Plans are underway for a start/finish line facility for Wascana Lake. (CBC)

Plans are underway to build a finishing line facility on an island in Regina's Wascana Lake, in an effort to improve services for competitions on the water.

The structure, planned for Pine Island near the south shore of the lake, would serve as a viewing area for judges to monitor race starts and finishes. The facility would also house a variety of technical equipment associated with race events.

The plan got off to a start Friday with the announcement that the Regina Hotel Association was chipping in $100,000 for the work.

Members of the association voluntarily collect a surcharge on hotel room stays with the money going into a marketing fund to promote Regina. The fee is set at three per cent of the room charge.

"We are thrilled to partner in this," Tracy Fahlman, the head of the association, said. "The new facility will contribute to the clubs' future success and strengthen the Wascana Centre as an event destination."

The Wascana Racing Canoe club, the Regina Rowing club and the Wind On My Wings sailing club are participating in the work along with the Wascana Centre Authority.

"The clubs have been very successful in getting provincial and national events, but we do need to have this facility to attract some of the big international events," Bernadette McIntyre, the head of the authority, said.

The project will be done in three phases with the total cost estimated at between $250,000 and $500,000.

Construction on the first phase is expected to start in the summer of 2013.

The clubs are planning a number of fundraising initiatives to raise the money needed for the project.

The clubs will also submit applications for grant money from various levels of government.

Eventually, the centre hopes to build a facility for fans to watch water competitions.