Halle (Brussels Morning) – The city is building a buffer basin near Grote Weide to manage flooding from the Groebegracht stream and protect nearby areas like Basiliekstraat, Poststraat, and Victor Baetensstraat.
There have been problems with flooding in Basiliekstraat, Poststraat and Victor Baetensstraat because of the Groebegracht overflowing. Two years ago people started talking in the city about making a special area near Ninoofsesteenweg to hold extra water and stop these issues. Now these plans are moving ahead showing that the city is getting ready to build this special area to help deal with too much water when it rains a lot. This special area called a buffer basin can hold water temporarily and help prevent flooding in nearby places by managing the water flow better.
How is Halle Implementing Strategic Flood Management in the Grote Weide Area?
Alderman Marike Ceunen’s statement suggests a strategic flood management plan for the area around Grote Weide. They want to change how the Groebegracht stream flows through the Grote Weide area by making it more curvy like a winding path. This winding path will naturally slow down the water flow helping the stream hold more water along its route. By doing this they hope to reduce the chance of sudden big floods downstream by controlling how fast the water moves through the area.
They’re planning to add a special feature to the Grote Weide that will kick in when the stream has too much water during heavy rain or floods. This feature will automatically send extra water to specific areas within the Grote Weide, stopping floods in the city. This system not only makes the area better at handling floods but also improves how it stores water when it rains a lot, making water management safer and more sustainable for everyone.
How Will the Grote Weide Flood Management Plan Protect Homes and Create a Nature Area?
Coenen mentioned that if the Grote Weide gets flooded many times a year they want to make sure the houses in the area are safe. To do this they plan to construct a dike. This dike will have the important job of shielding the hospital and the nearby houses from flooding. By building this dike they aim to provide protection to the hospital and the surrounding homes ensuring they are safeguarded during flooding incidents.
They want to make a nice place with greenery for people to enjoy when it’s not raining. Everyone can visit this nature area but they think it will be especially good for schools to come for field trips. They’re even setting up a spot for picnics. There will be a wooden path leading to a hut for watching birds. They’re making pools for frogs, toads and salamanders. There will be signs about the animals and plants there along with a wooden deck where you can see the valley.
