Galway Docks Development

JohnCleary

As the other thread was going off topic, i've started a new thread...

From the newspaper: http://www.galwayindependent.com/local-news/local-news/green-light-for-docks-development/

Here's a proper plan: (Didn't IMG link as it's a big image)
http://www.galway.net/GalwayNet/img/orig/506.jpg

This will give you an idea of the proposed plan:

galwayrush

Exciting.:cool:
The plan also includes an area from Ceannt Station towards the sea to include a new city centre area of approx 114 acres.:cool:
I am very in favour of this as it gives a potential medium rise modern area while maintaining the old city centre in it's traditional charachter.

JohnCleary

It'd be great, Galway would finally get a marina too (Hopefully they'd install a 2nd lock gate so that boats would have 24/7 access)

galwayrush

JohnCleary wrote: »

It'd be great, Galway would finally get a marina too (Hopefully they'd install a 2nd lock gate so that boats would have 24/7 access)

I remember reading that the existing docks would be turned into a Marina.:cool: Almost seems like a mini Marseilles:cool:

skelliser

didnt realise how long the causeway would be, it must be nearly 1k, this is class!

whats the timeframe like?

JohnCleary

galwayrush wrote: »

I remember reading that the existing docks would be turned into a Marina.:cool: Almost seems like a mini Marseilles:cool:

While it's great that they installed some finger pontoons at the Docks with shore power and water, it's still a pain in the hole. I can only enter/exit 2 hours before high tide (until high tide, then the gates close). Queue the many days I return to shore at 11PM, tide isint until 3-4am, I have to tie up at the commercial docks (Beside the RNLI station/Aran Island boat) and just sit there killing time (Afraid to go to sleep incase I sleep through the alarm)

Pain in the hole altogether, marina would be deadlyyyyy

KevR

Can't wait to see those Topaz oil tanks gone from beside the docks.

As Skelliser said, anyone know what sort of timeframe we're looking at?

JohnCleary

skelliser wrote: »

didnt realise how long the causeway would be, this is class!

whats the timeframe like?

Up to 10 years to completion I read somewhere, but can't find the link, sorry. I think the Volvo Ocean Race has given this the push start it needs, in the sense that small amounts are going to take place (in comparison to the re-development) over the next few months, so after that (pending funding of course) they may continue with works... So hopefully it'll get the ball rolling

JohnCleary

KevR wrote: »

Can't wait to see those Topaz oil tanks gone from beside the docks.

They'll be gone anyhow, you can bet on that! They're already working on it, laying new pipes from where the tankers moor at the Docks, out to where the new tanks will be beyond the Galway Harbour Enterprise Park

KevR

JohnCleary wrote: »

They'll be gone anyhow, you can bet on that! They're already working on it, laying new pipes from where the tankers moor at the Docks, out to where the new tanks will be beyond the Galway Harbour Enterprise Park

Where abouts is the Galway Harbour Enterprise Park? Is it near the docks? Can't place it.

citycentre

I wouldnt be quite so enthusiastic about elements of this plan. Basically all of the reclaimed land shown on the diagram would be earmarked as "Galway Harbour". This does not mean exciting, city type developments - that'll be limited to the CIE and Harbour Company lands marked in pink and purple above. No, the vision for the reclaimed land is for more industrial sheds, scrapheaps, oil tanks, dockland pariphenalia such as cranes, stacks of containers etc. etc. Basically the view from the Claddagh, South Park and anywhere in the city centre that is currently the Clare hills across the bay will become a view of an industrial landscape. One equivalent would be the view from Clontarf strand across to East Wall in Dublin. It ain't pretty.
On balance while I recognize the need for Galway Port to expand to become viable and to free up the docks as the amenity they should be, I think that this plan could backfire and destroy one of the very things that makes Galway a desirable place - ie. it's visual relationship to the Bay. I personally believe that re-location would be a better option. Where to is a WHOLE other question!

JohnCleary

KevR wrote: »

Where abouts is the Galway Harbour Enterprise Park? Is it near the docks? Can't place it.

