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A NEW €15 MILLION heated outdoor pool on the River Liffey, adjacent to the where the new white-water rafting facility will be, has been proposed by Dublin City Council.
The project, according to the Docklands Development Office, stems from interest expressed by council members and the public in developing an outdoor pool in the city centre during discussions around the controversial white-water rafting project at George’s Dock last November.
That white-water rafting proposal drew criticism from councillors who suggested the €22 million required to fund the project could be better spent in developing housing and infrastructure.
If approved by councillors on Dublin City Council, the sea pool facility would see an outdoor swimming pool around 50 metres long and up to 15 metres wide on a floating platform on the river at Custom’s House Quay.
It would also include an adjoining building which would host changing rooms, a cafe, yoga rooms, and general meeting rooms.
“It is also recommended that saunas are a significant feature of this public amenity,” a report from the Docklands Office said.
The new attraction will be modelled on the Helsinki facility in Finland.
Dublin City Council expects the cost of developing the project would be covered by “reputable private operators” who would “take on total responsibility for the project” and design, build, operate and fund it in exchange for a 30 year licence.
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When that licence expires, the council suggested it could take over operation of the facility or require the operator to remove the entire infrastructure.
In its feasibility report, the council pointed to a similar facility in Helsinki, Finland developed in 2014 and which the Dublin council determined to be a “social and economic success”.
It also pointed to similar facilities in Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and a proposed facility in New York.
Mock up of what the facility might look like. Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
A number of sites in Dublin were identified as possible locations for the attraction but were later shelved, including Spencer Dock which was thought to be “too small”, and the North Quay’s near the 3Arena, which was though to be “too far from the city centre”.
Docklands Area Manager Derek Kelly said the Custom’s House Quay location was the optimum site for the project.
“This location would develop Custom House Quay into a hub for water based recreational activity in the city and will help to achieve the City Councils ambitions for the animation of the water bodies within the Docklands,” he said.
Labour Cllr Dermot Lacey, who voted in favour of the white-water rafting facility last year, said he would be open to the idea of a floating pool, suggesting waterways around Dublin have been under-utilised.
“I believe that we underuse and under-appreciate our waterways and that we should be identifying new ways of using them and the second point is in general, I’m in favour of big projects and big initiatives.”
Development of the white-water rafting facility in George’s Dock was expected to get underway in the second-half of this year but will likely be delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Councillors vote in favour of €22 million white-water rafting facility in Dublin's IFSC
This is what the new white-water rafting attraction at Dublin's IFSC will look like
The white-water rafting facility due to be developed on George's Dock.
The facility in Dublin’s IFSC was given the green light after almost two-thirds of councillors from Dublin City Council threw their support behind it at a meeting in December.
Dublin City Council said the planned development of the white water rafting facility along with the nearby EPIC Emigration Museum and the Jeanie Johnston attractions, could be combined with the new Sea Pool to draw tourists into the area.
It expects visitors to number at around 800,000 based on the numbers visiting the Helsinki facility in Finland.
TheJournal.ie reporter Conor McCrave, Green Party TD Patrick Costello, and kayak slalom champion Samuel Curtis discussed the ins and outs of the white-water rafting project in December – what the facility itself would consist of, its main benefits, how the scope for developing the site in other ways is somewhat limited, as well as the main criticisms ithas faced.
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I proposed that we turn the M50 into a giant scalextric set. This would not only aid tourism but reduce our carbon footprint- all in favour say AYE!!!!
Nothing like building a second unnecessary attraction to serve all the tourists we won’t have for the next few years, even when the first one hasn’t gotten off the ground.
Frankly, I think Dublin had too many tourists to begin with. “But the JOBBBS it CREATES” don’t care, it’s a tiny % of our GDP but has massive impact on rents, prices, traffic, and livability. Dublin is cramped, if we want tourism, send them to the west where the money could make a difference.
@Sean Foley: I remember hearing that the millennium clock got washed away due to high tides. In addition the IFSC area of the Liffey has a greater chance of flooding. If it looks like a white elephant ………?
@Daniel Kelly: it didn’t get washed away they took it out and it is sitting in a warehouse. Never know the docklands to flood either. Did you hear all of this down the pub?
@Johnny Monaghan: Must be lovely living in ivory towers where locals don’t congregate. Do you by any chance go to the quays in dublin when the tall ships are in or at New Years when the fireworks ate let off? Makes me sick the way people think they are above others because of where they come from. You do realise good and bad come in all shapes and sizes?
@Olivia Smith: the next time I leave my ivory tower il park my BMW near mayor street, il go for a stroll with my phone in my hand and see how long the car lasts without being smashed up or how long before my phone is robbed by a passer by on a bicycle, and no I don’t go to the quays tall ships or firework displays, I had the displeasure of working in Dublin 1 for 10 years, and I know well what I saw, so on seconds thoughts as you put it, il stay in my ivory tower
@cryptodon: Correct, never be able to keep the water temperature at the standard 28c even in Ireland’s summertime. It will be like an ice skating rink in winter time.
@Patrick Agnew: it’s in the article “Dublin City Council expects the cost of developing the project would be covered by “reputable private operators” who would “take on total responsibility for the project” and design, build, operate and fund it in exchange for a 30 year licence.”
@tuco: I live a 45 minute walk from Stephens green. It’s not bursting at the seems. We’re mostly grand most of the time. The reason the region’s are dying is because everyone wants everything everywhere and that’s not possible.
@David Clements: No the reason the regions are dying is because everything is centralised in Dublin. There’s an argument that they have the majority of the population lving in Dublin but both go hand in hand, people will go to where the money and jobs are..
