East Tip clean-up close to completion ahead of opening

Work is nearing completion on the €8m clean-up of part of a Cork harbour island once used by Irish Steel/Irish Ispat and which will be opened as a public recreation area next year.

East Tip clean-up close to completion ahead of opening

By Sean O’Riordan

Work is nearing completion on the €8m clean-up of part of a Cork harbour island once used by Irish Steel/Irish Ispat and which will be opened as a public recreation area next year.

Cork County Council, which is acting as the agent for the Government, for the remediation of the East Tip site at Haulbowline Island, has confirmed that it is in the final stages of the project, which it started in July, 2017. It intends to give the public access to the site in May.

Haulbowline Island was the location of Ireland’s only steelworks, which operated there between 1939 and 2001. Council project manager Cormac Ó Súilleabháin said that, at the peak of activity, up to 60 people were working on cleaning up the area.

A planning application for the remediation of the East Tip, and its transformation into a public amenity, was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in October, 2013.

Following an oral hearing, planning was granted the following May.

We’re just finishing off landscaping and working on installing footpaths,” said Mr Ó Súilleabháin. “All this will be done by the end of the year.

Before any work could commence on the site, the bridge connecting Ringaskiddy to Haulbowline Island had to be strengthened to allow large trucks to bring in topsoil.

He said that he hoped that, when opened, the amenity would impress the public.

“I think it’s absolutely fabulous,” said Mr Ó Súilleabháin. “When people walk the site, they will see panoramic views of the harbour. It will be a marvellous public amenity.”

The council is building a sizeable visitors’ car park, toilets, and maintenance buildings.

Visitors will be able to use the 4km of walkways we have developed,” he said. “There will also be a 1km circuit for joggers and numerous viewing points, with benches pointing out to sea.

The council has also built a football pitch on the site, which will be used by the naval service, which has its headquarters on the western side of the island.

“The landscape will be undulating,” said Mr Ó Súilleabháin. “The whole park will be an outdoor playground for people of all ages.”

The final touches will be made early next year, when some minor roadworks will be completed on the island.

“The project has come in on time and on budget,” Dr Ó Súilleabháin said.

Tanáiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney took personal charge of the project.

The transformation that the remediation works of the East Tip site are bringing about is fantastic to see,” he said.

“The diligence of the project team, including Cork County Council and the contractors, is paying off and I am truly impressed with the pace of progress they have achieved.”

He thanked everyone in the locality for their tolerance, during an intensive construction period.

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