Annual Report 2021: positive result of €4.3 million

Doing what we promise

Despite the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, Noorderzijlvest achieved 73% of the activities planned in its 2021 annual plan. 2021 has underscored the importance of realistic planning in line with the available capacity and availability of our employees. 
Starting in 2020, we began planning and prioritizing projects in a more realistic manner. This has resulted in a lower investment volume. In 2021, this amounted to €41.2 million. This approach makes the budget more realistic. The planned investments are increasingly in line with the nature and scale of our organization and with the way in which we collaborate with partners and the community. 

Climate-proofing our working environment 

In 2021, we continued to work on making our working area climate-proof. 

• We did this with the preparations for reinforcing the Lauwersmeer dike. We are carrying out the reinforcement work in an integrated manner by combining our safety task with three ecological link projects (natural transition, salt marsh, and fish migration), a second access route to the port, and the harbor dike. We are doing this in the most sustainable way possible, from design to implementation.
• The De Driepolders and De Dijken-Bakkerom water storage facilities are ready and operational. The Lettelberterbergboezem project will also be completed in 2021. The area can be used for additional water storage.
• Preparatory work on De Nieuwe Waterwerken Zoutkamp continued in 2021. The project team has now started work on the final design. We are doing this in the most sustainable way possible, from design to implementation.

Every fiscal year sees shifts, postponements of projects, or later completion for a variety of reasons. The most significant deviations are:

• More time is needed to acquire land for the Dwarsdiep water system in the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier.
• Work on the new water level decision for the Paterswoldsemeer has been postponed; preparations have now been resumed. A number of WFD measures from the second planning period will be completed in 2022. The adoption and implementation of the new water level decision is linked to the realization of these measures.

A positive result is necessary for our reserves.

The higher positive result is mainly due to benefits in capital and personnel costs, higher tax revenues, and additional contributions from third parties for the processing of more sludge and wastewater. Due to high inflation, sharply rising construction costs, and fuel prices, we expect to need the reserves badly. 

After its adoption on May 26, the annual report will be available online at Policy and rules.

€1,139,000 for the implementation of measures to protect riverbanks

In addition to adopting the 2021 annual report, the general board will meet on Wednesday, May 25, to discuss a loan of €1,139,000 for the implementation of measures to reinforce riverbanks in our working area.  
The water board is responsible for maintaining water systems and ensuring water safety. This includes keeping the bank protection works and banks in good condition. There is currently a backlog of maintenance work. For this reason, a number of bank protection works will be renewed in 2022 and 2023. A total of €1,139,000 is required for this.

Restoration of banks and revetments

This is happening at locations including the Kromme Klieftocht near Ezinge, Hoeksmeer (the nature reserve between Garrelsweer and Eemskanaal) and the Zeedijk, near Julianapolder. We will also be repairing damage to banks and revetments at a number of private locations, as this is one of our tasks under the bank protection policy. 

Improvements to bank protection works are needed in more locations. We also want to continue investing in safety and maintenance in the future. We will also repair banks where necessary. This is partly our responsibility and partly that of others. The new policy on the principles of the maintenance obligation will be adopted shortly. The general board is scheduled to meet on July 6 to discuss this. Area processes will determine step by step who is responsible for maintaining which bank protection works. 

The total task for maintenance and replacement of bank protection works will be laid down in a multi-year maintenance program and submitted to the board. This will probably happen later this year.