Building with Maas Water. MIRT Maas Venlo Study

Transcription

1 Building with Maas Water MIRT Maas Venlo Study

2 photo: BVR 2015

3 Summary To meet the challenges of climate change, a lot of hard work is being done in the Delta Programme on measures to further increase the level of protection of the Netherlands against high water. The Maasvallei (Maas Valley) in the province of Limburg needs to be better protected. The Maas Venlo Signpost Project is based on the awareness that fundamental choices now have to be made to shape the way future generations will experience the River Maas. Making the right choices demands an integrated approach. To balance the needs of protection against high water and those of spatial planning, we need to take an integrated view. And we also need to explain our thinking to those who will be affected, whether on a daily basis (spatial planning) or occasionally (high water) the residents of the river area. The City of Venlo started an MIRT study in 2015 to investigate how the requirements of spatial planning and high-water protection can be combined. Together with neighbouring municipalities, water boards, Rijkswaterstaat (Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment), the Province of Limburg and the Delta Programme, a lot of work has been done to create a shared vision on both the water-related and spatial planning aspects of this task. The following goal was central in this process: Goal The Maas Venlo Signpost Project will need to answer the following key question: In view of the questions relating to water safety and the high-water problem, and in view of the spatial planning developments in the regional economy on and along the banks of the Maas in Venlo, what are the opportunities for the high-water problem and for the regional economic development, and how in terms of content, tactical approach and financing can use be made of these opportunities in a combined, integrated way?

4 Structure of the study To get a good and broadly supported answer to the question that has been formulated, we decided to follow an innovative approach for the study. We took a deliberate decision to use two research agencies and to look at two study tracks: one dealing with spatial planning use and the other with the water-related aspects. The spatial-planning track was investigated mainly with the landscape architects of the BVR agency. Based on three perspectives, they showed which spatial planning choices had to be made, and how these related to the high-water protection aspects. Working together with the advisors at LievenseCSO and HKV, the geomorphological characteristics of the Maas near Venlo were identified to show the opportunities for river-related measures and the effects of those measures. The opportunities were then investigated and checked in broadly-based evening information sessions together with the stakeholders and shareholders. These led to broad support for the possible measures because many of the ideas used had come directly from the users themselves. The spatial planning studies carried out by BVR showed many opportunities for changes in this area. A Multilayered Safety Session was therefore held together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (DGRW) to discuss the opportunities for spatial planning changes in the Venlo area of the Maas Valley. The study then consisted of bringing together the spatial planning and river-related opportunities. This resulted in hotspots in which both the spatial planning and water-related measures showed a strong potential for mutual reinforcement. Within the hotspots themselves, priorities were then assigned on the basis of urgency (which synergy opportunities are now emerging?). Within the most urgent hotspots, it was then investigated which opportunities there are in the area of financing. Based on discussions with all the involved government organisations and industry, the different financing providers were then identified. This showed a number of finance sources, as well as a number of strong synergy opportunities that would enable a joint working approach or that would lead to substantial cost savings (in other areas). Reporting system Venlo s surrounding region is proud of the attractive nature of the Maas Valley. The area is developing within the important Dutch transport corridors into an economic hub for logistics, agribusiness and urban recreation. Climate change is one of the factors that have led to a new balance between these developments in spatial planning, the economy and the river landscape, with the aim of ensuring the safety of the city and its surrounding area at times of high water in the Maas. The ambitions of Venlo are not only those of the city itself, they are broadly supported. At national level, the position of the Venlo region is embedded in the SVIR (Structure Vision on Infrastructure and Spatial Planning). These ambitions are also laid down in the MIRT regional plan for Limburg and the Provincial Environmental Plan for Limburg. In the municipality, the task for the city and surrounding area in terms of spatial planning and the economy is laid down in the Ruimtelijke Structuurvisie Venlo (Venlo Spatial Planning Structure Vision 2014).

