This article is from page 40 of the 2008-11-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 40 JPG
SHANNON Development are in talks with the “preferred bidder” for the €50 million development at the Marina in Kilrush, about the future of the development.
The semi-state company confirmed that it was in talks with L and M Keating about the development but no decision has been made yet.
It is believed that the contractor has submitted a revised plan for the marina to Shannon Development for consideration.
As the project was initially adver- tised under public procurement, if the changes to the plan are substan-
tial the project will have to be ten- dered for again under EU law.
At the opening of the Merchants Quay Business Quarter last month Louis Keating of the Kilmihil based L and M Keating Ltd, committed his company to developing a hotel in the town.
He also said, “As people may be aware we also have involvement with the marina in Kilrush. Our company together with another company are the preferred bidders to develop the marina.”
“Now we have quite ambitious plans, again they are on the back burner at some degree at the mo- ment but we are still actually talking
to Shannon Development and I am quiet confident that we will carry out our development dreams in the mari- na, and I think this would be a great boost for the town,” he said.
In February 2007 Shannon Devel- Opment announced the new devel- opment at the marina had potential to create 109 jobs and generate an estimated €6.6 million to the local economy annually.
The proposed major flagship project involves a high quality mixed use development of the Kilrush Marina and associated land bank. It includes the provision of 86 town houses, 50 marina holiday apartments, a retail/ commercial park, and a 125 bed-
room four star hotel development.
Another essential element of the project will involve an estimated €4 million expansion of the Kil- rush Marina facility to include; a clubhouse development which will double the existing capacity, the au- tomation of lock gates, breakwater, a new boatyard, a dinghy park, and an additional 120 berths which will double the existing berthing capacity at the Marina.__
The proposed development was ex- pected to take an estimated five years to complete on a phased basis. The first phase was to involve significant investment in the Marina, boatyard and some housing development.