@Simon Connolly: Did you all not read the part about DCC proposing this venture? The clue is in the name. It’s up to other councils to do things for their areas.
@Olivia Smith: Did you not read the comments thread, I’m replying directly to the commenter above me…get of your high horse and join the debate instead of trying to troll other people’s conversations! Or you could just jog on!
@Simon Connolly: I won’t jog on since I have been part of this thread since it was published earlier. Moaning about looking for stuff outside Dublin when the article is about dublin makes FB me wonder if the mentality of some. It’s a public forum and people can comment on what they like. So unless you are not ok with they JOG ON.
@Olivia Smith: You come in on this specific comment thread and taken everything that myself and the other two people have been talking about completely out of context and attempted to swing the conversation to something that we (the 3 other people) weren’t referring to…may I suggest that you just refrain from commenting at the minute before you amke yourself look even more of an eejit! The only person moaning is you!
@David Clements: over half of Ireland’s GDP comes from dublin.its totally unsustainable as a city and the government should be ashamed for letting this happen.meanehile our 4 other regional cities are in the dump trying to play catch up and getting crumbs off the government table.
I’m all for swimming pools but not one of epic proportions on a floating platform in the middle of the city centre and the traffic on the quays. A beach would be best suited as a location or even more amenities on the beach.
@David Clements: Haha, can’t believe people are still interacting with her. She has shown over the past couple of days that she dosent listen to common sense. Iv muted her and its ace.
@David Clements: not everybody can swim in the sea and feels more comfortable in the pool and there are many beaches that have swimming pools in it , but ok , maybe in a local park, say Phoenix Park, it would be a nicer option due to nicer surroundings than a city centre busy road.
Can we please start building attractions, amenities outside of fecking Dublin !! I work in Dublin and have to commute 1hr 30mins on a good day ! This is only going to make traffic worse. We need to start branching outside the capital. How about rural Ireland? Driving through towns and villages and see a lot of abandon shops and maybe even a playground.
@Anita Fleming: How about rural Ireland? Well… how about Cork or Galway or Kilkenny or wherever County Council could propose something for their respective areas, then?
Nothing to stop them. At all. Literally all they have to do is grant themselves the necessary planning permissions and run a competition. If private investors think it’s a runner, away they go and build it.
@Anita Fleming: Good idea – talk to your local council. Remind them how much they’ve saved on travel since Paddy’s Day. It would be great if they could give something back to their community.
Can we please get the names of all the the advocates & supporters of this project.
Will the Journal run a poll to test this propaganda that people favour this along with the white water thing?
Ask the question which priority the citizens want, housing or IFSC paddling pool/ Liffey swimming pool.
Don’t forget the kids have already commandeered the Spencer dock for a swim, so why not just operate it as such officially?
@Dean: Taxpayer takes the risk if it fails and pick up the tab. The private investor’s will borrow to build this white elephant and the lending bank/customer/taxpayer take the risk on through increased charges/interest rates if the white elephant fails. Investor’s always borrow for high risk investment’s and receive a huge ROI if successful/let taxpayer’s ultimately take the hit if unsuccessful.
@Dean: Customer’s of bank’s are taxpayer’s. Therefore, if white elephant fails the Investor’s wind up the company and stick the bank with loss on loan that won’t be repaid. The bank has an obligation to it’s shareholder’s to try and make a profit also has to keep a certain ratio of cash to loans. Thus, the bank pass on the bad loan to customer’s as low deposit interest, increased loan interest and increased bank charges.
Our past centre right government have already shown they won’t let bad bank’s fail. Since that is the only type of government for 100 year’s it is likely to continue. Taxpayer takes on the real risk. The investor Gamble’s to achieve the highest ROI possible. That is modern capitalism in action…..
How about building a community pool in the locality or is the land around there too expensive now .
If you upgraded the facilities in the area there would be less trouble . I personally think this a pipe dream and probably will never get off the ground. They’d need to put a roof on it …. I do have to somewhat agree with the first poster .I think it is not the ideal place to have it ….it will attract the wrong clientele …. Only my opinion .
@Niall K: There are community pools in the area. So are you saying you wouldn’t go because of the type of people it will attract? Do you go the the aquatic center in blanch?
@Niall K: see above re Spencer dock, already in community use, so just needs official maintenance & oversight.Someone in the City bunkers is pushing their own agenda, so let some good journalism ferret out who & what for.
What in the name of all that’s good and holy are they up to? Let’s get through covit first. Yes we need to help the economy but not with a floating pool
Perfect, just whats needed with 15 big ones. Who needs 15 million worth of housing for homeless etc when you can have a floating pool? And thats an ‘Irish’ 15 mil which = 127mil when built…
“it’s stems from interest from the public” pretty sure the only interest the public had was wanting to know why they were building a bloody white water rafting centre.
More Crazy Stuff
A sign of a good society is how it looks after its poor and needy
I think we need to concentrate on housing first before these crazy projects
A Home For all First .
Should be every single politicians Mantra
It should be put somewhere like Malahide or Howth or Blackrock or Dun Laoghaire. That part of the Liffey is already well served by bailing off rusty bridges in Aldi special wetsuits, no?
cue a ” fact finding mission to City’s that have an outdoor pool, and ours will have to be heated by all the hot air piped straight from the council chambers
But we have no money as a state to fund the extensive social housing program necessary to remove young people from the grip of landlords. Gotcha.
If anyone was in any doubt that the sacrificing of the young to the housing crisis was anything other than an intentional policy exploitation, this kind of story should remove it entirely. There is nothing accidental about it. The ruling parties are happy for people to be bled dry so that they and their target demographic can continue to receive passive income while the young are forced to effectively pay both their own bills and those of the property speculator class.
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