DUN Laoghaire will have a marina before the end of this millennium. In fact, the State's largest farina may be berthed in the south Dublin ferryport by 1998, the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Authority predicts.
Tenders are now being sought for the design and planning of a 500-berth structure in the "middle harbour", protected by an elliptical breakwater. The contract entails development of leisure facilities in the Old Harbour-Coal Harbour area and West Pier, bringing the total cost to an estimated £10 million.
At least two English companies have been cited as possible bidders for the project, which may qualify for up to 75 per cent EU funding. The EU is already supporting the £22 million ferryport development, built to accommodate Stena Line's new ferry.
As part of its 1992 plan, the harbour authority promised to pay "major attention" to the harbour's "amenity value", while taking account of the widespread local opposition to a private marina project that became a national issue in 1989.
The proposed development will "State-controlled" but run on a management basis, with representation by the harbour authority, the users and yacht clubs, according to Mr Tom Vaughan, the harbour's manager. There will be "full public consultation" before planning permission is sought towards the end of this year.
The breakwater is expected to be the most costly part of the venture, at over £5 million. The draft plan (see diagram) appears to rule out construction of a new break- water outside the harbour mouth to give better shelter in east- north-east winds.
The extra cost of this option would be justified by the benefit to the harbour as a whole, including the new ferry which is already having difficulty berthing in these conditions, Mr David O'Brien, editor of Afloat magazine, pointed out.
The shore lay-out would also have to be reconsidered if the marina is to be sustainable Mr O'Brien says. "Access should be from the Irish Lights depot area, and there should be support services on-site." These services should include a boatyard with hoist, chandlery, boat sales, and petrol and diesel supplies, he says.
"It could be like La Rochelle if Dun Laoghaire could get its act together."
Support is already widespread in principle within the sailing community, according to Mr Bernard Gallagher, vice-chairman of the Irish Federation of Marine Industries (IFMI). "New boat owners are crying out for marinas," he maintained.
The main beneficiary will be Dun Laoghaire itself, he said. "It's been proved all over the world. The local community usually accrues 90 per cent of the return, and marinas only 10 per cent."
The Dun Laoghaire branch of An Taisce says it is seeking more details from the harbour authority, as it regards the marina plan as "very nebulous". Mr John Ducie, branch chairman, questions the effect on the smaller, community-based clubs, which could lose out; and the unresolved, major problem of traffic.
"Three years after it commissioned a traffic management plan for Dun Laoghaire, the local authority still hasn't published it, and traffic is getting worse," Mr Ducie told The Irish Times.
It was on the traffic issue that An Bord Pleanala's planning permission for the terminal development was challenged by local residents in the Supreme Court. In the interim, Stena Line switched the bulk of its freight business to Dublin port.
