Mid Ulster District Council was presented with an awarded for the marina at the annual Beach and Marina Awards, recognising the Council's work in meeting stringent international standards around water quality, education, safety and accessibility. Members of the council attended a presentation at the Ballygally Castle Hotel on 18 May to receive their accolade, which is managed in Northern Ireland by environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.
Deputy Chair, Cllr Christine McFlynn, who attended the presentation, said: "In securing its Blue Flag status once again, Ballyronan Marina continues to be an asset in our district. As well as recognising the quality of the natural resource on the shores of Lough Neagh, this award also acknowledges the continuing care of Council employees, community groups based on site, boat owners and residents of Ballyronan who together strive to keep our Marina clean, tidy and welcoming for visitors.
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"Extensive development of the site carried out by Council in the past 18 months has enhanced the visitor experience. The new on-water glamping pods, viewing platform, development of the existing play area to include an all-inclusive play, upgrades to the existing trails through Ballyronan Wood, and the addition of a Changing Places facility, in addition to the Blue Flag award, make this an integrated, engaging, clean and accessible place for local families and visitors to enjoy."
Rachel Vaughan, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful's Local Environmental Quality Manager commented: "Our aquatic areas are vital resources for supporting marine life, human mental and physical wellbeing and a source of great pride for many. We thank and congratulate the team at Mid Ulster who put in the hard work and dedication to ensure that they remain of a world-class calibre."
Mid Ulster earned their prestigious prize after successfully convincing a jury panel that their application demonstrated the required quality thresholds. Awards apply from June to the end of September, to coincide with the beach season, and need renewed each year.
The Blue Flag Award is operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a worldwide environmental organisation that also oversees the Eco-Schools, Learning About Forests and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes.
