Major €2 million refurbishment planned for Bundoran Waterworld

Significant refurbishment works are to be carried out with a view to improving capacity at one of Donegal’s leading tourist attractions, Bundoran Waterworld.

The work will see extension and refurbishment of the changing village and associated works, thus bringing it up to modern standards and increasing capacity.

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Further work includes the installation of a new Air Handling Unit (AHU) in the pool area.

The cost to Donegal County Council is calculated at €1,991,623, taking into account grant availability, though not factoring contingency costs.

It is intended to use ringfenced funding already in place from a €4 million loan originally obtained for public lighting which was then paid for by central government. 

Donegal County Council’s Director of Services Garry Martin outlined plans at the January Meeting of the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal. 

“Some preliminary works have been carried out in order to meet the opening date,” he said. “We are probably looking at a slightly later opening date this year, June instead of Easter. But it is a necessary piece of work.”

Operational since 1991, Waterworld is a major contributor to the local economy, directly and indirectly. Turnover for the financial year ending December 31, 2023 was €988,000. The facility employs three staff for the full year, with 42 seasonal staff members employed in 2024.

Its greatest value lies in the number of people it brings to the area.

Mr Martin said: “The feedback we get from the businesses in Bundoran is that it has been a lifesaver. It gives people an indoor facility and a reason to come to Bundoran.”

This was particularly true during the inclement weather of 2024, bringing visitors to Bundoran who would not have come otherwise, he added.

Cllr Michael McMahon (SF) formally proposed the funding and the work, saying: “Waterworld is one of the most successful projects in the county, and it is known worldwide.

“I am happy to propose that the works go ahead.”

This was seconded by his party colleague and Cathaoirleach of Donegal MD, Cllr Noel Jordan.

Mr Martin explained that the next step is to get approval at full council.

He had a special acknowledgement for the current management at Waterworld.

“There is a new management team there these last few years and they have transformed it,” he said.

The Bundoran Waterworld complex is wholly owned by Donegal County Council and is managed through an Appendix 8 company, Bundoran Waterworld Company Limited By Guarantee. The Directors on this board Include five council nominees, four by the elected members and one by the Chief Executive, as well as three local business representatives.

It opens from Easter to the end of August each year, and is largely self-financing, requiring a modest contribution of €9,439 from the Council in 2023 to allow it to trade on a break-even basis.

In 2023, 69,441 visitors contributed to the turnover of €988,000. 

While the bulk of activity is in July and August, the facility's opening in the Easter to June period supports wider footfall to Bundoran during this shoulder season period.

Proposed Refurbishment

With the facility entering its 34th year of operation, a number of areas of infrastructure are reaching end of life, or are no longer fit for purpose.

There are two areas of proposed work - the changing village and the air handling unit.

Mr Martin said: “The changing village work is necessary to increase capacity and thus turnover, as well as to modernise the facilities to current visitor expectations. 

“The AHU in the pool area is the original installed at initial build and is a mission critical piece of infrastructure in that, should it fail, the centre cannot open.”

He outlined how such an occurrence had taken place in another leisure centre in the country, leading to its closure until the unit was replaced. 

“It was originally intended to leave the AHU replacement until later but inspections which took place associated with the changing village project led to the conclusion by council engineers, as advised by external advisors, that there was a critical necessity for its early replacement,” said Mr Martin.

Changing Village

The project consists of the extension of the entrance area to include a new reception and viewing area, the extension and refurbishment of the changing area to include the supply and installation of new cubicles, lockers, showers, toilets, tiling and other miscellaneous items at Waterworld as indicated in the contract documentation.

It will include removal of cubicles, lockers (which will be kept for future use), tiling from the floor and skirting, and sanitary facilities.

This will be followed by the installation of new tiling, cubicles, sanitary ware, and the reinstallation of existing lockers.

There will be an upgrade to disabled access and to the ventilation system.

The work will also include redirecting of existing electrical and drainage services, reconfiguration of first floor layout, and extension to the front elevation. 

The tender assessment process for this has been completed and an agreed tender in the sum of €1,836,181 excluding VAT has been received. Associated consultancy and design costs for these works, previously procured, amount to €59,700 excluding VAT.

Air Handling Unit 

The project consists of the replacement of the existing Pool Hall AHU sections with a new efficient system incorporating a heat recovery block with bypass, new EC fans, recirculation damper and low temp LPHW heating coil to future proof to be capable of operating with future heat pump technology integration.

The works shall primarily consist of removal of the existing pool hall AHU sections, and temporary support of the existing ductwork while new fan sections are installed internally.

This will be followed by the supply, installation and commissioning of new heat recovery block with bypass, new EC fans, recirculation damper and low temp LPHW heating coil to future proof for potential heat pump integration. 

There will be associated groundworks for relocating two inspection chambers and for a concrete raft to support the external heat recovery block.

It also includes structural steel support, and openings in the existing cladding, and other associated plumbing, electrical and system support works.

The tender assessment process for this is nearing completion with a tender sum of €379,352 excluding VAT. Associated and mandated consultancy costs for this project amount to €66,390.

Funding

Mr Martin outlined: “The nature of some of the works allow for grant application funding from SEAI through its pathfinder programme. There is a confidence from engagement with the required energy consultants for this scheme that it is grant eligible.”

Using the ring-fenced funding and delivering the project under the Bundoran Waterworld company as proposed by Mr Martin will mean that the work can be completed net of VAT, leading to a significant saving.

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