Together with The Edge Watersports, up to £25,000 has been invested to increase the existing waterpark by 40% to over 2,500 sq ms, while also creating 12 new jobs at the £2 million Crannagh Marina Complex on the banks of the Lower Bann between Coleraine and Portstewart.
Rob Skelly, owner of The Edge Watersports, said: "As one of Northern Ireland’s largest waterparks, we offer a wide range of activities from waterskiing, wakeboarding and banana boating to tube rides, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding.
"When we moved our business to The Crannagh three years ago we employed seven staff, two full-time and five part-time. Due to the recent £25k expansion our staff numbers have now increased from 20 to 32, with 25 of these jobs being full-time and seven part-time."
Mr Skelly continued: "year we have added even more obstacles and slides to the waterpark and reconfigured the existing layout, increasing the size by 40% to 2,500 square metres. We now have a potential capacity increase from 80 to 120 visitors. However, we consistently strive to create the ultimate quality customer experience and therefore restrict our numbers to 60 at any one time."
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Seamus Carey, owner of Crannagh Marina Complex, welcomed the expansion.
"We have invested over £2million in recent years at Crannagh Marina Complex, which is located on the banks of the Lower Bann, between Coleraine and Portstewart.
"It is an exciting time. We are recording record numbers of visitors and are thrilled to see this further expansion by the Activity Centre.
"The Lower Bann has been extremely underused as a recreation and tourism resource and we aim, with the help of various partners, to change this and make it a prime destination where people can come and spend a number of days packed full of fun activities."
He added: "We have ambitious plans for the complex. In the next 6 to 12 months we will be constructing on-site accommodation. Phase 1 will provide over 30 bedrooms, with luxury cabins and luxury camping pods offering magnificent views over the River Bann.
"The Crannagh Marina, which currently offers over 200m of pontoons and has a large number of deep water moorings, also plans to increase its size to allow even more boats and larger boats to berth.
"The entire Crannagh Marina Complex is becoming a major hub for tourists and locals alike. There is something for everyone, no matter what your age."
Image: (L – R) Rob Skelly, owner of The Edge Watersports at Crannagh Activity Centre, Coleraine and Seamus Carey, owner of Crannagh Marina Complex, Coleraine.
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