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Business world and nature organisations respond positively to recovery PKB Maasvlakte 2

That is why the so-called Social Parties Council (OMP) appreciates the way in which the Cabinet intends to ‘repair' the Key Physical Planning Decision (PKB) for Maasvlakte 2, as indicated in the recent letter from the Cabinet to the Tweede Kamer, the House of Representatives of Dutch Parliament. These amendments are needed because the Council of State totally rejected the concrete policy decisions contained in the earlier PKB+ in January 2005.

The OMP comprises representatives of the VNO-NCW (Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers), FNV (Dutch Trades Union Congress), ANWB (Royal Dutch Touring Club), Recron, Veero , Productschap Vis, LTO-Noord, Deltalinqs, Rotterdam Chamber of Commerce, Zuid-Hollands Landschap (provincial nature conservation agency), Zuid-Hollandse Milieufederatie (provincial environmental ngo), Vereniging Natuurmonumenten (association of nature reserves) and the Waddenvereniging (society for the protection of the Waddenzee). The IMO was initiated by the Rotterdam Mainport Development Project (PMR) and is chaired by Jan Laan, director of ROM-Rijnmond.

The OMP unanimously believes that, following years of preparing plans, it is finally time for concrete, physical results. The economic interests involved in extending Mainport Rotterdam and the need to tackle environmental sticking points in the Rijnmond area demand the vigorous realisation of the land reclamation, the 750 ha extension to the nature and recreation zone and the intensification and quality-of-life projects in the existing Rotterdam area. The sense of urgency has only increased with the further delays following the pronouncement by the Council of State at the beginning of last year.

Approach to Recovery PKB
The OMP highly values the approach of (project) Minister Peijs and the Rotterdam Mainport Development Project (PMR). It takes cognizance of the considerations and choices made by the Cabinet to restore the PKB, minus concrete policy decisions. As a result, the centre of gravity in further decision making now shifts to the follow-up decisions, with the opportunities to lodge objections and appeals coming into the picture. In the opinion of the OMP, it is extremely important that the State continues to direct and bear ultimate responsibility for the (administrative) decision-making process and the integrality with which the PMR sub-projects are implemented.

Air quality
The OMP is very interested to see what kind of solution will be found to the problems of air quality, in the context of the follow-up procedures for Maasvlakte 2. With the sequel to part 3 of the PKB, the OMP believes that extra attention should be paid to the Cabinet's (policy) efforts and objectives with respect to tackling air pollution by (ocean) shipping in the (medium to) long term.

Recreation and the fishing industry
The land reclamation will unavoidably be at the expense of (current) forms of beach recreation by the existing Maasvlakte. For this reason, the OMP emphatically requests the Cabinet to include alternative and well zoned locations for recreation in the final design for the land reclamation, particularly in the outer contour. During the construction phase, the PMR will have to designate and facilitate alternative locations. The planning takes account of a future marine reserve to protect marine flora and fauna. Depending on the future package of protective measures, this could lead to (considerable) consequences for the fishing industry and the leisure sector of the South Holland islands and Zeeland. The OMP is assuming that as much account as possible will be taken of the interests of the fishing and leisure industries when the control measures for the marine reserve are detailed on the basis of the duty to compensate. First and foremost, the possibility of incorporating existing activities into the marine reserve must be examined.

Nature
The OMP very much hopes to see the rapid creation of the 750 ha designated for nature and recreation, this being the most important part of the planned improvement in the quality of the living environment in the Rijnmond area. The OMP supports the proposed meticulous process in which the province of South Holland, in collaboration with relevant organisations from the agricultural sector, nature, recreation and landscape management, will further detail plans for the territorial development in Midden-IJsselmonde. In that process, the interests of agricultural entrepreneurs in the Midden-IJsselmonde area will certainly be taken into account, in as far as the new function of the nature and recreation area allows.

Role of OMP after Recovery PKB
The OMP was informed earlier by the PMR of the developments and progress of the recovery process. In the main, the OMP is able to endorse the text of the amended PKB. A number of consideration points for the follow-up process have been set down in recommendations to (project) Minister Peijs and the Cabinet. In the short term, irreversible decisions on the execution of PMR sub-projects will be discussed. The realisation stands or falls with (the retention of) social support. The OMP would therefore very much appreciate the opportunity to submit recommendations to the project minister at significant points in the decision process.

ROM-Rijnmond

Page updated at: 07-07-2009