Campaigners against the proposed €140 million OPW (Office of Public Works) flood protection design for Cork, Ireland want their politicians to look at alternative designs.
Residents want people-friendly approaches that enhance local quality of life, rather than over-engineered scenarios focused only on flood control.
To that end, they organized an international design competition to provide those alternatives.
The competition attracted 55 entries from Ireland and abroad.
The competition asked people to come up plans on how the city might capitalize on its river features. The Save Cork City group organised the Morrison’s Island International Design Competition in 2017 as a means of stimulating debate and discussion about how Cork might redevelop its quays.
Cork City Council Director of Environment, David Joyce explained that the Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project commissioned by Cork City Council and the OPW is designed to help regenerate the area between the South Mall and the South Channel of the Lee but also prevent flooding of the city center.
The city describes the projects like this: “Cork City Council proposes works at Morrison’s Island, Cork City, comprising remedial works to the existing quay walls, construction of public realm improvement works and flood defence works between Parliament Bridge and Parnell Bridge along Morrison’s Quay and Fr. Mathew Quay, and a short section along Union Quay close to Trinity Footbridge.”
They continue: “These quays are the lowest lying in the City Centre and are a source of regular tidal flooding. Flood defences are therefore a priority for this area.”
“The proposals represent an opportunity to bring about comprehensive regeneration of this historic area, and the project aims to enhance the potential of the area for increased levels of business, recreation and leisure activity.”
Image credits: Morrison’s Island Public Realm Project
See Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project website.