WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL INLAND WATERWAY REGENERATION STRATEGY AND HOW DO WE TRANSFORM AND

REALISE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES INTO ECONOMIC IMPACT AND REGENERATION

ON THE GROUND?

Judith A AnnettCountryside Consultancy

Being clear about what the objectives are:

e.g.

1. Restore the Royal/Ulster/Lagan/Newry Canal/Navigation

2. Stimulate economic development3. Maximise recreation/tourism potential4. Adjust recreational use – more facilities for types of

people or types of activity5. Manage what is happening now to improve quality

and safety6. Bring a waterway into greater use

Knowing what you want to achieve

1. Make more connections between the waterway and surrounding communities or businesses.

2. Develop an economic corridor with a waterway at the heart.

3. Regenerate/renew/restore/reopen former infrastructure and services

4. Provide new sustainable transport opportunities on and off the water

5. Create a new transport corridor (commercial potential of the waterway transportation opportunities for heavy, bulky loads)

6. Decouple water recreation growth from a growth in water rescue call outs

7. Provide a corridor for wildlife

Knowing what you want to achieve

maximum sustainable benefit from the Millennium Link to the economy, tourism profile, environment and image of the Council area, and to Central Scotland generally;

promote urban regeneration, through the bringing back into productive use of vacant, derelict, underused and contaminated canal-side sites;

to conserve and enhance the unique environment and heritage

to ensure that local communities and voluntary organisations are involved

to create a safer and more secure canal environment social and economic benefits to disadvantaged communities to ensure that development is properly linked with adjacent

communities, countryside, tourist facilities, transport and other infrastructure; and

to achieve development which is commercially viable and sustainable.

Scottish Millennium Link - Falkirk

Over 400,000 visitors a year to the Falkirk Wheel

Regular visitor boat trips

Canalside business/offices

Boats on the water Events Higher value

waterside property Part of the bigger

Millennium link

Falkirk Achievements

The Waterspace Strategy explores

how can we encourage more people to live, work and play on the water?.

Scottish Waterspace Strategy (in development)

National agencies and national needs - drivers e.g. rural development targets, tourism targets, sports participation targets, activity tourism targets, reduction in deprivation status of communities, reduction in depopulation

Local government drivers – local participation and opportunity, jobs, infrastructure, transportation

Statutory functions – water levels, drainage, promotion etc

Tourism and recreation providers – providing customers

Service providers

Knowing what others want or need to achieve

Users and their representative bodies – IWAI, ISA, ICU, Anglers

Land owners and people who hold rights – access, water, fisheries

Environmental designations – national, international

Water management priorities – e.g. meeting the requirements of the Water Framework Directive

Electricity generation Better conditions for migratory fish Ecosystem services from waterways –

provisioning, regulating, cultural,

Knowing what others want or need to achieve

Strategic planning involves making choices and leaving some things out

Waterways will not be able to supply everything that people want so strategies should not just be the sum of a consultation process

Waterways are sensitive areas from an environmental point of view so there are or should be constraints and management

Infrastructure on its own doesn’t guarantee development Strategies that harness people’s energy and enthusiasm

towards shared objectives are the best kind Strategies needs to be geared to the right markets and be

based on something they want Specialist water activity visitors do not regard themselves as

tourists Consultees are not always right! Money from overseas visitors has a greater impact on the

local and national economy

Facts and key messages

Lough Neagh Management Strategy, Sustainable Recreation Framework and Lough Neagh Strategic Fund

Lough Derg Strategy Shannon Series –

Mid Shannon and Lough Ree North Shannon and Shannon Erne Erne

Barrow All designed to create a stronger tourism economy associated with

the waterway corridor and to improve opportunities for recreation Lagan Reopening Newry Canal Reopening Dublin City Canals Ulster Canal Erne – to Clones ( and beyond)

But no overarching strategy for Ireland’s Waterways

Waterways Strategies/Studies

Markets (people) need to be at the heart of a strategy Work with the ‘best prospect’

markets Remember that waterway

economies are largely driven by those on the banks

Capitalise on the work done by others whether FI, NITB, Tourism Ireland or existing marketing initiatives e.g. Lakelands and Inland Waterways

