CONSTRUCTION of the Olympic canoe slalom venue has reached the half-way stage and organisers are confident that it remains on schedule.

The White Water Canoe Centre, in the Lee Valley Park on the border with Waltham Abbey, will host the canoe slalom events of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Around 50 people are currently working on the site, and so far more than 150,000 cubic metres of material have been put in place – enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall.

The next stage will see 300 concrete piles driven as far as 16 metres into the ground to form the foundations of the venue facilities and the Olympic course start pool.

Work is also now underway to create the venue’s finish lake which will involve the excavation of 10,000 cubic metres of soil – enough to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools.

When completed, the venue will contain a 300 meter Olympic competition course and a 160 meter training course as well as a lake and facility building.

Although the venue is designed for the 2012 Olympics, it is due to be completed in spring 2011 offering the area an early legacy project.

Lord Edward Iveagh of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) said: "It is great news that the work on the site is on schedule. When complete the White Water Canoe Centre will provide top-of-the-range sporting facilities which will benefit local people and communities for years to come.”