See the pic above? Well, everything ABOVE the brown "reclaimed land" and BELOW the red CIE train line is the Enterprise Park. Pat Rynn, Cold Chon, Bow Waves and a few others are there at the moment

JohnCleary

BTH wrote: »

I wouldnt be quite so enthusiastic about elements of this plan. Basically all of the reclaimed land shown on the diagram would be earmarked as "Galway Harbour". This does not mean exciting, city type developments - that'll be limited to the CIE and Harbour Company lands marked in pink and purple above. No, the vision for the reclaimed land is for more industrial sheds, scrapheaps, oil tanks, dockland pariphenalia such as cranes, stacks of containers etc. etc. Basically the view from the Claddagh, South Park and anywhere in the city centre that is currently the Clare hills across the bay will become a view of an industrial landscape. One equivalent would be the view from Clontarf strand across to East Wall in Dublin. It ain't pretty.
On balance while I recognize the need for Galway Port to expand to become viable and to free up the docks as the amenity they should be, I think that this plan could backfire and destroy one of the very things that makes Galway a desirable place - ie. it's visual relationship to the Bay. I personally believe that re-location would be a better option. Where to is a WHOLE other question!

In fairness, 'Docklans' isin't exactly supposed to be a recreational area! That word to me defines one thing: Commercial and Industrial activity

Yes there'll be cranes etc. but it will NOT affect the view of the Clare Hills from the City Centre. If you get an OS map and draw a line from anywhere in the city close to the water, while you may be able to see the cranes etc. it will NOT affect the Clare Hills view. It will however affect the view of the Marine Institute (Is that even a view??), but as a Line-Of-Sight, it won't affect the view of the Clare Hills, starting at Kinvara area. If you don't believe me on this, go down to Southpark/Docks/Claddagh and look out at Hare Island, now look a little to the right, that'll be the end of the reclaimed land, and it'll be before the start of the Clare Hills. The *ONLY* place that it'll affect the view, is from the Enterprise Park itself, some of the view of the very East part of the Hills may be interfered with, but lets be frank, you're not going down to the Enterprise Park for the view

As regards to the view from Salthill/Prom/Grattan area, to look at the Clare Hills, you'll be looking in a totally different direction (I know you didn't mention these areas, just putting it out there)

galwayrush

Another very positive result of the developement will be the fact that the reclaimed land will bring the harbour out as far as waters deep enough to cater for large Liners.:cool:

JohnCleary

galwayrush wrote: »

Another very positive result of the developement will be the fact that the reclaimed land will bring the harbour out as far as waters deep enough to cater for large Liners.:cool:

Yup, the Development can only be a good thing for Galway. The reason a lot of Liners don't stop in Galway is because of the hassle... mooring over 1 mile out, having to use their launch boats to lug people to the shore, then landing them onto a smelly steps at the RNLI station - disaster!

citycentre

Whether it blocks certain views or not there's no doubt that developing a new docklands in this way will have a truly massive visual impact on certain areas of the city - particularly the very areas that will be freed up for development by the move (the CIE and Harbour lands on the map above). Imagine the view from Wolf Tone Bridge for example. Well over half the horizon will be taken up by the aforementioned cranes, containers, scrapheaps etc. I think the negatives outweigh the positives on this one although it's a close call.

JohnCleary

BTH wrote: »

Whether it blocks certain views or not there's no doubt that developing a new docklands in this way will have a truly massive visual impact on certain areas of the city - particularly the very areas that will be freed up for development by the move (the CIE and Harbour lands on the map above). Imagine the view from Wolf Tone Bridge for example. Well over half the horizon will be taken up by the aforementioned cranes, containers, scrapheaps etc. I think the negatives outweigh the positives on this one although it's a close call.

Negatives:
We'll see a few cranes

Positives:
More jobs in Galway
Free movement of ships
Oil tanks moved even further away from city centre
Increased tourism
Increased marine activity
Increased spending due to increased tourism & marine activity
Increased revenue due to taxes (ie. VAT) which need to be paid for the use of marine berths in the Docks. Also increased revenue for Liners landing here etc.

