The Groebengracht receives large amounts of water during heavy rainfall due to runoff from the valley sides and surrounding plots. This regularly led to flooding downstream in Halle. Creating a new flood plain should help prevent this.
Our LIFE Belini partner province of Flemish Brabant and the city of Halle therefore officially joined forces to create some space for water storage. Research indicated that the area near ‘Grote Weide’ is suitable for the establishment of a controlled flood plain. This is the field between Sint-Maria Hospital, Beertsestraat and Victor Demesmaekerstraat.
This floodplain can capture and buffer some 72,000 cubic metres of water, reducing the risk of flooding. For optimum utilisation, some dykes will be constructed and Tramstraat will be raised. There will also be a canal system with alternative drainage for the surrounding plots.
Added landscape value
In addition to water storage, the ‘Grote Weide’ will also receive a landscape upgrade. Between the grass walkway and the viewing platform will be a wooden decking path. There will also be an observation terrace and a picnic meadow with some picnic benches. Some wheelchair-accessible walkways and footbridges will also be located on the dykes. On the newly constructed Tramstraat, the cycle path will be updated.
The province is paying for the construction of the controlled flood plain and the re-profiling of the Groebengracht with support from our LIFE Belini project, among others. The town of Halle is funding the landscaping of the area. The works will start in the autumn of 2025 and will take about six months.
