An ariel shot of the 153-acre site now...

...and how the site might look

Construction work is expected to get under way next year. The developer behind the project, Lafarge Cement UK, proposes the development of the harbour eco-village will take place in a number of phases. The proposals also include plans for a major recreational and leisure attraction with a World Cycling Centre as the central feature. The centre aims to be one of the best venues in Europe for downhill mountain biking and is expected to play host to televised World Cup events. An All-Ireland Scuba Diving Centre, taking advantage of a large lake in the quarry, also features amongst the recreational and leisure elements, as does a short heritage railway line and historic railway visitor centre for the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. Also included in the future plans for the site is land for the establishment of international film and television studios. The developers were inspired by the success of filming scenes of the popular BBC drama series Messiah at the site two years ago. Mr Wilson, on a visit to the quarry today, hailed the project as an imaginative and unique opportunity for Northern Ireland to reuse what has become a redundant quarry and replace it with a major tourist attraction.

An artists impression of the Harbour Village

"With strategic rail and road transport links readily available due to its close proximity to Larne, one of the gateways to Northern Ireland, this will provide a boost for the tourism industry across the province. "Two hundred years of quarrying and cement production has taken its toll on the landscape and I am delighted that this scheme will remove what has become a major eyesore from one of our valued scenic routes and rejuvenate the area," he said. The eco-friendly dimension will be based on the goals of zero carbon, zero waste, sustainable transport, sustainable construction materials, local and sustainable food and water, natural habitats and wildlife and a commitment to fair trade. The minister added: "The project will be completed in a number of phases and the first phase will see the development of the World Cycling Centre, the first purpose designed mountain bike events facility in Ireland and one of the first in the UK. "This is an ambitious and exciting £100 million project for the 21st century. It will create a variety of jobs and should also draw a range of tourists to the area." Lafarge Cement UK land and planning director David Simms said the project was not about profit. "For the best part of 100 years, the cement works at Magheramorne was a major employer in the area and a fundamental part of the day-to-day life of the local community," he said. "This project is a big 'thank you' to the local community. It is not about making money, it is about leaving a legacy from which the next generation can benefit, at the same time as creating an exemplar of how we can all live our lives in a more environmentally-conscious way." Lafarge is a World Wildlife Fund conservation partner. "Now we are working with WWF to establish the harbour village at Magheramorne as one of the very first One Planet Initiative Communities in which residents aim to use only their fair share of the Earth's resources," he added.