End is in sight for repair works to Courtown’s piers
THE repair works to the piers in Courtown are set to finally finish by the end of April, but boat owners are likely to endure another summer of shallow conditions in the harbour, Gorey District councillors were told at their monthly meeting last week.
Gerry Forde of Wexford County Council said that an application has been submitted for funding to drain the harbour and dig out the silt, but it is likely the work won’t start until September after the busy summer season.
He said that he and George Colfer, the engineer who has taken over responsibility for the coast from John Lambe, held a productive meeting with local fishermen, at which the fishermen emphasised the need to dredge the harbour.
He added that a consultant has been engaged to do a feasibility study on measures to restore the beach in Courtown, and to see if previously approved breakwaters are still the preferred solution. They will also re-examine the feasibility of marina for Courtown. The report should be ready by the end of the year.
When Cllr Robbie Ireton suggested they simply use previous reports, Mr Forde said that the beach environment has changed in the years since, and new solutions might now be available. Responding to a question on funding, he said that funds for beach protection might be available, but for a marina would most likely have to be private.
Cllr John Hegarty felt it was important to ask the consultants the right questions. ‘Right now, Courtown is in limbo,’ he said. ‘ The reality is it’s not a seaside resort any more. We have to take a longer term view. If we put in a breakwater, we’re just spending money to get to where we were ten to 15 years ago.’
Cllr Malcolm Byrne agreed on the need for a longer term plan, as Courtown Riverchapel is now the fifth largest urban area in the county. ‘ This isn’t just about trying to save the beach,’ he said. ‘We are looking at the plan over ten to twenty years.’ He added that they will also have to look at erosion problems further north.
‘If we have to wait ten to fifteen years, there won’t be one business left in Courtown,’ commented Cllr Ireton.
‘ That’s not what we’re saying,’ replied Cllr Byrne. ‘It’s about planning ahead.’
Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin said he had been told the beach is now returning thanks to dredged sand being put back into the sea in a better location. He asked why work on the piers was taking so long and was told the swell made it difficult to get the panels in place and the contractor was paying the costs of the delay. George Colfer said the south pier work should be finished by March, and repairs to the north pier should be finished by the end of April, weather permitting.
Mr Forde said they should hear about the application for harbour dredging funding shortly. Cllr Byrne hoped this wouldn’t mean the harbour would be closed over the summer. Gerry suspected the preferred time would be September and October.
Cllr Ireton commented that most of the boats won’t be able to use the harbour and businesses will suffer. ‘ There’s absolutely no point putting the boats in if there’s no water,’ he said. He was also worried about the wave movement in the harbour thanks to the smooth walls in the channel.
Cllr Joe Sullivan was worried about erosion at Dodd’s Rocks and the risk to part of the Courtown Golf Club course. He was told there were no immediate plans for the area. Tributes were paid to John Lambe for all his work.