Background of Organisation
On the 1st of April 2000, Cardiff Harbour Authority was formed as part of Cardiff County Council. It assumed responsibility from Cardiff Bay Development Corporation for the management of the Barrage, the Inland Bay and the River Taff & Ely. The Harbour Authority was also given responsibility for the land areas of Roald Dahls Plass (Oval Basin) and the Graving Docks. The Harbour Authority is funded by the National Assembly for Wales and its impact already extends beyond the confines of Cardiff Bay, the City and Wales.
Organisational Objectives
The Harbour Authority has a wide range of responsibilities within its area. In addition to the operation of the Barrage, its locks, sluices and fish pass, it is responsible for safety and navigation within the Bay, the creation and enforcement of Byelaws and the use of the water area for sporting events and activities.
The Authority is also committed to utilising the Bay as a valuable learning resource and is developing links with schools and universities to maximise the use of the resources that the Bay provides.
Environmental responsibilities including the monitoring of water quality, the operation and maintenance of the aeration system, pollution and pest control and the monitoring and control of groundwater, also fall within the Authorities remit. The Authority als provides information on the history of Cardiff Bay, visitor attractions and forthcoming events, navigational information and a library of images.
Relevant Policies, Projects & Activities
The regeneration project was set up by Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, in April 1987 to regenerate the 1,100 hectares of old derelict docklands of Cardiff and Penarth. It aimed to put Cardiff on the International map as a superlative maritime city which will stand comparison with any such city in the world, thereby enhancing the image and economic well-being of Cardiff and Wales as a whole.
The Corporation was wound up in 2000 and its responsibilities were passed to four successor bodies on 1st April of the same year. These are Cardiff County Council (including Cardiff Harbour Authority), the Welsh Development Agency, Vale of Glamorgan Council and the Countryside Council for Wales.
A further area in Cardiff Bay that will be redeveloped in the future is the historic Mount Stuart Graving Dock Area. These 3 dry docks were constructed between 1853 and the early part of the 1900’s, for the purpose of building and repairing ships. In an effort to preserve the welsh historial heritage and preserve cultural activities, Cardiff Harbour Authority also has plans to revitalise this historic area by introducing a mixture of activities on both the land and water. Including visiting heritage ships, recreational activities and the installation of visitor pontoons.
A comprehensive water quality monitoring programme has been implemented in the Bay. This programme comprises: the continuous monitoring of water quality at 6 locations using instrumentation suspended from buoys, which transmit data to the Harbour Authority computer every 15 minutes; the regular monitoring of water quality using mobile equipment deployed from the water quality vessel; and the regular retrieval of water samples for laboratory analysis.The Cardiff Bay Barrage Act 1993 requires the dissolved oxygen levels in the Bay to be maintained at/or above 5mg/l in all places and at all times.