Works to start soon on new 'game changer' watersports facility in North Tipp

WORKS are to start in the near future on a new facility for the Lough Derg village of Dromineer, a facility which has been called a “game changer” by some locals.
Other locals, however, want to postpone the construction of the new watersports activity centre in the village, because, they say, it will cause disruption during the busy summer season.
The €1.2m Fáilte Ireland-funded project will see the demolition of the existing public WC and shower block building, and the construction of a new facility centre for water sports activities. The centre is to provide hot showers, changing and toilet facilities along with secure storage, induction spaces, equipment washdown and orientation points. It is to cater for the significant increase in people enjoying outdoor water-based activities such as kayaking, paddle-boarding and open water swimming in Dromineer.
Project Manager Paul Crowe told a recent meeting of Nenagh Municipal District that a preferred tender has been identified to proceed with the construction. He said a contractor should be on the site at the end of March and the facility should be built within nine months.
Cllr Joe Hannigan welcomed the news and said the new centre will be available all year round.
Cllr Louise Morgan Walsh said many locals are worried that the works taking place during the summer will have a significant impact on tourism and the local economy. She said planning permission and funding were in place two years ago and the work should have started long before now. She said the construction should be postponed until after the summer.
Cllr Pamela Quirke O'Meara agreed. She pointed out that Dromineer has become very busy and some local residents have had people knocking on their doors looking to use the toilet. She wanted to know what would happen with no public toilet facilities at the busiest time of the year.
Mr Crowe said the existing toilet facilities are opened around St Patrick's Day every year but closed again in October. He said Portaloos will be provided during the construction period, which the Council and Fáilte Ireland want to start at the end of March
Cllr Morgan Walsh pointed out that people come from all over the country to visit Dromineer and it was a “big ask” to expect the local community to put up with what is planned for the summer months.
Cllr Séamie Morris pointed out that the project was delayed over a request for a change of design and there was nothing the Council could have done about this. He appealed to people to be patient, adding that when complete the centre will be a “great project for Dromineer”.
Cllr Hannigan commented that the facility will be a “gamechanger for Dromineer. “There's lots to like about what's going to happen there.”
Mr Crowe said a Part 8 public consultation process in connection with the new facility would be advertised shortly.