5 This task has a strong impact on the interaction between the city/surrounding area and the river. The high-water protection task in the region, as described in the Voorkeursstrategie Maasvallei (Preferred strategy for the Maas Valley) within the Delta Programme for the Rivers, is far-reaching and has an equally great impact on the interaction between the river and the city/surroundings. This MIRT Koploperproject Maas Venlo (Maas Venlo Signpost Project) study integrates both of these tasks, seeking to link Water, Spatial Planning and Time. The truly integrated approach leads to smart combinations / synergy opportunities, ensuring that no opportunities are overlooked, and that we take no irreversible measures that we may regret in the future. The core of Living with the Maas is that city and river are again unified, so that the quality of spatial planning and the authentic character of the Maas Valley are the basic principles that are followed. The key aim is: providing open spaces where possible, and building dikes where necessary. The chart at the right shows the direction followed by the study. BREED GEDRAGEN AMBITIES RSV Gem. beleid SVIR MIRT-gebiedsagenda POL e.v. IDENTIFICEREN HOTSPOTS KEUZE HOTSPOTS HWBP DELTA- PROGR.- MAAS Systeemwerking MIRTverkenning hotspot 4/5 Uitwerking en (gefaseerde) realisatie Continueren onderzoek overige Hotspots, al dan niet in de toekomst rijp voor nadere (MIRT-) verkenning, uitwerking en (gefaseerde) realisatie

6 Synergy opportunities In the Maas Venlo Signpost Project, we are looking for a future-proof package of high-water measures that will enhance the quality of the public space in both the city and the surrounding region, while also strengthening the economy. But the proposed measured must in any case provide better alternatives than high walls between city and river. The result of the study was the identification of no less than five hotspots along the Maas where possible measures offer the greatest chance of success. The proposed high-water protection measures and the spatial transformation of the five hotspots will create new links between river and city. The city s high-speed corridor together with the east-west transport route (logistics hotspot) and the slow landscape of the Maas Valley will merge in a dynamic riverside landscape between Baarlo and Velden. Hotspot 1: Baarlo Here, the study shows clear opportunities to shift back the dikes, creating more space for the river in combination with natural and/or recreational development. Shifting back the dikes and broadening the river here will create a potentially substantial reduction of the water level. This in turn will greatly benefit the upstream area. Urgency Water: high (HWBP, system effect, many cm) Spatial planning: low (many opportunities, but limited now of never ) Hotspot 2, Molenbossen and VieCuri Hospital area: Making room for the river by shifting back the dikes in combination with relocating the hospital car park and, in the longer term, restructuring flats and possibly relocating the hospital. Urgency Water: moderate (dikes not approved, limited reduction of water level, contribution to resilience) Spatial planning: moderate (Molenbossen flats now to be renovated; the hospital car park will be relocated in the longer term, and a solution is now being sought)

7 Hotspot 3, Venlo centre / Kazerneterrein (Barracks Site): Creating room for the Maas by streamlining the flow profile in combination with completion of the urban development and creation of city centre facilities. Development of the Kazernekwartier area and new riverbank link create opportunities for spatial planning changes. Urgency Water: moderate (dikes not approved, limited reduction of water level, contribution to resilience) Spatial planning: moderate (plans are now being developed for the Kazernekwartier and inner city) Hotspot 4, Industry park and surrounding area Improved dikes in combination with extension of the functions of the Industry Port and the Barge Terminal. Urgency Water: high (dike reinforcement requested by HWBP, dikes not approved) Spatial planning: very high (restructuring of the Industry Port is in full swing, need to relocated the Yacht Harbour in the near future)

