A feasibility report on ambitious plans to transform Leisureland, encompassing Salthill Park, has been completed and will be unveiled to councillors in the Autumn.

In a briefing by Brian Barrett, Head of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture at Galway City Council, City West Area councillors were told that a lot of work had been carried out on the facility in the last three years to make it more energy efficient and improve accessibility.

Of the five air handling units in place, only three were working and without them the building would have to close. A total of €2.3m had been spent on new air handling units, solar panels and a refurbished roof.

The carpark had barriers put in it to prevent people from parking there who were not using the facility as there had been “a bit of a free for all”.

Two steel canopies which had been in place for 50 years had been removed, which was another risky project, Mr Barrett stated.

A planning application will be lodged to replace the existing gas boilers with a biomass unit and the project would receive funding from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and would operate for ten years at least.

UrbanLab in the University of Galway has spent over a year examining long term ideas for a re-imagining of the facility, which was well past its lifespan. Just to refurbish the pool as it was currently would cost up to €10m so the decision was taken to undertake a more ambitious “next generation tourist destination project” encompassing the City Council-owned park adjacent to the publicly owned leisure complex.

UrbanLab had carried out consultations with local business, school children, residents groups and other stakeholders to assess their views on what would work.

The draft report has just been workshopped with the Board of Leisureland, whose feedback is now being reviewed.

The final draft will be presented to the City Council’s special policy committee in the Autumn with an application expected to be submitted for funding in 2026.

The current 25-metre pool has a lifespan of less than another decade.

There are more than 3,000 children taking swimming lessons at Leisureland with more on a waiting list.

Pictured: Leisureland: Feasibility report will be given to councillors in the Autumn.