Buffer basin Nossegem

Adaptations improve operation of buffer basin along Kleine Beek in Nossegem.
Nature-based solutions
Developing the green-blue network

Municipality of Zaventem

Project website

Started in: 2014

Project by: Municipality of Zaventem

Project website

Started in: 2014

The project

Along the Kleine Beek (2nd category) in Nossegem (a borough of Zaventem), there was historically already a hardened buffer basin. In the past, the Kleine Beek burst its banks in several places, while the existing buffer basin was not yet fully tapped, and the Kleine Beek thus caused flooding in the residential zone further downstream. To remedy this problem, the area along Kleine Beek was redesigned under the land development project “Noskoem” and the grant project “Nat Noskoem”. This involved upgrading wetlands, taking into account the existing nature in the vicinity and the desired long-term development of the entire area.

Project location

Nossegem

Contribution(s)

1 solutions

Project costs

More than 500.000 €

Participant(s)

By implementing this project, the partners involved (the municipality of Zaventem, the province of Flemish Brabant, sewer manager Farys and the Flemish Government) thus aimed not only to reduce water nuisance in the residential area downstream, but also to increase the ecological value of this area by creating more wet nature, and also to make this nature even more accessible to the population. All four partners contributed financially.
The project was carried out by the contractor Van Raak, to the design of Antea Group. The project proceeded without citizen participation.

How are the  criteria of the objective met?

Nature-based solutions

  • Use nature/natural processes that support biodiversity to address the challenges related to climate change, water management (including flood management) and land degradation;
  • Have respect for and/or improve the specific environmental and ecological characteristics of the area (e.g. the topography, the type of landscape, the local plant and animal life, …);
  • Incorporate those natural processes into the surrounding area and environment;
  • Implement those natural processes in a way that is consistent with other actions undertaken to address these challenges (e.g. rehabilitate native plant species around water amenities that are set up to improve water management, …);
  • Strengthen ecological connectivity between nature-based solutions and surrounding natural areas.

Possible initiatives in which the project is involved :

The project is not part of any existing initiative.

Long-term maintenance

Only biennial mowing of roadsides.

Benefits

The watercourse was given more room to run outside its banks and its buffering capacity was further increased.
Much paving was removed, including a concrete pipe and grass dales.
Along with the softening of the buffer basin, the paving of the existing footpaths was also broken out. A new, recreational link for walkers was created in its place. A boardwalk now runs through the second, smaller buffer basin and a play area was also created. Several recreational zones with benches invite you to stay for a while.

Other projects linked to the objective: "Nature-based solutions"

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