Flanders pioneer in long-term coastal defence
The Governor of West Flanders, Carl Decaluwé, recently discussed the state of affairs of Kustvisie with the mayors of the ten coastal towns in the presence of the cabinet of Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters.
The final research results are expected in March 2023 and will form the basis for drawing up a Flemish strategic plan in 2023-2024. They will also be included in the new Federal Marine Spatial Plan.
The objective is to ensure that our grandchildren’s kids will be able to enjoy the coast in a pleasant way.
Input of all stakeholders
All stakeholders have been able to give feedback and input over the past few months. For each beach zone and each port on the coast, consultation moments took place with representatives of the federal, regional and local governments, of the port authorities and of relevant civil society organisations.
Interests such as tourism, heritage, port activities, real estate and nature sometimes pose challenges to the various possible defence alternatives, but were explicitly considered throughout.
The study will show which alternatives are promising and reasonable and which are not. It is important that we preserve and even strengthen the current functions on and of our coast where possible. In this process we actively seek opportunities for ecology, economy, tourism and recreation.
Lydia Peeters
Preliminary results
Eight possible protection alternatives for the beach zones emerged from the first part of Kustvisie’s study project. Of these eight alternatives, three are currently still being worked out in detail.
- Keep the high and low water line where it is now and gradually ‘raise’ all beaches, seawalls and dunes as the sea level rises;
- Move the high and low water line seaward by about 100 metres everywhere by means of large beach replenishments, so that there is enough space everywhere to accommodate an extra seawall or dune without losing beach width;
- Initially take measures within the existing space, and move the high and low water line seaward only when the sea level has reached a specific predetermined level.
The four coastal ports of Zeebrugge, Ostend, Blankenberge and Nieuwpoort are following a parallel process of co-creation sessions. This is necessary because the ports face additional challenges besides coastal and flood defence.
Refine alternatives and embed them in policy
The promising alternatives of the co-creation research project will be further optimised for a sea level rise of one, two and three metres, to clarify the steps in which the coastal defence can be built.
Work will start on the reasonable alternatives from March 2023 in order to embed the socially most desirable alternative, through public participation, in policy by the end of 2024 at both the Flemish and federal levels.
Background information
The Belgian coast is very sensitive to the effects of climate protection. For this reason, the Flemish Government decided on 22 December 2017 to develop a long-term approach to protecting our coast under the name Kustvisie.
The aim is to identify the most socially desirable measures needed to sustainably protect our coast and hinterland from a sea level rise of up to 3 metres. To bring this to fruition, there is intensive cooperation with all relevant actors on the Belgian coast.