A major new waterpark on Loch Tay which is expected to pump millions of pounds into the local economy could be ready by next spring.
Taymouth Marina was given planning permission last April for a host of new ventures including a new breakwater and 40 pontoons, to offer enhanced water sports.
The expansion will create new jobs at the resort and is expected to bring an estimated 100,000 visitors each year to the area.
The marina’s owner, Eric Strickland, is now awaiting one final piece of planning permission to allow motorboats to enter their berths before beginning work on the project.
The resort team has applied to Perth and Kinross Council to remove a condition from the planning approval which states “no power boating of jet skiing is permitted as part of the development”.
Eric hopes that the condition will be removed this year, allowing him to build the new complex over the winter months in time for the spring tourist season.
“It’s the catalyst for us to create another eight full-time jobs,” he said.
“It increases our tourist footfall considerably to the marina and that benefits other tourist businesses in the area.
“It’s another reason for folk to come to a remote part of Perthshire, for holidays, for day trips etc.
“We’re all geared up to do it over the winter when it’s quieter so it’s all ready and in place for next spring.”
He said the firm had a contractor lined up and were hopeful they cpould provide work for his employees over the winter.
“We’re ready to go but from a funding point of view we can’t do it with this condition in place,” he added.
The new waterpark and berthing a station is part of 10 year plan to create a major holiday complex.
Eric said: “My wife and I have been on a journey redeveloping what was Croft-na-caber watersports resort which had its heyday in the 80s and 90s and we’ve been redeveloping it for the last 10 years.
“Our ambition is to create the best holiday resort in the UK and we’re on our journey of doing that.”
Loch Tay is also due to see an increase in visitor numbers after the neighbouring Crannog Centre unveiled ambitious plans to transform its museum into a “national treasure” and submitted a proposal to purchase 12 acres of land on the Tay.