Yeah, close call alright :pac: You're living in Cuckoo land buddy. I was against the re-development of The Long Walk years ago, but i've learned to live with it and it's improved the look of the place. As I said the Docklands are generally a commercial and industrial area. ATM the Docks looks scummy imho. This redevelopment will improve the looks of the place dramaticly

At the moment, the area close to the proposed reclaimed land looks like a dead-zone, looks like the place you'd take a body to bury it. I, for one welcome development of the Docklands of Galway

You could make the same argument that Mutton Island looks shoite (no pun intended) since they built the causeway. Infact, it does take away from the scenery, but fcuk me pink, it was needed. So is a re-development of the Docklands

If you were to argue, on a political/realistic front that the positives/negatives of a redevelopment are a 'close call' and your only argument is that a crane may slightly impede your view, you'd be laughed out of the board-room

-Edit- Just to add, you say that the views of the freed up areas will be seriously impacted upon... Do you think CIE are going to turn their now 'free space' into a Childrens Park or something? Get real, they'll continue to use their space for commercial use... and as I said before, the staff are hardly there for the view of the Clare Hills, and the public definately won't be able to access the area. Your argument is the equivalent of a blind man objecting to a house being built accross the road from him as it'll block his view :pac:

Also, you do realise there'll be quite a distance between the likes of Wolfe Tone bridge and this redevelopment.... If you think these cranes will take up half the horizon, you're having a laugh. For them to take up half the Horizon from the Wolfe Tone Bridge, they'd have to be located at the Spanish Arch :pac:

One final thing, do you think that Galway is the import/export hub of Europe or something? You're going WAY OTT. The way you're going on you'd swear it's going to be a carbon copy of the Dublin Docklands. The West simply doesn't have the economic infrastructure to demand such high traffic

skelliser

i have to agree with BTH, this proposal will have a massive visual impact.
If ya look at the map again the view from the wolf-tone will be fairly impacted.

galwayrush

Every developement will have a visual impact, even a tree house.:rolleyes:
The dockland developement will be the most positive addition to the Galway region ever.It will bring in massive revenue, it will put Galway on the ocean liners stop over map. The potential is enormous, there is even a part of the plan set aside for recreation / parklands, within minutes walk of the city centre. A concert / event venue would be another possibility.

JohnCleary

Ah, as has already been said today, people will object to anything

*EVERY* building will have a visual impact on something/someone/somewhere. Jeez, if we all thought like some people on this forum we'd be all be living in man-made huts

Evolution guys, deal with it. Anyhow, visual impact is one thing that will definately NOT effect the going ahead of this re-development, it's too crucial to our economy so ye can whinge about the view as much as ye want

Sponge Bob

This plan is lunacy and is gross overkill for Galway IMO as is the proposed industrial reclamation .

We should move most of the oil tanks to Oranmore where there is plenty of industrial zoned land and where they belong IMO.

I would do it thusly with the bulk of it hidden behind Mutton Island , all we bring in is OIL and a bit of coal and fertilizer and then some scrap goes out .

JohnCleary

skelliser wrote: »

i have to agree with BTH, this proposal will have a massive visual impact.
If ya look at the map again the view from the wolf-tone will be fairly impacted.

You do realise it's not a sky scraper going up at the end of the reclaimed land, right?

From Wolfe Tone bridge, it'll be nothing more than a big wall coming out of the water with probably no more than 2 cranes (which won't even be that tall) and a few boats? I wouldn't even include the boat's in your argument, as they add to the scenery imho

galwayrush

JohnCleary wrote: »

*EVERY* building will have a visual impact on something/someone/somewhere. Jeez, if we all thought like some people on this forum we'd be all be living in man-made huts

Sadly, that is the thinking of our serial Objectors in Galway.

A lot of time, effort and money has gone into this project already,even the provision of catering for any wildlife / marine life has been looked into. I hope it starts as soon as possible.

skelliser

JohnCleary wrote: »

Ah, as has already been said today, people will object to anything

*EVERY* building will have a visual impact on something/someone/somewhere. Jeez, if we all thought like some people on this forum we'd be all be living in man-made huts

Evolution guys, deal with it. Anyhow, visual impact is one thing that will definately NOT effect the going ahead of this re-development, it's too crucial to our economy so ye can whinge about the view as much as ye want

i never said i was against it, in fact im for it
but you cant deny it will have a massive visual affect.

and galwayrush comparing this, the biggest construction project in the history of the city, to a treehouse is laughable!!?:rolleyes::eek:
and im not a "serial objector" :rolleyes:

JohnCleary

Sponge Bob wrote: »

This plan is lunacy and is gross overkill for Galway IMO as is the proposed industrial reclamation .

We should move most of the oil tanks to Oranmore where there is plenty of industrial zoned land and where they belong IMO.

I would do it thusly with the bulk of it hidden behind Mutton Island , all we bring in is OIL and a bit of coal and fertilizer and then some scrap goes out .

