Workshop held on giving vision to Grattan beach management
The workshop on beach management at the J.E. Cairnes Business School. Photo: Yue Qiu
A workshop focused on Grattan beach management was held at the J.E. Cairnes Business School at the University of Galway this week.
Grattan Beach Workshop, led by Kevin Lynch, a coastal geomorphologist from the University of Galway, touched on beach management issues regarding the prevention of coastal erosion, the deployment of coastal amenities and the maintenance of biodiversity around the area.
The aim of the workshop was, according to Mr Lynch, to develop a shared idea of what Grattan management for 2024 might look like.”
Around 20 people from all walks of life participated in the workshop, some of whom were in the field of environment.
The participants were divided into three groups for discussions in which they would come up with their conclusion as to what the beach’s management would be like in the future with the help of coloured square labels indicating different elements like playground, sand dunes, nature land and facilities for people with disabilities.
They were asked to put those labels on the map of Grattan Beach to show their vision of where those elements should be located.
Get people engaged
Niall Murphy, a Green Party councillor also at the workshop, talked to us about the opportunity for education the workshop provided.
He said it would give people, especially those who live near the beach, a chance to get a “good feeling of what’s going on on the beach”.
“They got chances to ask questions,” said Cllr Murphy, who said he often swims on the beach, adding that “people will want to feel they have a chance to have their opinion heard.”
Sharon Connolly, senior engineer head of Environment Climate Change Parks and Recreation from the City Council, said the workshop is very important for the Council to “get engagement from the public”.
“It also gives us great ideas from the public as to what they would like to see in an area,” she added.
Ms Connolly said, “We do use that information to look at what we’re doing in these sorts of areas.”
The Grattan Beach Workshop was the first of its kind held by “I Like Beaches”, a community environmental group focusing on beach preservation.
The workshop took place against the backdrop of ever-rising sea levels and frequent storm surges caused by climate change that experts said contributed to coastal erosion facing the country’s coastal areas like Galway.
