Delta Commissioner’s weblog - week 35 2010
The Delta Programme in print, the Delta Commissioner on the road
Last week the designing of the Delta Programme was completed and the document went to the printer’s. The script for the accompanying short film was finished and this week the result will be ready for viewing. The invitations for a lunch on Prinsjesdag (the state opening of parliament) with all the main players in the Delta Programme have been sent out. Together, close to the Ridderzaal (Knights’ Hall where the state opening of parliament takes place), listening to and seeing the speech from the throne and then receiving the first copy of the Delta Programme; it will become a new delta tradition.
Last week, I had many talks with the major stakeholders of the Delta Programme. On Monday, talks about the recommendations on ‘de Kier’ (Haringvliet locks). The recommendations will be completed in the weeks ahead. I will try to analyse this complex situation and find a path that leads to a wise solution.
On Tuesday I had extensive talks with the Director of Natuurmonumenten (Society for the Preservation of Nature) Jan Jaap de Graeff. On Wednesday, I met with landscape architect Dirk Sijmons and we had an inspiring discussion about ‘Aquade’, the quality of the Delta Works and involving people in our work. I had lunch with Annemarie Moons, Chair of the Eemvallei Water Board and Mayor Melis van de Groep (Municipality of Bunschoten). After discussing the latest football news, the plans for ‘de blauwe as’ (southern lakes referred to as ‘the blue axis’) were explained and further agreements were made.
On Thursday, I made two working visits. The first was to the pumping station in Gouda with its important freshwater inlet for Rijnland. I talked through the freshwater situation with farmers and the water board. Afterwards, it was on to Lekdijk to see the progress made in the innovative strengthening of the dikes. NOVA (current affairs TV show) was there to film and hold an interview with a view to an item in a new news programme.
On Friday I met the new section head of the Government Finance Inspectorate. It was a constructive and open talk. The Ministry of Finance will be participating in our programme and sharing views about financing for the short and long term.
And in the evening…the forming of the Cabinet enters yet another new phase.