The reason theres fcukall marine activity in Galway is because of lack of resources. When building a resource, build what will be needed, and then some, to allow for future development. When building a network, I allow for 100% expansion, not just the current amount of systems in place. I assume the Docklands proposed development is taking on the same lines...

Your image that you propose... May allow 1/2 tankers at a time. What about the Navy? What about cruiseliners? What about trawlers coming in for major repairs? What about the development at Mutton Island... the construction would cause chaos around Claddagh (Wouldn't effect me, but still). Then about about if big machines had to be brought in to build/service/repair the pipes on Mutton island - some craic trying to bring them accross the Wolfe Tone Bridge/Claddagh! Keep the industrial side of things on the EAST of the city imho, just like the trend seems to be

Sponge - Maybe send your drawing into Galway Harbour Company/City Council and see what they have to say about it?

galwayrush

skelliser wrote: »

i never said i was against it, in fact im for it
but you cant deny it will have a massive visual affect.

and galwayrush comparing this, the biggest construction project in the history of the city, to a treehouse is laughable!!?:rolleyes::eek:
and im not a "serial objector" :rolleyes:

I merely meant you could describe even a tree house as having a visual impact from certain views.:)

skelliser

what kinda cranes would we be talking, baring in mind it will be a deep water port, possible container ships? would they be container cranes?

Any one have any stats about port capacity in Ireland? A bit of googling didn't produce anything.

It is interesting and I would like to see cruise ships visiting galway.

JohnCleary

skelliser wrote: »

what kinda cranes would we be talking, baring in mind it will be a deep water port, possible container ships? would they be container cranes?

There won't be demand in Galway for a large amount of container ships. We might see the odd ship with a few containers, but nothing like Dublin/Cork

Infact I don't even know if the types of cranes for containers would be installed. We don't even know that cranes will be installed - it's just something that someone mentioned here.

Anyone interested/concerned could try contacting Galway Harbour Company and ask I guess

citycentre

JohnCleary wrote: »

Negatives:
We'll see a few cranes

Positives:
More jobs in Galway
Free movement of ships
Oil tanks moved even further away from city centre
Increased tourism
Increased marine activity
Increased spending due to increased tourism & marine activity
Increased revenue due to taxes (ie. VAT) which need to be paid for the use of marine berths in the Docks. Also increased revenue for Liners landing here etc.

Yeah, close call alright :pac: You're living in Cuckoo land buddy. I was against the re-development of The Long Walk years ago, but i've learned to live with it and it's improved the look of the place. As I said the Docklands are generally a commercial and industrial area. ATM the Docks looks scummy imho. This redevelopment will improve the looks of the place dramaticly

At the moment, the area close to the proposed reclaimed land looks like a dead-zone, looks like the place you'd take a body to bury it. I, for one welcome development of the Docklands of Galway

You could make the same argument that Mutton Island looks shoite (no pun intended) since they built the causeway. Infact, it does take away from the scenery, but fcuk me pink, it was needed. So is a re-development of the Docklands

If you were to argue, on a political/realistic front that the positives/negatives of a redevelopment are a 'close call' and your only argument is that a crane may slightly impede your view, you'd be laughed out of the board-room

-Edit- Just to add, you say that the views of the freed up areas will be seriously impacted upon... Do you think CIE are going to turn their now 'free space' into a Childrens Park or something? Get real, they'll continue to use their space for commercial use... and as I said before, the staff are hardly there for the view of the Clare Hills, and the public definately won't be able to access the area. Your argument is the equivalent of a blind man objecting to a house being built accross the road from him as it'll block his view :pac:

Also, you do realise there'll be quite a distance between the likes of Wolfe Tone bridge and this redevelopment.... If you think these cranes will take up half the horizon, you're having a laugh. For them to take up half the Horizon from the Wolfe Tone Bridge, they'd have to be located at the Spanish Arch :pac:

One final thing, do you think that Galway is the import/export hub of Europe or something? You're going WAY OTT. The way you're going on you'd swear it's going to be a carbon copy of the Dublin Docklands. The West simply doesn't have the economic infrastructure to demand such high traffic

Eh, relax! Do you feel the need to shout everyone down who DARES to disagree with you?

