Flemish Minister of the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) has halted the regional spatial implementation plan for the Zolder-Lummen-South zone. In this way, the popular nature reserve De Groene Delle can be preserved.
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‘De Groene Delle remains the green sponge of Limburg.’ With these words, the Flemish Minister of Environment, Zuhal Demir, announces the preservation of the popular Limburg nature reserve. In 2015, the domain was redesignated via a regional spatial implementation plan as an industrial zone for the growing economic development in the region. But that was not to the liking of more than 38,500 citizens who signed a petition and put pressure on the minister. ‘Last Sunday I put on my walking shoes and went for a walk among the peat and star moss of the Groene Delle. A young daddy did his morning walk and spoke to me. With great understanding for history, he asked me in good conscience to make the right choice for the future of his eight-year-old son. He hit nails with his heads, ‘Demir writes on her Facebook page.
Role model in the fight against drought
The implementation plan, from the Flemish government in 2004, will be scrapped, the Limburgian announces. ‘In the meantime, everyone is looking differently at the Groene Delle, an area with a lot of biodiversity and a large sponge function. The domain is, as it were, a role model for the fight against drought and for the Blue Deal with which Flanders invests in more space for water. In the business world, they also indicate that they ‘would no longer make the compromise from the past in 2020’, says Demir, who immediately indicates that they want to focus more on water-related transport such as inland shipping and waterways. Some will call this a turn. You can also call it a politician who takes a public inquiry seriously and listens to people. But you can frame it as you wish. The Green Delle has been saved. ‘
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