Sustainability Appraisal Methodology

Client: Environment Unit, Failte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland intend to focus on development plans for key destinations over the next few years. To ensure that the policies within these destination plans accord with the principles of sustainable tourism Fáilte Ireland intend to carry out sustainability appraisals of these plans. Sustainability Appraisal is similar in concept to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) however whereas an SEA only considers the environmental impacts of a strategic plan; Sustainability Appriasal also considers economical and social impacts.

This report examined international best practice and proposed a methodology for carrying on sustaiability appraisal on tourism destination plans. The proposed methodology aims to produce a better destination plan, with more informed policies without placing an onerous demand on the limited resources of Fáilte Ireland.

Butler Trail, County Tipperary

Client: South Tipperary Tourism Company

During 2010/2011 James worked with Tourism Development International on a project to identify a heritage trail in South Tipperary. The project identified the Butler family as a core theme. The trail focuses on South Tipperary’s rich and as yet under-developed cultural heritage in and around the towns of Clonmel, Cahir and Carrick-on-Suir. Having identfied a route buy-in was secured from local stakeholders and an action plan prepared which includes print and web brochures, town maps and community involvement. This project, which has the potential to act as a catalyst to stimulate tourism development, is ongoing and is now being taken to a development phase.

Tourism Product Development Handbook Case Studies

Client: Tourism Development International, Dublin

In the second half of 2010 James undertook an assignment for Tourism Development International to research and produce copy for 25 case studies for inclusion in the UNWTO’s ‘Tourism Product Development Handbook’ to be published in August 2011. This interesting project for use by tourism development officers in national tourism organisations worldwide.

Tourism Impact Assessments

Client: Failte Ireland, Environment Unit, Dublin

James has undertaken several Tourism Impact Assessments for Failte Ireland between June 2010 and August 2011. These have involved site visits, report preparation and submission on behalf of Failte Ireland on a range of issues from windfarm development to major road route selection and developments in areas of landscape sensitivity.

National Historic Walking Trails Programme

Client: Failte Ireland, Product Development Unit, Dublin

During 2008-2009 James Chilton undertook an assignment to develop historic walking trails in 50 towns throughout Ireland, funded by Fáilte Ireland. This involved close consultation with the towns, Fáilte Ireland and signage production companies; analysis and approval of town applications; and detailed advice on trail locations. The first group of towns put signage into place during 2009.

29 Unit Residential Development, Ballinclea Road, Killiney, Co. Dublin

Client: O’Flynn Construction

James was lead consultant on a 29 unit residential development in Killiney, Co. Dublin. This role involved coordination of the development team including the architects, engineers, landscape architects and arborist; consultation with the local authority planning department; and preparation of  the planning application, further information, and appeal to An Bord Planeala. James coordinated the project until its successful conclusion with a grant of permission in 2009.

Kilcorby Chalets Tourism Feasibility Study

Client: Kilcorby Chalets (Frank Kavanagh), Co. Cavan

In 2008 James undertook a feasibility study of a holiday home development as part of the Kilcorby Chalets business, required by Cavan County Council as Further Information with regards to a planning application. The study included a business audit and needs analysis.  The planning application was approved following submittal of the feasibility study.

Review of Draft County Development Plan Policies for Counties Monaghan, Westmeath, Kilkenny, Roscommon, Mayo and Wexford

Client: Fáilte Ireland, Environment Unit

During 2006-2008 James undertook a series of assignments for the Environment Unit of Fáilte Ireland. Fáilte Ireland required a review of the tourism component of existing County Development Plans and for submissions to be made in relation to the Draft County Development Plans. The purpose of these reviews were to provide County Council’s with clear recommendations from Fáilte Ireland as to the suggested tourism related content of the new county development plan; and to offer guidance so as to ensure policies contribute to more sustainable development of tourism in the county. Much of the guidance and suggested policies were included in the final draft of the Plans.

