Tramore businessman William Bolster, one of the principals of Islandikane Developments which is seeking planning permission for a €150 million, five-star resort on a 220-acre County Waterford coastal site between Garrarus and Kilfarrasy, has undertaken to meet all concerned residents who have expressed reservations about the project .

Mr Bolster, who lives in the area and whose family has run a successful business providing significant employment for more than 40 years, says the resort, which is aimed mainly at the family market and features a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, will be a major tourism asset to the area and will provide an important economic boost and support inward tourism to the area..

"We have had direct discussions with the local residents and we will continue to talk to them," says Mr Bolster. "These people are our neighbours and we will do our best to give them all the information they need to make up their own minds about what we are proposing to do. If it is possible, we will provide written confirmation of what we are saying to them, if that is what they require.

"I believe that most people are convinced that we are doing everything possible to alleviate their concerns about what will happen during construction and when the resort is up and running. We are addressing concerns expressed to us about traffic management by way of signage and traffic-calming and traffic impact to the area.

"In relation to questions raised about the environment, we have assembled a substantial team of experts from Bord na Mona who have many years of experience in this area and they have been given a free hand to examine all aspects of this project and to make whatever recommendations they feel are appropriate. While we are paying for this expertise, there is no way that these professionals would compromise their reputations by providing an Environmental Impact Statement which was not in accordance with the highest standards and practice.

"There will be no damage done to the wildlife in this area – including the choughs," Mr Bolster stated. "In fact, Jack Nicklaus and his design team have made this a priority and have told us that many of their courses have been recognised for their environmental efforts. At least 40 Jack Nicklaus courses in the US have been involved with Audubon International, the environmental education organisation dedicated to educating, assisting and inspiring millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife and natural resources around them.

"Nicklaus Design participates in the Audubon International Signature Program, in which a team of experts from the Audubon International Institute prepares an Environmental Master Plan for all aspects of the property, including site-specific strategies for natural resource management, architecture, sustainable building and infrastructure, landscaping and community education.

"In the case of the Old Head of Kinsale, the choughs there have flourished since the golf course was constructed, the numbers have increased, due mainly, it is believed, to the increased feeding areas on the low-cut grass areas of the course.

"The buildings on the course have all been designed with great care for the environment and to minimise visual impact. The result is that all buildings, including the hotel, have been kept similar in height to houses in the area. The main hotel building cannot be seen from the main road.

"We have secured our water supply from three separate sources and there will be no impact whatever on the existing supplies to local residents.

"The proposal is in line with Waterford County Council’s Rural Tourism Plan and we were careful to keep the project within the plan’s guidelines. The project has been publicly welcomed by Mayor of Tramore, Councillor Joe Conway and by Garry Breen of Failte Ireland, among many others.

"I appreciate that local people may be worried about change in their area but we are willing to meet individually with them and give them any details that they require," said Mr Bolster. "I am a local resident too, I live on one of the access roads to the site and I have absolutely no intention of doing anything that would be detrimental to the area.

"I believe that this resort together with the development of the racecourse, the expansion of the airport and the improved retail strategy in Tramore will greatly enhance the tourism and business infrastructure of the area, it will provide jobs and opportunity for local people during construction and when it is in operation and we are using local architects as well as local structural and service engineers. I hope that by providing as much information as possible in transparent manner about our intentions, we can allay any fears which people have about the resort," concluded Mr Bolster.

- The Islandikane consortium also includes Kildare-based businessman, Jerry Conlan and former international golfer, John Carr, both of Harlequin Resorts.