Following the refusal of the Port of Cork’s application to develop it’s deepwater container terminal on the Oyster Bank in Ringaskiddy by An Bord Pleanála last summer, the Port has plans to apply to relocate part of its operations to Marino Point.

Cobh town councillors are largely in favour of the Marino Point relocation, which many think will protect jobs in straightened economic times. However, Howard Holdings have recently secured planning permission for a hotel/ apartment and marina development in Passage. Councillors there fear the development could be jeopardised by the proximity of port activities at the Marino Point site.

Cobh, Passage and and Monkstown Town Councils will participate in a joint meeting in January to debate Harbour issues. Issues on the agenda will be the Port of Cork plans for mariono Point, the clean up of the Haulbowline toxic waste dump, the future of Spike Island as a heritage site and Indaver’s proposed toxic incinerator in Ringaskiddy.