Presentation 4 schools of thought NOVEX

What kind of area should the Northern Netherlands become in 2050? That question was at the center of Thursday, March 21 in Drachten, where project director Lelylijn, Stijn Lechner and project manager NOVEX Durk Bergsma, gave a presentation on the Thinking Directions NOVEX Lelylijn 2050. In addition, the status of the project was explained; including the objectives, the studies; accessibility, broad prosperity and planning.

Some 120 people’s representatives from Groningen, Fryslân, Flevoland and Drenthe from provinces, municipalities and water boards came to Drachten yesterday to attend the presentation on the Thinking Directions NOVEX Lelylijn 2050 and to discuss it.

Councilman Robin Hartogh Heys van de Lier of Smallingerland Municipality welcomed all attendees and underlined how essential it is for Northern Netherlands, including Flevoland, to speak with one voice. According to him, the differences in views or interests that logically exist must be resolved together.

Environment Manager Wilko Huyink led an interesting Q&A with Deputies Henk Jumelet of Drenthe Province, Johan Hamster of Groningen Province and Matthijs de Vries of Fryslân Province. The deputies emphasized the importance of both the Lelylijn, the Lower Saxony Line and the Existing Rail for Accessibility and Brede Welvaart for the Northern Netherlands. “We are pulling together in this,” Henk Jumelet informed. “Also to The Hague.”

Earlier in March and similar meeting was held in Flevoland Province. The topics discussed included the possibilities of transporting goods over the Lelylijn, future travel times by train, the relationship with Lelystad Airport and other opportunities such as a combined road/rail tunnel under the Ketelmeer. There was much interest in the ongoing study of the effects of Lelylijn on the broad prosperity of the Northern Netherlands.