You're perfectly entitled to the opinion that Galway's visual appearance isn't of any importance to it's future compared to the (undisputed) benefits of economic and industrial development of the port. You don't need to throw insults and expletives around to try and get me to agree with you.
I personally believe that this proposal would completely destroy the city centre's relationship with the bay, thus making it a less attractive place generally thus reducing it's appeal as a potentially wonderful, maritime based hub for tourism and culture.

It's all about an overall vision for the city. Maybe mine just seems to be a lot different to yours.

The CIE lands already have an application in for hundreds of apartments, commercial development etc. and an "extension of the city centre towards the waterfront" as they claim in their marketing. Something similar will happen to the harbour lands on the city centre side of Lough Atalia once the oil tanks etc. move out. That whole docks/waterfront area when developed could be literally stunning with wonderful views out to the bay and a proper waterfront like any great leisure-based maritime city. I just think that this potential could be utterly scuppered by charging ahead with this particular, purely engineer driven scheme. As far as i know there's been no architectural or urban planning input into this proposal at all as yet - that's madness when it's going to change the very shape of the city! Who knows, maybe there is a way it could work and not just create an vast swathe of ugliness as the backdrop to our lovely new marinas and waterfronts.

Like I say I can TOTALLY see the pros of this proposal, theres no need to shove them down my throat. I just happen to think that visual impact is far too important to be ignored, especiallly if Galway is to make the most of it's huge potential as a tourism, leisure and cultural destination all year round.

leninbenjamin

personally, rather than reclaiming land around the city area i'd rather they moved most of the industrial operations out further to the likes of Ros an Mhíl or somewhere further out, and just improve connections to the city with some proper infrastructure, like a dual carriagway and rail connection for heavy goods to the industrial estates. I've no idea how feasible this would be though, so don't get in a twist if it's completely nuts

the Marina will be great though, it's been needed for so long.

mikemac

leninbenjamin wrote: »

personally, rather than reclaiming land around the city area i'd rather they moved most of the industrial operations out further to the likes of Ros an Mhíl or somewhere further out, and just improve connections to the city with some proper infrastructure, like a dual carriagway and rail connection for heavy goods to the industrial estates. I've no idea how feasible this would be though, so don't get in a twist if it's completely nuts

the Marina will be great though, it's been needed for so long.

It's highly feasable and can be done with far, far less cost then developing Galway. It was shown on TG4 a few weeks ago, you can develop a deep water port in Ros an Mhíl for around 80 million. It's a natural deep water port and only has to be developed.

The same project will cost upwards of 200 million in Galway.
Plus there will much ongoing dredging costs in Galway that you wouldn't have in Ros an Mhíl. You have some, all ports do but not on a scale of Galway.

Sure Údarás na Gaeltachta own 25 acres of land out there, all ready to be developed for new businesses. But to develop a port a better road is needed to the city and possibly another bypass too.

Tbh, I think it's a better option then Galway if the purpose was imports and for industry.
But Galway port takes huge quantities of fuel so better to keep that there.
Plus the whole oceanliner prospect would be huge!

One of these options will be chosen, I wouldn't say it's certain which it will be

citycentre

leninbenjamin wrote: »

personally, rather than reclaiming land around the city area i'd rather they moved most of the industrial operations out further to the likes of Ros an Mhíl or somewhere further out, and just improve connections to the city with some proper infrastructure, like a dual carriagway and rail connection for heavy goods to the industrial estates. I've no idea how feasible this would be though, so don't get in a twist if it's completely nuts

the Marina will be great though, it's been needed for so long.

If this were China that's exactly what they'd do!! Just build a whole industrial city and port somewhere else and leave Galway to be a nice "unspoilt" place to rake in the tourist dollars... Not sure if I really buy into that approach either as cities should by their nature develop and have the full mix of uses side by side to be truly dynamic places. Did you see there during the week that some city in China has decided to knock all the recent developments on their waterfront plus knock off up to 20 floors off recently built tower blocks so that they can attain "world heritage site" status... Mad isn't it!

citycentre

micmclo wrote: »

Plus the whole oceanliner prospect would be huge!

It would be - unless they end up making Galway ugly as sin in the process of allowing cruise liners to dock!

