WCCC21/114 Blackwater Blueway Project 2021: Feasibility Study

Tender description

Blackwater (Déise) Blueway Amenities: The concept of a Blackwater Blueway is a proposed sustainable tourism initiative which has had its origins in a comprehensive community consultation process. It is envisaged that the Blackwater Blueway will comprise of a range of on or near water experiences at nine Blueway hubs dotted along the river valley. These hubs will be linked by a unifying theme along this 40km stretch of the Blackwater from the Cork/Waterford Border to where the Blackwater enters the sea at Youghal. The Blueway will also complement, integrate and add value to a compelling land - based tourism proposition based on the wealth of local environmental, heritage, recreational and landscape assets including St Declans Way – pilgrim path, the Knockmealdown Mountains, Lismore Heritage town and a number of other key sites. The Blackwater Blueway proposal would be consistent with the Blueway concept as defined in the Blueway Management and Development Guide as ‘A network of approved and branded multi-activity recreational trails and sites based on, and closely linked with the water, together with providers facilitating access to activities and experiences’. Waterford City and County Council is now seeking a Multi-disciplinary Integrated Project Team that contains all the disciplines necessary to provide the required Services. The Team may be formed by a single consultant with in-house specialists or may be a group of consultants who have combined to form a team. The project lead must have a proven track record in the concept, scoping, feasibility, planning and development of Blueways and/or similar integrated land/water based outdoor recreational amenities. They shall be clearly identified in their Tender Submission as the Lead Tenderer. They shall be the entity that enters into a contract with WCCC for the delivery of the Services. Other Team members shall be sub-consultants to the Lead Tenderer. The Team members shall meet the minimum stated requirements