Casement Park Public Consultation

Ulster GAA has launched the second stage of its ongoing Consultation process for the redevelopment of the Casement Park Stadium. This stage of the process has also seen the launch of new design concepts for consultation.

The Casement Park Stadium Project Board who manage the project on behalf of Ulster GAA has been conducting a local community based consultation with residents and community groups since April 2012.  This engagement will continue while the next stage of consultation will provide an opportunity for the wider community and groups with an interest in the stadium redevelopment to become better informed about the proposal and to contribute their views before a formal planning application is submitted. The aim is to bring about meaningful public engagement which contributes to the overall project design.

The Consultation Process will last until the end of April 2013 when a community consultation report on the stadium will be published.

The plans for the Stadium Redevelopment will be on display at the following locations:
· Andersonstown Leisure Centre
· Falls Leisure Centre
· City Hall
· Olympia Leisure Centre
· Ozone Leisure Centre
· Ballysillan Leisure Centre
· Dairyfarm Training Centre
· Croke Park

Further details will be available on the Casement Park web-site www.casementpark.ie or the Casement Park social media by following @casementpark on twitter and liking the Casement Park Facebook page.

The Integrated Consultancy Team (ICT) have designed the Stadium Redevelopment to comprise of:
· Provision of a new 38,000 seated stadium on the existing Casement site with the full demolition and disposal of the existing Casement Park Facilities
· New playing surface to established GAA standards
· Development of an appropriate level of conference/corporate and community facilities
· All ancillary facilities including player facilities, warm up area, medical and safety facilities, crowd control centre, event management suite and press centre
· A variety of seating provision including standard general admission, premium, corporate, VIP and disabled
· The removal of the existing lighting columns and replacement with new stadium lighting
· Turnstiles and improved access facilities
· An appropriate level of Car Parking

Ulster GAA encourages the public to submit their views by completing questions at the display locations or by visiting www.casementpark.ie and completing the online questionnaire. Four public events will be held over the course of March/April 2013 which will be publicly advertised with dates and locations in due course. Ulster GAA is currently involved with a range of government departments and statutory bodies with regard to the proposals with the aim of submitting the planning application in late April 2013.  A range of environmental surveys has been completed to date including; traffic; ecology; visual; archaeology; contaminated land; noise and air quality surveys.

Stadium Project Board Chairman Tom Daly welcomed the ongoing progress on the project: “Since the middle of 2012 we have had an ongoing engagement with local Residents and Community groups which included meetings and two open consultation events. The input of the local community has been vital to our design team who have been able to adapt the design and our overall concept to ensure that the project complements and enhances the local environment. Our overall aim for Casement is twofold, firstly we want to achieve the strategic requirement set by the GAA in 2002 which will see us develop a fit for purpose Provincial Stadium and secondly we want the stadium to be a social and economic driver for Belfast and the entire Province.

“I want to commend everyone involved in the ongoing development process in particular the Ulster GAA Provincial Director Danny Murphy who also acts as the Stadium Investment Decision Maker, the Stadium Project Board and the Stadium Executive Team. Once completed the new Casement Park will potentially attract significant GAA events which could be worth up to £15 million per year for the local economy, this is a significant vote of confidence in Belfast. The new development could potentially sustain over 1500 vital jobs in the construction sector during the building process and will create significant medium term employment opportunities and have also taken account of important social clauses in the tendering process. We also intend to conduct an intensive consultation process with the Ulster GAA membership in addition to the public over the coming months and we encourage as much feedback as possible from everyone during this new phase of the ongoing consultation”

Ulster GAA President Aogan O’Fearghail highlighted the significance of the project reaching its current milestone: “The Casement Stadium redevelopment project has been in play for over four years and I am grateful to Tom Daly, Danny Murphy, Tim Harkin (ITA)  and the Project Board for their hard work which has allowed us to reach this stage. I would also express my thanks to Liam O’Neill and Páraic Duffy for their continued support and encouragement and I want to also recognise the support from DCAL and in particular the Minister who continues to support us in the ongoing development process. I want to also thank the Ulster Council members and the nine GAA County Committee Officers for their ongoing support. We are pleased that the project underlines Ulster GAA’s continued commitment to enhancing the GAA in Ireland’s Second City. This project will be a regeneration anchor for the entire City of Belfast and Ulster GAA is proud to be leading on process that will assist the regeneration of the economy. We strongly encourage feedback from all stakeholders and I look forward to the Stadium Board progressing the planning application once this phase of consultation is complete. “

Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilín stated, “I welcome this stage in the community consultation, giving people a chance for feedback on the project.  This key redevelopment for the GAA will bring a range of sporting, social, economic, health and community benefits to the area.”

Notes to the Editor:

The Casement Park Project will cost approximately £76.4 million. A contribution of £61.4million from the NI Executive through DCAL and GAA investment of £15 million will fund the project.

The Casement Park Stadium Project Consists of the following personnel: Tom Daly (Chairman and SRO), Dr. Danny Murphy (Deputy Chairman and IDM), Páraic Duffy (GAA Director General), Aogán Ó Fearghail (Ulster GAA President), Peter Quinn (Former GAA President), John O’Reilly (Former Ulster GAA President) and Professor Feargal P. McCormack.  In Attendance: Stephen McGeehan (Project Sponsor), Michelle McAleer (Financial Controller), Ryan Feeney (Executive Lead for Community Engagement, Marketing and PR), Tim Harkin (ITA) and Geraldine McKavanagh (Stadium Administrator)

The Stadium Project Board also has three Sub-Committees; Governance and Finance, Community Engagement and PR and Design and Development

Ulster GAA has been involved in a consultation process with local residents and Community Groups since April 2012.

For further information Contact:
Ryan Feeney: 07920528790

Notes to the Editor:

Photo caption:
Concept Drawings of the new Casement Park Stadium have been released for public consultation.