The more I think about it, I'm pretty sure theres ways and means that the building of the causeway and developing the reclaimed land could work out well provided a LOT of thought and expertise goes into the design of the structures and the masterplanning of the new landbank. Worst case scenario would be for the harbour company to get free reign and we'd basically end up with Galway Enterprise Park x 10 (plus cranes, containers, scrapheaps etc). If done properly and they somehow manage to allow the public access to at least the western half of the new peninsula, perhaps we could end up with a new, contemporary "Long Walk" that could actually visually enhance the city... My real fear is that without a bit of vision it'd become just another East Wall or Poolbeg peninsula...

Sponge Bob

micmclo wrote: »

It's highly feasible and can be done with far, far less cost then developing Galway. It was shown on TG4 a few weeks ago, you can develop a deep water port in Ros an Mhíl for around 80 million It's a natural deep water port and only has to be developed.

The same project will cost upwards of 200 million in Galway.
Plus there will much ongoing dredging costs in Galway that you wouldn't have in Ros an Mhíl. You have some, all ports do but not on a scale of Galway.

Ya! but the new R336 road that is proposed from Galway - Ros a Mhíl to deal with the traffic that is there now would cost around 120m so touché on that .

You will on your hole persuade Cruise ships to berth in Ros a Mhíl but they could be persuaded to off the rear of Mutton island

The structures in the map originally put up by JC seem like total overkill to me . Yet I think something needs to be done, sometime in the next decade !

By the way , we have been 'trying' to do something with Galway port for 150 years so I am only recycling a 150 year old plan AGAIN


http://www.cil.ie/sh676x4637.html

( long page , just over half way down)

Plans to build a deepwater berth off Mutton Island, with a causeway to Furbo and a railway branch-line from Galway did not materialise. Failure to meet deadlines led to the loss of the mail contract in 1861 and, with all its ships undergoing repair the line could no longer provide a service.

The company was restructured and recommenced services in 1863 but Galway was relegated to a port of call. The company eventually failed in 1864 in the face of competition from shipping lines operating out of other ports, and a reduction in trade because of the American Civil War.
Collins gives few details of the financial affairs of the company. Perhaps Lever, like Melmotte, kept that information to himself. The 1861 Ordinary General Meeting of the company was held in London, making it awkward for Irish Shareholders to attend.

The Furbo port scheme was resurrected again in the early 1900s but was kyboshed by the Titanic and similar fast cruise liners of that era.

I shall not be held responsible for a modern iteration of that post famine scheme and will not send any plans to the harbour board , preferring to amuse myself looking at that map instead .:D

galwayrush

There was another plan from some time back which proposed a massive reclaimation out to sea to make a runway and airport, with a docklands situated along the side.

galwayrush

micmclo wrote: »

It's highly feasable and can be done with far, far less cost then developing Galway. It was shown on TG4 a few weeks ago, you can develop a deep water port in Ros an Mhíl for around 80 million. It's a natural deep water port and only has to be developed.

The same project will cost upwards of 200 million in Galway.
Plus there will much ongoing dredging costs in Galway that you wouldn't have in Ros an Mhíl. You have some, all ports do but not on a scale of Galway.

Sure Údarás na Gaeltachta own 25 acres of land out there, all ready to be developed for new businesses. But to develop a port a better road is needed to the city and possibly another bypass too.

Money can be raised by building commercial and residental schemes along with the developement in Galway , not a likely option out in Ros an Mhíl.

JohnCleary

Posts here saying that our scenery/views of Galway Bay/Clare are going to be ruined are being exaggerated, sorry but it's true. The way you're going on is as if they're going to build nothing but sky-scrapers out there.

As i've said before, i'll say again... the majority of that redevelopment is only going to be a few feet higher than the shoreline. OK lets say they make a big breakwater, no way is that even gonna be 40ft high as that part of the bay is sheltered by Mutton Island anyhow. There might be a few buildings that will go up closer to the Enterprise Park, but again, they're not going to be multi-story buildings, but merely a few factories.

Arguments about 'losing half of the horizon' make me laugh
If you guys really feel as strong as you're making out on this thread, why not get in touch with Galway Harbour Company/City Council/Whoever rather than whinging on here? Cause whinging aint gonna do diddily squat

galwayrush

There would be amazing views from a skyscraper.:D
I don't see anything wrong with some reasonably high buildings towards / including the CIE lands .

