Leie valley: Flemish Government provides 500 hectares of wet nature
The plan is part of the Flemish Blue Deal and the European Seine-Scheldt project, which is aimed at upgrading inland shipping via the Leie axis. From September 12 to November 10, 2023, the Environment Department will organize the public consultation on this initiation memorandum.
Project River Restoration Leie
Flemish Minister of the Environment Zuhal Demir: “In recent decades, the Lys between Wervik and Deinze has been transformed from a beautiful meandering river into a straight canal with a view to a smooth shipping connection. With the River Restoration Leie project, we want to restore the Leie to its former glory and develop additional nature in its valley. The preparation of this spatial implementation plan is an important first step and a major upscaling of our Blue Deal.”
In 2021, Minister Demir selected the Leie River Restoration project as one of the four flagship projects within the Blue Deal. In this way, an integrated and nature-based approach can be used to accelerate work towards a resilient open space. Concrete field realizations are paramount here.
The Flemish Government has now approved the starting memorandum for the GRUP Leievallei from Wielsbeke to Deinze. With this GRUP, the government is implementing the necessary redesignations for the realization of part of the 500 hectares of wet nature. The GRUP covers the valley area of the Leie with the old Leie arms from Ooigem (Wielsbeke) to Petegem (Deinze) and is located on the territory of Wielsbeke, Waregem, Dentergem, Zulte and Deinze. So partly in West Flanders and partly in East Flanders.
In addition to the river restoration process, the GRUP focuses on the possibilities of preserving and strengthening valuable forests, parks and castle estates in the Leie valley. The necessary attention will also be paid to recreation by conducting research into a suitable location for the development of, for example, an urban fringe forest. In addition, valuable agricultural areas will be safeguarded and confirmed.
Social impact
Given the major social impact, it was decided in 2021 to appoint an intendant. Carina Van Cauter, governor of East Flanders, and Carl Decaluwé, governor of West Flanders, joined forces to gain confidence and build greater support for the river restoration plan. The drafting of the GRUP will run simultaneously with the research and elaboration within the river restoration project.