Moving the Stheemanstraat? Is that still going on? Some residents of Nieuw-Schoonebeek had the impression that not. Because that plan had been underway for so long. But last night it became clear that the road will still be overhauled and will move half a kilometer to the south.
The intervention is necessary to provide space for the construction of an extensive water buffer along the southern edge of the Bargerveen raised bog reserve. Moving the Stheemanstraat can more or less be seen as the starting signal for that plan.
‘Leakage’ of groundwater resulting in dehydration. Problems that Bargerveen is currently facing. This is disastrous, because without a sound water management system, the unique raised bog in the area dries out, resulting in subsidence.
Nearly ten years ago, improvement measures were started, including the construction of quays and water buffers at Weiteveen and Zwartemeer, among others. However, the biggest task still lies ahead: the construction of the South buffer at Nieuw-Schoonebeek. This will soon extend half a kilometer between Kerkenweg and the German border. Good for 220 hectares of new nature, the size of approximately ten times the size of the Wildlands zoo.
Before the construction of the buffer, a mountain of paper still had to be overcome. Procedurally, it involved a lot of effort: investigations, zoning plan changes and permit processes. The originally farmland had to be given a nature destination and the water management had to be overhauled. A higher water level is necessary for nature, but the surrounding agriculture has an interest in the opposite. Moreover, local residents like to keep their feet dry. In short, a balancing trick that involved a lot of calculations.
But now that everything has been completed, we can finally move on, project leader Carolien van de Bles from the implementation organization Prolander explained to a packed Dorpshoeve (80-100 interested parties) in Nieuw-Schoonebeek. The first necessary step to take is therefore the Stheemanstraat. In this way, space is created for the buffer and the agricultural lands remain accessible.
According to Van de Bles, the preparatory work will start on Monday with the removal of bushes. We start at the Kerkenweg and then move towards the German border in phases. The new road will be completed at the beginning of April next year, after which the old Stheemanweg will be demolished.
In the future, a new border quay along the Bargerveen will be built on that route. Parking facilities will be constructed at three points along the new road, from where visitors can enter the nature reserve.
In addition to nature conservation and restoration, the area must also offer the environment economic opportunities. In part of the buffer there is space (1.5 hectares) for recreation, catering and overnight accommodation (ecolodges). According to Van de Bles, several entrepreneurs have already come forward with ideas. Before a final choice is made, some steps must be taken: the final design of Buffer Zuid will be presented in the spring of 2024. Construction will start the following year. Construction will take two to three years.
The job is not yet finished in Bargerveen. The arrows are then aimed at the Northwest buffer near Klazienaveen. This area has largely already been converted to nature, except for 150 hectares.