Waterways Ireland, in conjunction with Fermanagh District Council who will be undertaking landscaping improvements, is to spend 600,000 euro on upgrading the existing public mooring at the Round 'O' on the west side of Enniskillen.

The public jetty is now closed to water-based traffic and will remain closed until the end of March next year.

A spokesman for Waterways Ireland explained that this scheme, work on which starts next week, represents the second phase of an upgrading scheme, the first being the upgrading of the slipway earlier this year.

"What we're proposing is to remove the existing fixed timber jetty and install a floating mooring as well as all the amenity and environmental improvements works which Fermanagh Council are undertaking at a cost to them of 100,000 euros.

"We're hoping to have the scheme completed by the end of the Spring, 2009 in time for the new boating season."

The completed works will double the capacity of the jetty to take water craft, and there will be a separate secure mooring for the waterbus, 'The Kestrel'.

It is not expected that too many users of the lake will be inconvenienced, given the time of year for the scheme being done.

However, Waterways Ireland said that while it apologised for any inconvenience caused, it would be to their benefit in the long run.

"They will have a state of the art facility. It is a beautiful area, and this work is well overdue.

Even from an amenity point of view, the adjacent parkland is very important.

"As I said, the Council will be upgrading the environmental works, the landscaping and the seating.

"So, even from a recreational point of view, forgetting about the boats, it is going to be lovely. It's not just boats.

There will be benefits to people who either want to go out in the 'Kestrel' or just stand and have a picnic or admire the view."