Location: East-Flanders
Discipline: Port, river & hydraulic engineering, Urbanism & Design
Period: 2010 - ...
Conversion Durme Valley, part of the SIGMA Plan
Credits aerial photos: De Vlaamse Waterweg
With the SIGMA Plan, the Flemish government is protecting the Zeeschelde basin in Flanders against storm influences from the North Sea and restoring rare river nature. In the Durme Valley, SBE is involved in the works at three locations:
- De Bunt area in Hamme along the Durme and the Scheldt
- The areas of Klein Broek and Groot Broek in Temse and Waasmunster along the Durme.
The implementation of the works in the three sub-areas is phased. Both the studies relating to the construction of the ring dykes and the studies of the overflow dykes, the depoldered dykes and the layout of the inner area will be carried out by SBE. The projects pose challenges in different areas, such as geotechnics, lock design and the design of the pump building. The varied, long-standing expertise offered by SBE means an integrated approach is guaranteed.
Sub-project 1: Controlled flood area of De Bunt
Discipline: Port & River Engineering, Environment & Design
Status: Study and work in progress
The De Bunt project area in Hamme will be transformed into a controlled flood area with reduced tides (CFA-RTA). The controlled flood area (CFA) means that with a storm surge in the Scheldt, the area can be flooded using the new overflow dykes. The excess water from the Scheldt is buffered in the area and slowly drained back into the Scheldt after the storm.
View the project
Sub-project 2: Depoldering of Klein Broek and Groot Broek
Discipline: Port & River Engineering, Environment & Design
Status: Study in progress
The Klein and Groot Broek areas will be depoldered so that the Durme will have flooding space and tidal nature can flourish here. Here, too, the work starts with the raising of a ring dyke and the necessary appurtenances. Two pumping stations will be built on the site of Groot Broek, which will make it possible to discharge surface water collected behind the new ring dykes into the Durme during a high tide.
View the project