C
limate change means that the future for delta
areas is uncertain: more peak discharges in
the rivers and rising sea levels, but also more
frequent, long periods of drought. We know
that we can expect ever more extreme weather
conditions but it is still not clear how quickly
the changes will take place. Uncertainty about the climate in
the future makes it difficult for administrators to take definite
decisions, particularly long-term decisions. To prevent
flooding and water scarcity in the future, government
authorities in deltas are already setting land aside.
Public anger
However, until climate change actually becomes manifest,
that land will remain unused. Bonne van der Veen (a
management scientist with Deltares) believes that this
could lead to public anger in densely-populated deltas. ‘It is
difficult to explain to local residents that land for residential
areas may be left derelict for another 40 years because the
building plans have been cancelled. So it is important for
land to be put to good use in the interim. Despite complex
legislation and regulations in Western countries, that is
certainly a possibility.’
Bonne van der Veen was closely involved in the
development of the Temporary Changes in Land Use
concept in the Netherlands. The focus is on land set aside
by Rijkswaterstaat to offset the impact of climate change.
In cities in many other countries, this approach has already
been in use for some time where building plans have been
postponed or cancelled as a result of the economic crisis.
Sustainability
Land can be put to a variety of temporary uses.
A sustainable approach can kill two birds with one stone,
helping to achieve environmental objectives and respond to
public concern.
A fine example of a sustainable approach in a rural area is
the construction of the Kreekraksluizen wind farm. Land has
been put aside near the Kreekrak Locks for the construction
of a third lock, anticipating the projected increase in
shipping levels through the Scheldt-Rhine Canal. The land
will be left unused for at least 15 years and so the project
developer E-Connection built a wind farm in consultation
with Rijkswaterstaat. The permit for the project states that
the wind farm will be in place for a limited amount of time.
This provides Rijkswaterstaat with the guarantee that
the land will remain available for the construction of the
third lock and a clause has also been included stating that
Rijkswaterstaat can reclaim the land earlier if the third lock
is needed earlier than expected. If this happens, the project
developer will receive compensation for the lost income. In
this way, the country can benefit financially from supplying
land temporarily and the company can produce sustainable
energy over a considerable period of time.
Solar energy
Another example of sustainable temporary use is the
construction of a 23-hectare solar farm on the site of the
planned XL Business Park in Almelo. The downturn in the
economy has led to the postponement of development
here. But instead of becoming an abandoned site, it is now
home to the largest solar farm in the Netherlands. This has
allowed the owner of the land to offset his interest expenses
and the sustainable side of the temporary arrangement is
expected to attract more sustainable companies, which is a
helpful spin-off for the town of Almelo.
A similar approach is the temporary planting of elephant
grass on a stretch of land owned by a housing corporation
in Rotterdam. Despite the postponement of building plans,
the housing corporation wants to keep the land in use.
Elephant grass is a rapidly-growing crop that can be used
to make sustainable products such as fibre board, bio-
concrete or bioplastic.
Temporary nature
In other locations, derelict land is being temporarily used
to host nature. A good example is the Dudzeelse polder
in Belgium, near the port of Zeebrugge. This former
agricultural area will become part of the port in 2030.
Until then, the abandoned Dudzeelse polder will be
developed from agricultural land into brackish grassland.
It will then act as a wildlife area in which pioneering flora
and fauna will develop and spread through Belgium and
the Netherlands. When the Dudzeelse polder becomes part
of the harbour, nature will be introduced to other areas in
the vicinity to compensate. The pioneering species in the
Dudzeelse polder will then accelerate nature development in
these areas.
DELTARES , JANUARY 2014
With Rijkswaterstaat and the
CURNET alliance, Deltares was
one of the spiritual fathers of this
approach in the Netherlands.
The result was a tool for spatial
planning processes involving
temporary changes in land
use, and an earning model for
business. The ‘Opportunities Map
for Temporary Changes in Land
Use Delta Programme’ from
Rijkswaterstaat and Deltares
went online recently.
Deltares is also involved in
international initiatives. The
‘
Seeds’ project is studying ways
of involving the public and
engaging in best practices.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.seeds-project.com
bonne.vanderveen@deltares.nl
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