The Freshwater Lakes project at Lough Killyfole, in County Fermanagh, is a former Northern Ireland water supply reservoir, and a Local Nature Reserve site. The site is heavily used by the locals as a scenic 1mile circumference walk around the lake perimeter, which previously consisted of run-down boardwalk sections, bridges, jetties, gravel, and concrete paths, with other amenity features including car parks, bird hide shelters, picnics tables and benches. This £800k project upgraded the paths, renewed the perimeter fencing, and replaced the boardwalk and bridges with a new recycled plastic structure supported by mini piles into challenging ground conditions.
Alongside our conservational role as Civil & Infrastructure Engineers, Design ID were appointed as the Principal Designer’s, and later appointed as NEC Project Managers, assisting the Client (Fermanagh and Omagh District Council) to develop their vision for upgrades to the site. The work included critical H&S challenges for the site thats included the demolition and decommissioning of the existing water treatment plant, and the options appraisal for replacement and repairs of the existing walkways and structures, whilst also identifying the potential for public amenity area improvements with health and safety, ecology, and the sensitivities of the environment at the forefront of design considerations.
In our principal design role we split the project into two construction phases, due to the differing skills and experience a competent Contractor would need. For both projects, we then produced the NI10 form to HSE, Pre Construction Information packs for Construction Tender, Designer Risk Assessments, Construction Phasing plans and drawings, completed site supervision and produced the H&S File. A key aspect to this was the consideration of construction work ongoing around an operational tourist attraction, and ensuring suitable separation and measures were put in place to provide safe working areas for tourism, construction or operations.
Client: Fermanagh & Omagh District Council