JohnCleary

Galwayrush - Maybe we should write to the GHC/City Council and request that a big 50story apartment block be erected at the end of the pier - 'Living with a view'

galwayrush

JohnCleary wrote: »

Galwayrush - Maybe we should write to the GHC/City Council and request that a big 50story apartment block be erected at the end of the pier - 'Living with a view'

Let's go for a Toronto style tower as well, that's 110 floors up to the upper viewing area, can we top that............:D It would help reduce the impact of the 50 storey appartment block.:D A nice revolving restaurant on top:cool:
Another plus,we could install floodlights and some phone transmitters on top,:D

citycentre

JohnCleary wrote: »

Posts here saying that our scenery/views of Galway Bay/Clare are going to be ruined are being exaggerated, sorry but it's true. The way you're going on is as if they're going to build nothing but sky-scrapers out there.

As i've said before, i'll say again... the majority of that redevelopment is only going to be a few feet higher than the shoreline. OK lets say they make a big breakwater, no way is that even gonna be 40ft high as that part of the bay is sheltered by Mutton Island anyhow. There might be a few buildings that will go up closer to the Enterprise Park, but again, they're not going to be multi-story buildings, but merely a few factories.

Arguments about 'losing half of the horizon' make me laugh
If you guys really feel as strong as you're making out on this thread, why not get in touch with Galway Harbour Company/City Council/Whoever rather than whinging on here? Cause whinging aint gonna do diddily squat

Ah lovely, yet more exaggeration of other people's comments and insults being thrown around... how nice...:rolleyes:

Do you honestly think they are planning to reclaim all that land, all that way out into the bay and not build ANYTHING on it? I mean come on - even two story high buildings or equivalent height warehouses etc. are going to be very prominent. You can already see the type of stuff I'm talking about in the enterprise park when you look across from the Claddagh Quay. Imagine another mile of that stretching out into the bay. Lovely.

If you have a problem with people expressing views contrary to your own (or "whinging" as you call it) then what the hell are you doing on a discussion board...?

Zzippy

Have seen this proposal before, very interesting. Not sure if it will go ahead anytime soon, AFAIK the project was to have been funded by the Harbour Company selling off its land around the Docks to property developers/city council, and with the recession and the way the property market has gone I don't see any developers stumping up the large amount of cash! Maybe I'm wrong, but is there some other way of funding the project?
Would be fantastic for the city, would create a whole new neighbourhood/amenity around the current docks with marina facilities, probably restaurants and some nightlife, new residential developments...

BTW, looking at the map in your OP John, the causeway seems to run close enough to Mutton Island - it would be a fairly narrow channel for large ships to manouevre in, especially in very windy conditions possibly combined with a strong tide run... or maybe the scale on the map just makes it look narrow!

JohnCleary

Zzippy - I'm not sure where the funding is coming from, but when I was told "We've got the go ahead from Europe" I guessed the funding was coming from Europe??

You're right, the channel left between the end of the reclaimed land and Mutton Island looks tiny - My guess is that it's not toally to scale. But take into consideration that no boats would ever be going through that narrow passage ever again, only leisure boats going into the Docks, everything else would be on the SouthEast wall of the new reclaimed land

I hope it happens, finally have a marina in Galway. I think the only people who would object to this is someone who has absolutily no interest/history/involvment with the water. I can just imagine if it was built, in the summer there'd be more fishing rod's hanging off the end of the pier than you could keep count of! There'd be no mackrel left in galway

dloob

I wouldn't be worried about them building skyscrapers on it they can be attractive if designed right.
I'd be more worried about them building big piles of scrap metal and coal like the ones currently in the docks.
It's not the most attractrive sight in the world.
I wouldn't mind watching the ships heading in and out, I used to live in the docks and enjoyed watching the oil tankers and research vessels comming and going.

I wonder what the impact on Ballyloughane and Renmore will be. Those areas will be directly overlooking it.
I seem to recall the locals holding meetings to oppose the development a year or two ago.

Still, I'd like to see the current docks converted to a leisure facility, the city really could do with something like that.
You would think given the location Galway would have a lots of water based recreation.
The cruise ship docking would be great too, I'm sure a lot more would visit if they didn't have to use tenders.

mikemac

dloob wrote: »

I wouldn't be worried about them building skyscrapers on it they can be attractive if designed right.
I'd be more worried about them building big piles of scrap metal and coal like the ones currently in the docks.
It's not the most attractrive sight in the world.

