On the 28th Nov, Senior engineers from CCC met with members of the Harbour Development Committee to discuss the progress on getting the pontoon refurbished and the area dredged.
Depth in the Harbour has become problematic in areas of the pontoon after the unprecedented storms of 2013/2014, and the pontoon structure needed upgrading.
The Cork County Council engineers Mr Kevin Morey and Mr Kevin Costelloe, assured us that a consultant would be appointed early in the New Year 2018, and that all the necessary permits and licenses would be applied for as soon as possible to facilitate having the project finished before the summer season, where the pontoon could then be utilised to its full potential.
We also discussed the need for maintenance and dredging of the channel and the planned studies by Delft University under the guidance of Professor of dredging, Professor Cees van Rhee for Courtmacsherry Estuary. Prof Van Rhee has assigned 2 students to undertake an MSC study on the tidal and siltation patterns in Courtmacsherry Estuary.
This study will also be supported by CIT ,under the guidance of Dr Joe Harrington, and Dr Colm Sheehan, of the building and civil engineering faculty.
This study is being supported by the Courtmacsherry Harbour Management committee/Courtmacsherry Development Association and by members of the community who have offered accommodation for the duration of the students stay. The study will be of immense importance in furthering our aim of having maintenance dredging carried out in the near future.
Courtmacsherry Community shop is also assisting by providing a small office for the students duration.
In addition, and to facilitate the landing of fish from inshore fishing vessels at Courtmacsherry Pier, a Derrick is to be provided,contributions from the local fishermen, Courtmacsherry Harbour management committee, the Community shop, grant aid from the BIM SW Flag initiative and installation costs borne by Cork County Council will see this project completed.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our local Councillors who have for a numbers of years being lobbying to get these projects up and running.
Regards, Mark Gannon
(on behalf of the Harbour Committee)?