Mallow Hub Town Project was a category winner at Chambers Ireland's Excellence in Local Government Awards 2007 ceremony at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on Thursday evening (November 8th 2007). The project was commended for encouraging balanced and sustainable development in the Mallow area.
The success of the Cork County Development Board Mallow HUB Town Project, in the Chambers Ireland and Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Excellence in Local Government Awards, this week was celebrated throughout the region.
The award is recognition for the County Development Board process over the past years which has facilitated the significant enhancement of Mallow Development Partnership, into a Forum which now has representation from all state, community and business sectors who have a direct influence on the Mallows advancement.
The announcement of the national award is seen as a major endorsement of the Partnership structure which was initially established from the initiative of Mallow Chamber in 2004. The Mallow Project had been short listed for an award under the category of 'County Development Board Integrated Service Delivery'.
A short video clip has been recorded outlining the project and includes still images from around Mallow Town which was shown on the night of the Awards to an audience including Minister Gormley, senior civil servants, opposition party spokespersons on Environment and Local Government, the media, businesses and local authorities from all over Ireland.
With the establishment of the Hub Town Forum, Mallow is beginning the process of setting its own vision for the future, of fighting for much needed investment both public and private, and of ensuring that all sections of the community have a say in the rapid development that is predicted for the town in the next ten years.
The six working groups already in place, reflect not just the need for significant infrastructure, business and employment development, but equally reflect the importance of focused attention to education, health, heritage, tourism, recreation and general quality of life issues.
It will also I believe demonstrate clearly to both government and private investment that despite recent set backs Mallow is determined to take seriously it's Hub Town status and to position itself as a major free standing regional centre under the National Spatial Strategy", John McDonnell, Chairperson of the Mallow Development Partnership .
The initiative is led by Mr. Tim Lucey, North Cork Divisional Manager, Cork County Council, Chaired by Mr. John McDonnell, Mallow Development Partnership and facilitated by Ms. Fiona Hayes, Office of Community & Enterprise, Cork County Council. According to Ms. Hayes "The process has provided a copper fastening of ideas and actions to be delivered by cross agency support. Many actions undertaken will provide best value for money, best use of resources and sharing of knowledge".
