First stage of new centre

A special geotechnical survey was carried out on the land recently at a cost of £9,595.

This environmental survey is just the first stage of the major £25 million centre proposed for Craigavon Centre.

The proposed centre had been earmarked for completion in 2015,

A spokesperson for Craigavon Council said: “This was a Stage 1 Site Investigation Survey around the Watersports Centre to ascertain the existing ground conditions and the extent of existing gas and water table which will inform the development of a foundation strategy for the new facility.

“It involved drilling boreholes up to 20m in depth, excavation of trial pits at strategic locations as well as contamination testing, compaction testing and CBR tests.

“All of the findings of the survey are then provided in a detailed report which is issued to the design team.”

The centre is expected to be erected on land owned by the council.

The budget for the new leisure centre was initially set at £30m but, according to council, more recent projections have indicated that a cost of £25m is achievable.

The new leisure centre will have a wide range of facilities including an eight-lane 50 metre pool which can be divided into smaller pool spaces via moveable booms; a separate learning pool and fun pool with a range of water features; a large multi-purpose sports hall; a large modern gym with health suite facilities; squash courts; multi-use activity and meeting rooms; children’s soft play area; café; six five-a-side synthetic pitches outside.

Craigavon Borough Council is replacing its three existing older centres at Cascades in Portadown, Craigavon Leisure Centre at Brownlow and Waves in Lurgan.

“Council is also emphasising its commitment in the interim to the three existing leisure centres whose staff will continue to offer customers a high class service in the five years that it will take to design and build the new super centre.

“Council has set aside resources to ensure that these buildings remain open until the new super centre is built,” the spokeswoman added.