Delegation from Esbjerg visits FAIR partner in the Netherlands
The purposes of this study tour/peer to peer meeting were to meet the Dutch members of the FAIR project working with climate adaption challenges, urban development and nature protection, to discuss specific flood protection solutions and to look at urban planning in Rotterdam.
The delegation from Esbjerg consisted of five politicians from the Planning & Environmental Council together with five staff members, amongst others the director for Works & Environment Erik Jespersen and the Planning Manager Peter Bagge, overall responsible for climate adaptation and flood protection.
In Dordrecht, Bart Vonk, project leader from lead partner Rijkswaterstaat, introduced the Danish delegation to the FAIR project.
Bart Vonk also informed the delegation about four recommendations newly published by the FAIR-project:
A perspective on the future of asset management for flood protection:
- Break free of the silo
- Mind the gap
- Prepare for change
- Make space for innovation.
The introduction was followed by a visit in the old unembanked historic area in Dordrecht. Berry Gersonius informed the delegation of the Dutch experiences on how to prepare the citizens to secure their own buildings against floods, using warning systems and mobile equipment.
Berry Gersonius also talked about how to involve the local citizens in how to secure areas from groundwater flooding.
By the end of the Dordrecht visit the delegation and FAIR members visited a new residential area, Plan Tij, as an example of an approach to flood protection where tidal areas are allowed to move freely because the houses are constructed in a flooding safe manner.
After the visit to Plan Tij, the participants sat down for questions and discussions.
The second part of the visit took place at the Hollandse IJssel in Rotterdam, which is the Dutch pilot site in FAIR. The participants were introduced to:
- The work that is done to prepare for future climate change in the pilot area
- A mini introduction of the way of organizing flood protection in the Netherlands (Rijkswaterstaat and Water Boards).
- The four scenarios of solutions for the Hollandse IJssel.
- The benefits of viewing the system as a whole, including the barrier as well as the dykes.
- SPR (Source Pathway Receptor) approach.
- Use of cost benefit analysis for investment planning.
The presentation was followed by a trip along the river to get an impression of the whole watersystem around Hollandse IJssel.