Declaration of Intent signed regarding freshwater supply in the Eastern Netherlands
On Friday, 27 June, in the presence of the Delta Commissioner, the regional authorities (the parties involved in the Regional Administrative Consultative Body Rhine – East) and the civil society organisations of the Eastern Netherlands signed a declaration of intent. This declaration of intent pertains to the elaboration of the Implementation Programme for the Freshwater Supply on the High Sands in the eastern part of the Netherlands.
On 12 June 2014, the parties in the Southern Netherlands signed the
declaration of intent for the High Sands in the southern part of the country.
The signatories have thus underlined the importance of the freshwater supply for
the area and demonstrated their firm intention, as a region, to tackle the
issue. By mid 2015, the region will come up with a joint plan of action.
In his response to the signing, the Delta Commissioner indicated that, in
addition to water safety, the freshwater supply is another key object of the
Delta Act and the Delta Programme. The Delta Fund is available to fund measures
of national significance. Over the past few years, all parties involved have
worked hard on the freshwater supply. The efforts of the regional parties have
borne fruit. These results will be recognised in the Delta Programme 2015 (DP
2015) if the Cabinet adopts the Delta Commissioner’s proposal on Prinsjesdag
(the state opening of Parliament in September).
The Delta Commissioner also expressed his appreciation of the results achieved for the High Sands. During the Hoog en Droog (High and Dry) symposium in 2012, Bert Boerman of the Provincial Executive presented the Delta Commissioner with the Water op de hoge gronden (Water on the High Grounds) manifesto, outlining the economic significance of the highlands in the Netherlands and the importance of opportunities for water in the area.
Now, two years later, the High Sands region (Eastern Netherlands and Southern Netherlands) has drafted a freshwater strategy and an implementation programme. Both have been incorporated into the Delta Commissioner’s proposal for the Delta Programme 2015, on which the Cabinet will decide in September. The freshwater strategy (collecting/preserving, supplying, accepting/adapting to water shortages) will be one of the preferred strategies for the High Sands in the Delta Programme 2015. Together with the other regional implementation programmes, the High Sands regional implementation programme has underpinned his proposal for the Freshwater Investment Programme in the Delta Programme 2015. This investment programme is focused on securing the freshwater supply and fostering a more economical and efficient use of water.
The Delta Commissioner sets great store in the fact that the Declaration of Intent was signed not only by the provinces, municipalities and water boards in the Eastern Netherlands, but also by the civil society organisations, as freshwater users in the area. This constitutes a fine example of one of his principles for the Freshwater Delta Decision: sufficient fresh water is a shared responsibility.
It is a good thing, finally, that the region is coming up with a plan of action. The Delta Commissioner has indicated that the presentation to the House of Representatives of DP 2015, with the Delta Decisions and preferred strategies, in September of this year does not mean that our work is done. On the contrary: it is important that we continue to work on the implementation of measures, while simultaneously keeping a close eye on the changes taking place in society and in our climate so that we can respond in an adaptive manner. We have measures mapped out in the event that the changes proceed faster than expected. We are ensuring that sufficient room remains available for that purpose. Through the Delta Programme, we are continuously working to secure a safe and robust delta in order to ensure that the Netherlands remains an attractive living and working environment now and in the future.