Partnership moves to deliver new multi-sports centre for Waterford City

WATERFORD City Council has partnered with Swimworld Ltd, a Galway-based water leisure company headed up by Joe Cosgrove, to deliver a major redevelopment project at Waterford Regional Sports Centre in Kilbarry.

Grant-aided by the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism, plans for the €11m upgrade programme are currently on display at Waterford City Hall with work scheduled to commence early in 2006.

Facilities at the revamped multi-sports centre will include a swimming pool, children’s pool and hydrotherapy pool, gymnasium, fitness centre and treatment rooms, multi-purpose sports hall and changing facilities. A café and crèche are also included in plans for the centre along with four flood-lit all-weather outdoor playing fields.

Commenting on the partnership, Colette Byrne, Director of Services - Community & Enterprise, Waterford City Council said, “It is excellent news that we are now moving forward on this very significant development which will give this and future generations in Waterford a first-class sports and leisure facility that will be open to all on a pay-as-you-use basis.

“Including a swimming pool for the first time, the facilities at the new Regional Sports Centre will allow us cater for a wide range of sporting disciplines and have been carefully designed to meet the training and coaching needs of competitive players and athletes while also including and welcoming those who simply want to enjoy some healthy exercise and for whom the fun is in participating.

“There is considerable evidence that increased participation rates in sports and exercise have positive health and social benefits across all age groups and social classes and the revamped sports centre will be a landmark leisure facility that will serve Waterford well for many years.”

Waterford City Council’s partners for the Regional Sports Centre redevelopment project, Swimworld Ltd operate the Kingfisher Club (www.kingfisherclub.com) at Renmore in Galway which is the west of Ireland’s largest health and fitness facility.

Cllr Hilary Quinlan, Mayor of Waterford, welcomed the announcement.

Speaking as plans for the development were put on public display at Waterford City Hall, Cllr Quinlan said he was thrilled to see such ambitious proposals approved for the council’s land-bank at Kilbarry.