When working with specialist markets be clear about the segments

Markets

Capitalising on marketing effort

Markets for Ireland’s Inland Waterways

Sightseers and Culture Seekers ( mainly overseas) Responses to Ireland  

Experiences offered in Lakelands and Inland Waterways area 

Activities offered in Lakelands and Inland Waterways area

 Emotional spiritualDiscoverFreedomLive the cultureJourneyLearnUnderstand 

Shannon and Erne Journeys – car and boat basedSpecial LandscapesHistoric Houses, Castles and GardensChristian Heritage 

CruisingSailingNatureGolfWalkingEquestrianCyclingCanoeingBird watchingAngling

Domestic visitorssightseers and culturalists, The main emphasis within the sightseers and culture seekers market will be on the journeys and the experiences and will be based on the same themes as for the overseas markets.

family and loved- ones, being and doing together as a family, skillsoutdoor actives -j ourneysspecialist markets. –infrastructure and services, skills, events

Lakelands and Inland Waterways Strategic Plan

Discover Freedom

Waterways Strategies

Achieving economic development involves delivering the promise

Product Development A series of product development strategies that are designed to deliver the ‘Discover Freedom’ experience.• for Ireland’s boaters,

kayakers walkers, cyclists, riders, day trippers

• For overseas visitors who want to tour the area

• For specialist visitors such as cruising, canoe trail users etc.

Waterways Ireland, Failte Ireland, County Councils, Fermanagh DC

Delivery/Implementation

Protect

Rural heritage

Key views

Landscape

Water QualitySettlement quality

Local Food Availability

Signage and routing

Local Food

Events

Local Culture

Access infrastructure

Local Guiding

Local Activity Skills

Promote Develop

Enhance

Destination development and management

Natural heritage attractions

Visitor routes

Language Skills

Arts and CraftsEvents

Sustainability

Journeys based on visitor interest and following the waterways Historic houses, castles and gardens. Christian heritage Hubs to explore natural heritage. activity hubs with a particular focus on activities that can be booked

on the day, or at short notice and choice of things to do every day literary heritage of the area and related events and festivals Waterbus services and or more linkages between existing boat trips

to allow the visitor to travel the Shannon and Erne systems without a car.

coordinated events programme and provision of more high-profile events

Further development of waterways infrastructure to support recreation and tourism

cycle, canoe walking and equestrian trails Working with the cruising sector to increase flexibility and provide

for shorter stays and combined interest holidays Discover days for the trade – knowing what is on the doorstep

Overseas (touring)

Family and Loved ones activity hubs to include family and children’s activity and with an

emphasis on summer schemes and book on the day and choice of something to do every day activities and programmes

Increase extent of packaging accommodation and activities for families More opportunities to get onto the water in the area

Outdoor Actives Development of activity provider and accommodation links. Outdoor provider staff development programmes focussing on

provision for adults and families in a holiday and journey context. Focus on customer care.

Provision of activity maps linking information on land and water activities and their relationships to activity clusters and activity infrastructure and settlements.

Website aimed at supporting independent or DIY use of the area for activities – e.g. for people who have their own equipment and skills

Domestic and specialist markets

Specialist Markets Support the further development of existing centres of

excellence for angling Implement the Inland Cruising Strategy (FI/WI/IBRA etc) Canoe trails and infrastructure – including packaging and

outfitting support Develop the waterway infrastructure- upgrading of facilities,

provision of services, and new destinations. 

All markets Further develop local food initiatives Ensure an appropriate accommodation mix for each market

and in particular consider the possible under supply of camping and self-catering opportunities

Domestic and Specialist Markets

Fáilte Ireland Waterways Ireland All County Councils and Fermanagh DC Local Development Groups and partnerships

(LEADER) and SWARD etc Local communities Tourism Trade Boating community

Partnerships for delivery

Management is part of delivering the promise

Set some targets for the changes you want to see

Change the plan if it isn’t working

Monitoring