by way of ancillary retail services required to serve the development, details of which shall be agreed in writing with the Planning Authority." and must be operated as a “single entity” by the developers so the local shops and amenities you talk of will be those in Athlone town. Looks like you have lost that bet.

    And the second photo you have linked is irrelevant, seeing as the tallest building will only be 25m high.


  • #100
    BrianD
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,221 ✭✭✭BrianD


    Pete_Cavan wrote: »
    Why do you not expect much jobs for Irish either during construction? We have laws here in relation to employment, working conditions, minimum pay, etc. as well as minimum levels of training for construction operatives (SafePass, CSCS, etc.). Do you think they are going to fly hundred of Chinese guys half way around the world, pay for their accommodation, pay to have them trained up and then pay them the same as Irish guys who are already here and have the required training already? I hate this kind of nonsense.

    The Chinese have done this extensively in Africa. From engineers down to labourers. Actually the locals get some of the labouring jobs.

    Safe Pass is a doddle. If you can do a Leaving Cert in Libya under Gadafy then you can do a safe pass in China no problem.

    Precedent is already there. Didn't the Turkish company that built the power station in Lansboro and other road projects use Turkish workers?

    I just can't see this project working. As an exhibition centre for goods and a distribution hub it's on the periphary of Europe. As a location in Ireland it needs to be beside an international airport.

    I'd imagine we'll see a few crappy apartments and a retail park spring up in a few years. Throw in a Chinese take away as well.


  • #101
    Aard
    Registered Users Posts: 4,905 ✭✭✭Aard


    I've seen plans (don't know if they've been lodged yet, or indeed what the story is beyond the fact that somebody was paid a lot to draw them up) for a Midlands airport with emphasis on freight. I hope to god it doesn't see the light of day. It's for an area north of Tullamore iirc and definitely isn't on any rail line. It could just be Celtic Tiger nonsense that has since been shelved, but I'd imagine that if somebody came up with the money, the land, and the persuasion (chaps in question have all three) then the county council concerned (Offaly or Westmeath) would be salivating.

    This Shanghai-on-Shannon stuff would be much better placed (as some have mentioned) near Dublin Airport. There's even land just south of it zoned for "General Employment", "Warehousing and Distribution", and "High Technology".

    Even near Shannon Airport would be good. Varadkar was recently talking about a tax incentive scheme like the IFSC but for aviation businesses. The Chinese could piggy back on that no doubt.


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  • #102
    Einhard
    Registered Users Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭Einhard


    It's amazing the amount of negativity that's permeated this thread in relation to this project. A good healthy dose of scepticism is one thing, but most people here seem to be willing the project to fail.


  • #103
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Count me as one of those cynics - it's a bull****, celtic tiger leftover like Las Vegas in Two Mile Borris. :rolleyes:


  • #104
    BrianD
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,221 ✭✭✭BrianD


    Aard wrote: »
    I've seen plans (don't know if they've been lodged yet, or indeed what the story is beyond the fact that somebody was paid a lot to draw them up) for a Midlands airport with emphasis on freight. I hope to god it doesn't see the light of day. It's for an area north of Tullamore iirc and definitely isn't on any rail line. It could just be Celtic Tiger nonsense that has since been shelved, but I'd imagine that if somebody came up with the money, the land, and the persuasion (chaps in question have all three) then the county council concerned (Offaly or Westmeath) would be salivating.

    This Shanghai-on-Shannon stuff would be much better placed (as some have mentioned) near Dublin Airport. There's even land just south of it zoned for "General Employment", "Warehousing and Distribution", and "High Technology".

    Even near Shannon Airport would be good. Varadkar was recently talking about a tax incentive scheme like the IFSC but for aviation businesses. The Chinese could piggy back on that no doubt.

    If such plans exist surely they would have been referenced in the Athlone application? More 1000's of jobs.

    If there is such a plan then it is the essence of bad planning. We have loss making airports around the country that have been here for donkeys years and we want to build another?

    Also there would be no freight requirements for this centre. It's a bad place for distribution and will add to the cost of Chinese goods. The application states that it is only a giant Spring Show to save buyers going to China - a demonstration space. The only requirement for this Midlands airport would be for the exec jets of all those buyers.

    Who are the promoters of this project again?

    Perhaps the share an airport with the Tipp Casino?


  • #105
    Aard
    Registered Users Posts: 4,905 ✭✭✭Aard


    @Brian,
    I should have specified. The airport is not in any development plan or anything. It's an individual's (or rather, a company's) private plan. (Like the kind you'd get an architect to do for an extention to your house... only it's an airport :P ) Tbh, I couldn't see an Bord letting it through if ever an application is made for planning permission for it.


  • #106
    golden lane
    Registered Users Posts: 1,364 ✭✭✭golden lane


    Ximena Quick Hoagie wrote: »
    It does happen!

    Unless someone complains, it'll never be discovered!

    Anyway, listening to the RTÉ news this evening, it appears that the venture needs Chinese investment to happen! :rolleyes:

    minimum wage is not .£3.70......they should be vpaid the right wage.....it is double that...


  • #107
    Zachary Most Slipknot
    Posts: 0 ✭ Zachary Most Slipknot


    golden lane wrote: »
    minimum wage is not .£3.70......they should be vpaid the right wage.....it is double that...
    It was in 1999 when the incident occurred.


  • #108
    hi5
    Registered Users Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭hi5


    Einhard wrote: »
    It's amazing the amount of negativity that's permeated this thread in relation to this project. A good healthy dose of scepticism is one thing, but most people here seem to be willing the project to fail.

    When it does fail, we the taxpayer will be asked told to pick up the bill, just like we always are, is it any wonder we're sceptical.


  • #109
    yer man!
    Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭yer man!


    hi5 wrote: »
    When it does fail, we the taxpayer will be asked told to pick up the bill, just like we always are, is it any wonder we're sceptical.

    How would the tax payer have to pick up the bill...? it's chinese banks investing in the project. NAMA nor any irish institution would have any association with the site. If this is your mentality then sure we shouldn't have any investment coming into Ireland at all from anywhere....


  • #110
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    People are being overly sceptical about the 'Wrong Kong' project here. Some Polish and Lithuanian lads will get perimeter security jobbies for sure...just like they do in Bellinaboy.


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