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Politicians from Orléans visit the Flemish Environment Agency and two Dutch Room for the River projects
Between the 28th and the 30th of June, a group of 24 politicians (mayors and aldermen) from the French Communauté d’Agglomeration Orleans-Val de Loire (AgglO) visited the Flemish Environment Agency (Flemish: Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, VMM) in Leuven as well as two Room for the River projects: Lent and Overdiep. The purpose of the visit was to see how other FRC Partner cities cope with flood management regarding the different aspects of the four-A strategy (Awareness, Avoidance, Alleviation and Assistance).
Between the 28th and the 30th of June, a group of 24 politicians (mayors and aldermen) from the French Communauté d’Agglomeration Orleans-Val de Loire (AgglO) visited the Flemish Environment Agency (Flemish: Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, VMM) in Leuven as well as two Room for the River projects: Lent and Overdiep. The purpose of the visit was to see how other FRC Partner cities cope with flood management regarding the different aspects of the four-A strategy (Awareness, Avoidance, Alleviation and Assistance).
The group from Orléans was welcomed to the VMM offices in Leuven, which are located in a so-called ‘passive building’ (i.e. an energy efficient building, primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people and electrical equipment). The delegation was curious about how comfortable it is to work in such a building and, with regard to the Flemish work on flood management, it was also very impressed by the ‘overstromingsvoorspeller’ (flood forecasting website) which gives the public real-time and very accurate information on the status of flood risk in their neighbourhood.Room for the River projects
When visiting the Dutch Room for the River projects, the politicians praised the integrated approach and the positive attitude which endeavours to turn threats into opportunities. For example, in Nijmegen the Lent dike along the river Waal will be replaced more inland, leaving an island in the middle of the river. This is the first time a new dike has been created in an existing urban area in the Netherlands. Instead of looking at it as an obstacle, the city of Nijmegen has decided to use this
measure to embellish the city, under the motto “Nijmegen embraces the Waal”. In the polder of Overdiep, the agrarian community has turned the threat of water into an opportunity by placing their businesses on 6 m high mounds. Overdiep is also part of an INTERREG IVB NWE project called ‘Adaptive Land use for Flood Adaptation’ (ALFA Website).
When visiting the Dutch Room for the River projects, the politicians praised the integrated approach and the positive attitude which endeavours to turn threats into opportunities. For example, in Nijmegen the Lent dike along the river Waal will be replaced more inland, leaving an island in the middle of the river. This is the first time a new dike has been created in an existing urban area in the Netherlands. Instead of looking at it as an obstacle, the city of Nijmegen has decided to use this
measure to embellish the city, under the motto “Nijmegen embraces the Waal”. In the polder of Overdiep, the agrarian community has turned the threat of water into an opportunity by placing their businesses on 6 m high mounds. Overdiep is also part of an INTERREG IVB NWE project called ‘Adaptive Land use for Flood Adaptation’ (ALFA Website).Public awareness along the river Loire
During an earlier visit, FRC partners were inspired by the approach of Orléans and its surrounding communities. There, the AgglO has invested in increasing awareness of flood risk by redeveloping the public space along the river Loire. Parking places have been removed and the banks of the Loire have been given softly slanted slopes. People cycle and walk along the river and generally live ‘with their faces to the river’, while appreciating its dynamics and beauty. This concept and the sloped embankments have inspired the new quay walls on the island of Lent.
This visit fits in with an important FRC goal: to raise awareness and the engagement of politicians at policy level. The visit was considered inspiring and successful by all parties involved.
Figure 1: Tom de Graaf, mayor of Nijmegen greeting Mr Hugues Saury (vice president of the AgglO), source: Rijkswaterstaat
Figure 2: the delegation at Lent (Nijmegen), source: Rijkswaterstaat
During an earlier visit, FRC partners were inspired by the approach of Orléans and its surrounding communities. There, the AgglO has invested in increasing awareness of flood risk by redeveloping the public space along the river Loire. Parking places have been removed and the banks of the Loire have been given softly slanted slopes. People cycle and walk along the river and generally live ‘with their faces to the river’, while appreciating its dynamics and beauty. This concept and the sloped embankments have inspired the new quay walls on the island of Lent.
This visit fits in with an important FRC goal: to raise awareness and the engagement of politicians at policy level. The visit was considered inspiring and successful by all parties involved.
Figure 1: Tom de Graaf, mayor of Nijmegen greeting Mr Hugues Saury (vice president of the AgglO), source: Rijkswaterstaat
Figure 2: the delegation at Lent (Nijmegen), source: Rijkswaterstaat
