HIST-OP-DEN-BERG- The local government Heist-op-den-Berg has been making efforts for years to reduce litter: with awareness campaigns, cleanings and all kinds of targeted projects. Every year, for example, the local government takes part in the MooiMakers campaign in collaboration with OVAM (General Waste Agency of Flanders).

In addition, the local government works with more than 200 volunteers – green godfathers – who are actively committed to voluntary garbage collection on municipal lands. Recently, on May 2, the local government participated in the “River Clean-up Challenge”. Then the entire council proceeded to collect the rubbish.

Sarah Waters (Gruen), Local Councilor for Environment: “Despite all these efforts and awareness, litter remains a problem. This is why we, as a local authority, are taking it a step further with targeted inspections and implementation in this area To this end, we will work with authorized OVAM enforcers. You will effectively punish criminals. Whoever throws out their trash will be fined and caught. Security officers will go on the streets of burglaries, prove violations and file a report. Then they will determine the punishment: a gas fine or an alternative measure This fine can be up to 350 euros.

Therefore, extensive examinations will be carried out in the coming months. The locations are chosen strategically. They are “garbage hotspots”: locations where many people pass and where litter is a problem. Wouters: “Just think of the many events/markets in our lands, shopping streets, skate park, school environments,…”

In Heist-op-den-Berg, the county has taken two important measures on the Goorloop as a solution to flooding. It is about building a flood area at the Fabriekstraat and rebuilding at the height of the Haagstraat.

The Goorloop is very sensitive to heavy rainfall. Upstream there are a lot of roofs. So a very large part of the rainwater ends up directly in the Goorloop. During heavy rain, Goorloop couldn’t handle that much volume. The result: in low-lying areas like the Fabriekstraat, the watercourse regularly overflowed its banks and streets, and businesses and fields were flooded.

Along the Fabriekstraat there is now a new flood area of ​​1.66 hectares. In the event of heavy rains, this area can store up to 7,800 cubic meters of water to allow it to flow into the Goorloop in a controlled manner via the adjustable sloping dam.

Jan de Haes (N-VA), deputy for water policy: “Open spaces are rare in densely populated areas, and it’s not always easy to find or use them for water policy. Climate change forces us to face realities. The province of Antwerp is the director of the Goorloop and other waterways that don’t It is navigable, and is responsible for managing water in the right direction.In addition, local farmers can count on a water collection point in case of drought.

On the Haagstraat in Heist-op-den-Berg, the county received a number of surrounding lands. The construction of a new zigzag on those lands means that the waterway again gets room to zigzag, with a winter bed along both turns. By restoring the sinuous shape and providing a winter bed, a greater length and thus a greater volume of water is created. (EM/Photo by Koen de Bruyn)