The sod of the new Gateway Centre at Antrim Lough Shore Park has been officially cut by the Mayor, Councillor Paul Michael.
The project has received £500,000 funding from DAERA, with a further £50,000 provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, through the Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership scheme. It is hoped that the Gateway Centre will open in late summer 2019.
The sod cutting by the Antrim and Newtownabbey Mayor marks the next stage of the exciting plans to enhance the council’s leisure and tourism on the shores of Lough Neagh.
The new Gateway facility will include a restaurant with an outdoor terrace offering unparalleled views across Lough Neagh, along with office and interactive exhibition space, toilets, changing facilities and space for an activity provider.
Lough Neagh Rescue will also have a presence in the facility, giving them full sight of and direct access to, the Lough for the first time.
Speaking at the sod cutting ceremony, the Mayor said the Gateway Centre will establish itself as yet another jewel in the Borough’s list of wonderful tourist attractions.
“The Gateway Centre at Antrim Lough Shore Park is set to become a major tourist attraction,” he added.
Fiona McCandless, the Department’s Deputy Secretary with responsibility for Rural Affairs said the £500,000 investment will act as a driver for encouraging rural tourism and particularly out of state visitors.
“By investing in tourism projects in rural areas the Department believes linkages to other attractions and ‘tourism corridors’ can be developed which should help to encourage further visitors to these rural areas. This in turn has the potential to generate significant additional economic and tourism benefits for each area,” she added.
