2.4 | TheWaterfordMetropolitanArea and theWider Region
The Waterford Metropolitan Area has dynamic relationships with the wider Region and beyond requiring strengthened connectivity to realise its potential. • International Connectivity through the Ports & Airport • Relationship and connection to the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) – Waterford can provide capacity and alternative locations/choices • Connection to Cork and Limerick and to the Eastern Corridor and Atlantic Economic Corridor • Supporting role of Key Towns in the South-East • Relationships to the Hinterland settlements Digital connectivity is increasingly important for modern cities and further enhancement of Waterford’s digital infrastructure through investment in an Internet Exchange facility at the ArcLabs Innovation Campus, with the associated data centre, is vital for the future development of the city and region’s innovation economy. Priorities for the Port ofWaterford andRosslareEuroport include investment in capacity and infrastructure, including full freight rail accessibility and services using extant rail infrastructure and road upgrades to provide improved access routes to the Ports which will support sustainable development. The growth and development of the Rosslare and Waterford Ports and the return of passenger services to Waterford Airport are key to the development of the Metropolitan Area and the major urban centres of the South-East.
Waterford, along with the other cities in the Region, will need to become alternative locations that can be considered as realistic alternatives to Dublin in order to realise the goal of Project Ireland 2040. This will create a more balanced approach to national growth, avoid the overconcentration of growth, population and economic activity in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and also ease development pressure and congestion in the GDA. At the same time, it is recognised that connectivity to the State’s largest urban centre is also important. Waterford is well- connected by motorway to Dublin, but enhanced rail connectivity, especially between Waterford and Dublin via Kilkenny, and betweenWaterford and Limerick is an investment priority. There is a network of strong urban centres in the South-East. A key relationship is with the larger Key Towns of Carlow, Clonmel, Kilkenny, and Wexford. Each benefits from proximity to Waterford, but have their own distinct function, catchment area and influence. These have capacity for significant growth and to act as critical drivers and compliment the role of the Waterford Metropolitan Area. Part of the task of implementing the RSES will be to ensure that the Key Towns can work in tandem with Waterford city to drive economic, social and cultural development across the Region, including development of networks and axis identified in Section 3.8. The hinterland area around the Waterford MASP area needs to be effectively managed. Sustainable growth of settlements in the Hinterland Area provides long-term options for employment and residential locations, where the towns of Carrick-on-Suir, New Ross and Tramore can be supported by sustainable transport links to the Metropolitan Area.
2.5 | Catchment Area Towns & Coast
Outside of the Waterford Metropolitan Area there is a wider catchment area where in excess of 15% of the working population travel to work in Waterford City and suburbs. Tramore, New Ross and Carrick-on-Suir have strong functional relationships to Waterford and are identified as Hinterland Towns located close to the MetropolitanArea.
There is a need to support the socio-economic development of these towns to become more self- contained in terms of employment, services and amenities. This includes opportunities to develop specialist roles for the Hinterland Towns through nurturing local enterprise growth and job creation to strengthen each town to complement the function of the Metropolitan Area. Enhanced connectivity (transport and digital) between the Hinterland Towns and the metropolitan area is recognised as an essential enabler to strengthen these opportunities.
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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