Agreed. If you know Limerick you'd know there is a massive scrap heap beside the Clarion Hotel. You can see it coming across the Shannon on Bus Eireann and it looks terrible. Welcome to Limerick!

dloob wrote: »

I wonder what the impact on Ballyloughane and Renmore will be. Those areas will be directly overlooking it.
I seem to recall the locals holding meetings to oppose the development a year or two ago.

Some residents have valid objections but I don't see this as an example of one. What, it'll ruin their view?
It's still at least 2km from the port

dloob wrote: »

Still, I'd like to see the current docks converted to a leisure facility, the city really could do with something like that.
You would think given the location Galway would have a lots of water based recreation.

So true, if there are facilities they ain't well advertised. Come on Irish Tourism Board and Galway City Council, ye have advantages so develop and use them

dloob wrote: »

The cruise ship docking would be great too, I'm sure a lot more would visit if they didn't have to use tenders.

Definitly! If Galway starts being used as a stop, it'll be a HUGE bonus for city commerce. Everyone wins and this is the kind of traffic you need to attract with new facilities. Forgive me for using a sterotype but it's mainly elderly people who go on cruises and for sure, they will be high spenders. It'll be great for the city

JohnCleary

micmclo wrote: »

So true, if there are facilities they ain't well advertised. Come on Irish Tourism Board and Galway City Council, ye have advantages so develop and use them

There aren't any facilities at the moment for mairne leisure really. The majority of the berths at the Docks are leased out, with the exception of a few visitor moorings. If this reclaimed land went ahead, the docks as we know it could be turned into a proper marina, meaning that pontoons would be all over the Docks walls, as opposed to just one corner as it is currently. There could also be a new lock gate built giving 24/7 access - It'd change that part of the city, instead of big tankers coming right into the city (which I like personally) it would be much more eye pleasing yachts/motorboats that would be using it, while all the big commercial stuff would be taking place further out (but still easy to see by walking on the shore)

Zzippy

JohnCleary wrote: »

Zzippy - I'm not sure where the funding is coming from, but when I was told "We've got the go ahead from Europe" I guessed the funding was coming from Europe??

You're right, the channel left between the end of the reclaimed land and Mutton Island looks tiny - My guess is that it's not toally to scale. But take into consideration that no boats would ever be going through that narrow passage ever again, only leisure boats going into the Docks, everything else would be on the SouthEast wall of the new reclaimed land

I hope it happens, finally have a marina in Galway. I think the only people who would object to this is someone who has absolutily no interest/history/involvment with the water. I can just imagine if it was built, in the summer there'd be more fishing rod's hanging off the end of the pier than you could keep count of! There'd be no mackrel left in galway

Ah, I thought from your map that ships could be berthed all along the north western side, from the colour coding. Would certainly make for an interesting job for the pilots!

I don't think the funding was coming from Europe, more like "permission" or approval following a feasibility study, this would have to be funded from a variety of sources - think it was a public-private partnership envisaged with the city council, developers and the Harbour Company involved. There might have been some funding from Europe but they would only provide a fraction of the total cost...

citycentre

The real map which John posted the link to shows major ships docking all along the west side of the causeway with the east side of the peninsula marked as for "fishing vessels". The real map also shows the whole new peninsula being pulled a bit futher east. That coloured block map was just a rough and inaccurate sketch I drew up a couple of years ago to post on Archiseek after glimpsing the plans in a newspaper but not being able to scan them.

I would assume the plan would be to build the causeway and deep water berths first and the land reclaimation would follow very gradually - if at all - as land would be required for harbour development.

Sponge Bob

The Reclamation project was a simplistic way of creating 'valuable development land' in Galway city. It is delusional in the current environment when all that is needed is a non tidal berth ( or two)

None of this will happen for another 150 years the way things are going

extraice

Sponge Bob wrote: »

The Reclamation project was a simplistic way of creating 'valuable development land' in Galway city. It is delusional in the current environment when all that is needed is a non tidal berth ( or two)

None of this will happen for another 150 years the way things are going

well there no building go on so where the fill go to com from ?

but nice to see pot that like what you have in the Meditrarian feel to it and new aswell , whats happen for the volvo ocean race , any plans , think work would have start my now
was in Alicante in 2007 and place was buss of work getting ready for it , was also in Valencia , will again host the America's Cup in 2009 when over a million spectators are expected to view the event from the area's beaches.
ya leve it to last minute and lick off paint ha ha ha