A Review of ‘Mayo – Sustainable Tourism in the Coastal Zone’

Client: Fáilte Ireland, Environment Unit, Dublin

In 2007 James was commissioned by Failte Ireland’s Environment Unit to undertake a review of the Mayo – Sustainable Tourism in the Coastal Zone strategy which was produced in 2000 by Mayo County Council and An Taisce as part of the Pilot Initiative for Tourism and Environment. This review posed key questions which were addressed to determine the success of the projects implementation. Although there some areas where the project could be said to have influenced development and achieved change; in general this review found that the lack of specific time-bound outcomes, against which the project could be assessed, made it problematic to determine its success. This review concludes with a range of recommendations for future coastal tourism development.

Poolbeg Social and Community Audit

Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA)

In 2006 James was part of a team commissioned by the DDDA to undertake an audit of social and community facilities in the Poolbeg, Ringsend and Sandycove areas of Dublin. This involved desk and field research, consultation and the production of a report and map-based assessment of facility provision in the area.

North Westmeath Sustainability Study

Client: Westmeath County Council

In 2006 James was commissioned by Westmeath County Council to undertake a study regarding the sustainable development of the north-west of the county. While this area has considerable natural resources including many opportunities for recreation it has suffered from a lack of employment and development opportunities. The study involved consultation with local stakeholders, key issue development and vision development. The study resulted in a number of key measures being included in the new Westmeath County Development Plan for the area.

Bay of Plenty Recreation Strategy

Client: Bay of Plenty Conservancy, Department of Conservation, New Zealand

In 2005, while employed as the Recreation Planner for the Bay of Plenty Conservancy, James produced the Conservancy’s Recreation Strategy. This action-orientated recreation strategy was required to provide strategic direction for recreation management and examined the key areas of:

• Resource Management (further separated into strategic planning, finance/capability and asset management);
• Visitor Management (further separated into visitor monitoring and visitor opportunities and trends);
• Communication and Partnerships

The area covered by this strategy includes over 170,000ha of department managed land with 21 huts and a number of shelters, toilets and other buildings; approximately 533 kilometres of track, catering for a range of users; 113 kilometres of road; over 340 structures (including bridges, boardwalks and viewing platforms) and 8 campgrounds.

Bay of Plenty Visitor Monitoring Plan 2004-2009

Client: Bay of Plenty Conservancy, Department of Conservation, New Zealand

In 2004, while employed as the Recreation Planner for the Bay of Plenty Conservancy, James produced a Visitor Monitoring Plan for the conservancy. The objective was to ensure that the intrinsic natural, cultural and historic values of areas managed by the department, in the Bay of Plenty, were not compromised by the impacts of visitor behaviour and visitor related facilities and services. The plan outlined a standardised approach to visitor monitoring and was published by the Department of Conservation.

The plan was in two parts. Part one established goals and objectives, and examined monitoring context; history and issues within the conservancy. Part one also reviewed conservancy monitoring knowledge gaps and discussed monitoring methods including numeric data collection, physical impact and social impact monitoring. Part two discussed monitoring priorities; site specific numeric data collection, physical and social impact monitoring locations. It also discusses how data, once collected, is to be analysed.

The plan was implemented in the conservancy and was used as a best-practice example in others regions of New Zealand.

Bay of Plenty Recreation Finance and Capability Plan 2005-2015

Client: Bay of Plenty Conservancy, Department of Conservation, New Zealand

In 2004, while employed as the Recreation Planner for the Bay of Plenty Conservancy, James produced the Recreation Finance and Capability Plan 2005-2015. The purpose of this document was to strategically plan for an increase in the recreational budget over the 10 year period. This document:

• Allocated recreational funding fairly to the three areas within the Bay of Plenty;
• Enabled recreation facility management to take place with more certainty;
• Enabled Department staff to plan for the future increase in recreation funding;
• Analysed funding required for future capital expenditure in the Conservancy;
• Enabled workforce planning to take place, including capability and capacity assessment.

Recreation Opportunities Review

Client: Bay of Plenty Conservancy, Department of Conservation, New Zealand

In 2004, while employed as the Recreation Planner for the Bay of Plenty Conservancy, James produced the Recreation Opportunities Review as part of a national project. The report, which was published by the Department of Conservation, detailed the content of over 500 submissions made by the public and key local stakeholders as part of the Department’s national review of recreation facilities.

Taking account of the submissions and other information received from key national recreation associate organisations, decisions were taken regarding recreation facilities in the conservancy; for example the location of tracks or backcountry huts. This document outlined these decisions and the rationale behind them.