8 Hotspot 5, Venlo-Velden: Shifting back the dike and building a secondary channel with natural and recreational functions such as a new yacht harbour. The shifting of the dike and clearing of the river create a potentially substantial reduction of the water level here, greatly benefiting the city of Venlo which is located upstream. Urgency Water: high (HWBP, system effect, many cm) Spatial planning: high (preferred location for the yacht harbour, nature development, KRW, development of the Océ campus) Based on their urgency (where do we need to make choices now to take advantage of opportunities now so we will not regret those decisions in the future), Hotspot 1 and Hotspot 4/5 have been identified as the most urgent. Both have been given a dike reinforcement task by the HWBP, together with the choice of location for the dike. Hotspot 5 also has extra urgency because of the possible combination with the relocation of the yacht harbour from Hotspot 4). Effects of the measures (water-related) The measures within Hotspots 1 and 4/5 have been assessed by HKV for their effect on the water-level reduction. The cumulative effect of these measures is a reduction of more than 35 cm at the Belfeld dam. The water-level reduction affects the river for approximately 45 km upstream. The proposed measures will contribute to the water-level reduction within the new standards. The shifting back of the dike will contribute to a resilient river system and provide a significant reduction of risk. Under this estimate, the phased implementation plan will of course mean that the expected effects are achieved gradually over time. Support All the authorities involved in this task (Province of Limburg, national government, Municipality of Peel and Maas, Peel and Maas Valley Water Board and the Municipality of Venlo) have a shared need to work on the high-water protection task for Venlo. The authorities concerned agreed in the declaration of intent of 7 October 2015 to strengthen the high-water protection along the Maas, as well as to achieve the aims of the Delta Programme and HWBP. They endorse the importance of an integrated approach, in which climate resistance, water protection and water-resilient redevelopment are key factors. No partners favoured a variant of only dike reinforcement without dike shifting. If these measures with an overall system effect are not carried out, this will result in significantly higher water levels upstream (in the City of Venlo), and the hydraulic bottleneck will be shifted. If the dike were to be reinforced now at the present location this would further reduce the accessibility of the region, and the limited possibilities for river broadening would be harder to achieve in the future. It would also be hard to explain this to residents and users of the region, and if it was decided later to shift back the dike this would then represent a divestment. A plan of this size of course requires political and societal support. On the one hand the study had a high level of abstraction in the early phase, although at the same time it also involved some highly in-depth technical aspects. For this reason it was decided to start by communicating with shareholders and stakeholders. A number of sessions and workshops were organised, at which representatives of companies, associations, nature organisations and interest groups were present. These sessions were used to explain the links between the different measures (water-related) and

9 developments (spatial planning, economy, recreation and nature), and allowed valuable information to be collected for the formulation of promising opportunities and outlooks. Focus For Hotspot 1 Baarlo-Laerbroeck, the main emphasis is on water-related synergy opportunities and increasing support, while there is not yet any prospect of financing for spatial planning measures. This leads to the proposal to include shifting back the dike at this location (a system-level measure) in the current HWBP study. This no-regret approach will ensure that there will still be room to take advantage of new synergy opportunities in the future. Based on urgency and spatial planning / project-related arguments the effects of measures, synergy opportunities, support and financing possibilities it is proposed to carry out a further study of Hotspot 4/5 in the near future within the MIRT 1 rules. For the other hotspots, it is advised that the MIRT study be continued so that if there is a change in the urgency and/or financing becomes possible, choices can be made quickly that will contribute to a further improvement of the resilience of the river. This leads to the proposal to the Delta Maas Steering Group to include the entire Hotspot 4/5 (Industry Port Barge Terminal in combination with Venlo-Velden) in the Maas-wide regional proposal to the Ministry. For this part of the Maas Venlo Signpost Project, a decision to start the MIRT study is requested, in combination with the decision to make a withdrawal from the available fund of 100 million euros for river broadening. Regional proposal A made-to-measure approach During the discussion of how to use the available fund of 100 million euros, an investigation was carried out to find which variant should at least be carried out to allow advantage to be taken of the synergy opportunities that are present. The approach followed here was to identify the minimum funding required to allow the available financing contribution resulting from the relocation of the yacht harbour to be used for river broadening. The minimum variant as shown by this investigation was Hotspot 5, Southern section of the channel, practice pool, yacht harbour. However, the minimum variant is not preferred because it provides a significantly lower reduction of the water level than a total implementation of Hotspot 5 (south + north). In accordance with the cost estimate provided by Arcadis, the total implementation of Hotspot 5 requires a government contribution of 75 million euros. At present there is no prospect of financing for this entire hotspot. However we can see enough opportunities to include this variant in the MIRT study for the following reasons: By a total implementation of Signpost Project 4/5, we can see big opportunities for savings on the currently estimated costs. A total approach will provide savings in the start-up costs (engineering), will create opportunities for a joint working approach, will enable low-cost integrated designs, and will ensure that smart choices are made. In addition, a further investigation will clearly show which additional synergy opportunities arise. Up to now, each further step of the study has led to new synergy opportunities and sources of financing being identified. Further investigation is expected to allow new sources to be identified.

10 However, the gap between the estimated and the available sums at present is so great that we cannot yet say there is any prospect of full financing for the total Hotspot 5 project without a substantial government contribution. For Hotspot 4 in combination with the southern section of Hotspot 5, in contrast, there is the prospect of financing. With a regional contribution of 37 million euros, compared with the estimated government contribution of 36 million euros (including system effect), we believe this represents a solid regional proposal.