Menu
06/06/2008
NI Waterway To The World Mooted
A huge construction project centred on waterway-based tourism is set to be literally 'ground-breaking' if funding is achieved.
Lisburn City Council is taking the lead in the imaginative development, which aims to establish a single inland waterway with a sea connection at either end.
It will also link the east and west coasts of Ulster to form a new, water-based tourism project to rival any such facility worldwide.
The overall project would involve the restoration of the Lagan Navigation, the Erne Canal Maritime Extension and the Ulster Canal.
The initial cost of a project to pave the way for the huge scheme is just under £1m (£985,000) with the application being prepared by the Councils of the Metropolitan Area (Comet) Partnership on behalf of the project partners.
While 'run' by Lisburn - whose town hall actually sits across the remnants of the formerly fully navigable Lisburn canal - others, such as Fermanagh District Council - home of the previous mega-waterway project, the Erne-Shannon Waterway reopening, have been asked for support.
Through the Comet Partnership, different components of the project are presently at various stages of development so the partner councils and organisations can apply for funding from the European Union's 'Interreg IV' to carry out the preparatory studies and appraisals necessary to deliver the overall project.
The scheme's first stage, Lisburn Council's Lagan Corridor Programme, through the Ulster Waterways Group has outlined plans to establish a Gateway Complex at the Stranmillis Weir, Belfast which would permit access onto the old Lagan Canal, further upstream through restored Locks 2, 3 and 4 and eventually past Lisburn and on to Lough Neagh.
Once through to Lough Neagh, there is access through the Bann to the sea at Castlerock, Co Londonderry, while the it would also 'join-up' with the projected re-opening of the Ulster Canal, from Upper Lough Erne, at Belturbet in the Irish Republic to Lough Neagh, allowing access to the huge inter-Island Shannon, navigable all the way to Limerick and through another waterway, to Dublin and the sea.
The restoration of a sea link from Lower Lough Erne, at Belleek, through to Donegal at Ballyshannon has also been mooted - though very hard to achieve as the Assaroe lake was created by the construction of a dam which is located in Ballyshannon to run a Donegal hydroelectric power station.
Lisburn MP and Stormont Junior Minister, Jeffrey Donaldson said he hoped it would encourage both business and tourism.
"There are parts of Northern Ireland, particularly towards the centre, where there is a need for investment and regeneration," said Mr Donaldson.
"And we believe opening up our waterways will bring people and visitors into those areas."
(BMcC)
Lisburn City Council is taking the lead in the imaginative development, which aims to establish a single inland waterway with a sea connection at either end.
It will also link the east and west coasts of Ulster to form a new, water-based tourism project to rival any such facility worldwide.
The overall project would involve the restoration of the Lagan Navigation, the Erne Canal Maritime Extension and the Ulster Canal.
The initial cost of a project to pave the way for the huge scheme is just under £1m (£985,000) with the application being prepared by the Councils of the Metropolitan Area (Comet) Partnership on behalf of the project partners.
While 'run' by Lisburn - whose town hall actually sits across the remnants of the formerly fully navigable Lisburn canal - others, such as Fermanagh District Council - home of the previous mega-waterway project, the Erne-Shannon Waterway reopening, have been asked for support.
Through the Comet Partnership, different components of the project are presently at various stages of development so the partner councils and organisations can apply for funding from the European Union's 'Interreg IV' to carry out the preparatory studies and appraisals necessary to deliver the overall project.
The scheme's first stage, Lisburn Council's Lagan Corridor Programme, through the Ulster Waterways Group has outlined plans to establish a Gateway Complex at the Stranmillis Weir, Belfast which would permit access onto the old Lagan Canal, further upstream through restored Locks 2, 3 and 4 and eventually past Lisburn and on to Lough Neagh.
Once through to Lough Neagh, there is access through the Bann to the sea at Castlerock, Co Londonderry, while the it would also 'join-up' with the projected re-opening of the Ulster Canal, from Upper Lough Erne, at Belturbet in the Irish Republic to Lough Neagh, allowing access to the huge inter-Island Shannon, navigable all the way to Limerick and through another waterway, to Dublin and the sea.
The restoration of a sea link from Lower Lough Erne, at Belleek, through to Donegal at Ballyshannon has also been mooted - though very hard to achieve as the Assaroe lake was created by the construction of a dam which is located in Ballyshannon to run a Donegal hydroelectric power station.
Lisburn MP and Stormont Junior Minister, Jeffrey Donaldson said he hoped it would encourage both business and tourism.
"There are parts of Northern Ireland, particularly towards the centre, where there is a need for investment and regeneration," said Mr Donaldson.
"And we believe opening up our waterways will bring people and visitors into those areas."
(BMcC)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
22 November 2024
Consumer Council Advice On Online Shopping Rights
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, consumers in Northern Ireland are gearing up for a flurry of online shopping. While many retailers have already started offering deals, concerns about potential delivery issues such as delays, lost parcels, and damaged goods are on the rise.
Consumer Council Advice On Online Shopping Rights
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, consumers in Northern Ireland are gearing up for a flurry of online shopping. While many retailers have already started offering deals, concerns about potential delivery issues such as delays, lost parcels, and damaged goods are on the rise.
18 November 2024
Belfast's Vacant To Vibrant Scheme To Expand Citywide
A successful scheme aimed at transforming vacant properties in Belfast city centre into thriving businesses is set to be extended across the entire city. Belfast City Council's Vacant to Vibrant programme has already breathed new life into 26 properties, with another six sites in the pipeline.
Belfast's Vacant To Vibrant Scheme To Expand Citywide
A successful scheme aimed at transforming vacant properties in Belfast city centre into thriving businesses is set to be extended across the entire city. Belfast City Council's Vacant to Vibrant programme has already breathed new life into 26 properties, with another six sites in the pipeline.
18 November 2024
Neurodiversity In The Workplace Centre Stage At Entrepreneurs Conference
The topic of neurodiversity within the entrepreneurial journey and in the workplace will be just one of the many topics of discussion happening at a new conference happening in Belfast this month.
Neurodiversity In The Workplace Centre Stage At Entrepreneurs Conference
The topic of neurodiversity within the entrepreneurial journey and in the workplace will be just one of the many topics of discussion happening at a new conference happening in Belfast this month.
04 January 2012
Recognition For First APM Register Project Professionals
The Association for Project Management (APM) has recognised the first Northern Ireland recipients of its new APM Registered Project Professional (RPP) designation.
Recognition For First APM Register Project Professionals
The Association for Project Management (APM) has recognised the first Northern Ireland recipients of its new APM Registered Project Professional (RPP) designation.
25 October 2024
Belfast Welcomes 11 International Doctors To City
Belfast City Council has launched a groundbreaking English Language Support Academy for Medics, designed to assist 11 experienced international doctors in obtaining registration and licenses to practice in the city. This is the first program of its kind in Northern Ireland.
Belfast Welcomes 11 International Doctors To City
Belfast City Council has launched a groundbreaking English Language Support Academy for Medics, designed to assist 11 experienced international doctors in obtaining registration and licenses to practice in the city. This is the first program of its kind in Northern Ireland.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
