A key £8 million Flood Alleviation Project in South Belfast is continuing to move forward with pipe laying works progressing across the area.

These works are under the first phase of the major project and expected to be completed in Autumn. They involve upgrading the local sewerage infrastructure, which will substantially reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the Marguerite Park area, whilst paving the way for future works in the Sicily Park area.

The overall project involved constructing over 1.3km of new large diameter sewer from the 'Grovelands' area of Musgrave Park, through the park grounds, Musgrave Park Hospital and Malone College, crossing under the railway line and through an area of private land into Diamond Gardens/Marguerite Park and Donegal Park.

To date NI Water has laid over 1,000 metres of pipework and completed a challenging programme of tunnelling, which means that work is now around 80 percent complete. The final section of work on Phase one is now progressing throughout Diamond Gardens, Marguerite Park and Donegall Park.

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BSG is the main contractor for this project, with Atkins providing design and Project Management Support.

Mark Sefton, NI Water Project Manager, said: "NI Water is progressing well with this major Flood Alleviation Project. We are now in the pipelaying phase in the Diamond Gardens, Marguerite and Donegall Park area, with around 80 percent of pipelaying now complete. We anticipate the project will be complete in the Autumn following extensive reinstatement work.

"NI Water appreciates that this work is disruptive and would like to thank the local residents, businesses and wider public for their ongoing patience as construction continues on this major project. Once complete, the local community will benefit from reduced risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the Marguerite Park area for many years to come."

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd added: "I'm delighted to see the progress on this flood alleviation scheme at Marguerite Park which is part of the Living with Water Programme (LWWP). The LWWP is an excellent example of how we can work together to deliver integrated sustainable drainage solutions to manage flood risk, enhance our environment, and allow our local economy to grow. When finished this scheme will reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the immediate area caused by weather events. Schemes like this one clearly demonstrate how our infrastructure can improve the lives of people and communities across the North."