OUDENAARDE, GROWING GREEN CITY. ENTENTE FLORALE EUROPE 2019 Oudenaarde, growing green city! Planning and development 04 Sustainable environment 06 Built environment 08 Landscape 10 Green spaces 12 Planting 14 Environmental education 16 Effort and involvement 18 Tourism and leisure 20 Communication 22 Oudenaarde, growing green city! WELCOME TO OUDENAARDE Oudenaarde combines the best of two worlds: the charm of a relatively small but cosy historical town on the banks of the river Scheldt but yet providing all the facilities you encounter in a much bigger town. The town is easy to get to by car, bike or public transport (frequent and direct connection to Brussels, Ghent and Bruges). This way Oudenaarde is a perfect starting point to visit these larger cities. Situated in the valley of the Scheldt the town is surrounded by the hills and hillocks which constitute The Flemish Ardennes. The combination of the green district – ‘Flanders’ Most Beautiful Landscape’– with its rich art-historical past and patrimony, with its authentic area and buildings transforms Oudenaarde into a magnet for tourists and sightseers. All sights are within walking distance (2,2 km) from the centre. Recently, new projects to renew the town scape have been laid out, such as the reconstruction of the quays and banks along the Scheldt, the new Scheldekop, a peninsular in the Scheldt, the new layout of the town park and the market place. This market, of old the beating heart of the town, is now the place to be for a chat, over a glass of beer or with a good meal. Traffic has been drastically reduced and with the new plantation the function of the square is now revalued. With its famous cobbled green hills and hillocks Oudenaarde is also the background of The Tour of Flanders, especially since the finishing line of this world famous cycle race has been drawn near the town centre. Oudenaarde has proved to be a surprisingly interesting and charming town to visit or to stay at. So, why wouldn’t you come? 03 Oudenaarde, growing green city! PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT Every town in an urban area is an important factor for the quality of living and working of its inhabitants. Within the boundaries of the town the local authorities aim to concentrate the urban structures in order to safeguard the countryside, keeping out those new developments that might harm the natural beauty of the landscape. After all, Oudenaarde is part of The Flemish Ardennes, one of the most traditional landscape in Flanders. The hills and hillocks, the woods of beech, the cobbled tracks, woods with wells, listed churches and protected rural area are typical of our region. The town and country planning concentrates on the preservation and strengthening of these environmental structures. POLICY IN SPATIAL pedestrians and cyclists; by giving landscape, water, mobility and AND ECOLOGICAL the town centre new plantings, life circular economy. Different target STRUCTURES in town has become an attractive groups such as citizens, owners and But in contrast to this, inside the place to live in, to work or to join the public body have been consulted municipal boundaries the focus of social life. And this is realized with through bilateral consultation, the town policy is on concentrating the participation of the citizens. project conferences and holding the urban structures: this implies companies. the compact building of higher The railwaystation square and premises but at the same time the SOME EXAMPLES OF surroundings are equally being creation or development of green THIS POLICY renewed according to this princple: area, but only if the added value is A nice example of this is the new if the local residents want more socially acceptable. This way the site built on the left bank of green and less concrete, they will town will get more public open the Scheldt. This area of 200 ha, get it ! space, more light and more air. bordering the town centre is cut A third example of town develop- Projects to construct ‘slow connec- through by the Scheldt. Inside this ment projects and participation of tions’ (such as cycling freeways), area are two old and abandoned the citizens is the reconversion of sports and leisure centres, offering factories, the town sports centre, the Saffre Frères site. car-sharing are now being realized, a brickyard and marshland that is On the old and abandoned factory which will not put a burden on partially exploited by the brickyard. premises a new residential area the ecological and environmental This area has recently got a new and is built respecting the special context of town life. lively function. ecological character of the sur- If the car is king in Flanders, the The town has also made a rounding: cars should give way to cyclist in Oudenaarde will be partnership with the Provincial pedestrians; 265 families will live in Emperor: actually, Oudenaarde is Government of East-Flanders. Both this green setting. The economical the bike-rider’s heaven on earth authorities are working together in destination of one of the old factory (but sometimes it is hellishly hard a masterplan to finally implement remnants was chosen by employers to ride uphill !). or realize this plan taking special and citizens. And a small wood was This way, the local authorities try care of the ecological aspects. This laid out that will bring biodiversity to enhance the quality of life of cooperation is based on 4 pillars: within the urban setting. 04 Entente Florale Europe 2019 Oudenaarde, growing green city! OUDENAARDE, MOTOR has a high degree of employment. housing shortage was ordered. With OF THE ECONOMY OF The town provides 14,000 jobs the results of both studies the local THE REGION and in doing so it is an important government has a good survey of the Enterprising is a point of special employer in the region. dynamics of the spatial challenges interest in the town and country To consolidate this economical for the years to come, allowing them planning in Oudenaarde. position and if possible to strengthen to use objective data to delineate a Oudenaarde is well equipped with it the municipal authorities had a correct sustainable develoment and schools, hospital, law court, admin- detailed study made in December environmental planning. istration offices and consequently 2018; at the same time, a study of the Masterplan Scheldt banks and Scheldekop Entente Florale Europe 2019 05 Oudenaarde, growing green city! SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT In 2015 Oudenaarde signed the Mayor’s Convention promising to reduce the CO2 emission by 20 % by 2020. A climate plan was drawn up to further rational use of energy and more specifically renewable energy. SUSTAINABLE sumption of expensive drinking extinguishing the lights at 23 p.m. PATRIMONY water. systematically. The local authorities aim to realize Other projects built with respect energy low or energy neutral build- to sustainable development are a. ings on the one hand and to o. the new sports hall, (replacing OUDENAARDE, maximize the historical value of the older one), the new indoor SUSTAINABLE TOWN this patrimony and the modern swimming pool, the renovation of But a climate plan must not only conveniences inside the buildings. the old assisted living complex into involve the municipal offices and From the first drafts a multi- Sociaal Huis, the building of 2 new services, but should also involve disciplinary team of experts is assisted living centres and the new citizens, clubs and companies. engaged to check the achievement fire station. In 2017 Oudenaarde received the of the sustainable objectives. financial support of the EFRO, A nice example of this is the newly the European Fund for Regional built Town Academy of Music and PUBLIC LIGHTING AND Development for its energy Word. ILLUMINATION coaching project ZOVER. Enter- Summer heat is held off by special Because public lighting and prises in Oudenaarde, Ninove window panes and awning; in illumination cost a lot of energy the and Kruisem were coached free winter the cold is kept away by municipal authorities reduce this of charge by the implementation insulation (K-level 27). Cost of cost by investing ± 400.000 € every of energy saving measures. This electricity and drinking-water are year in the replacement of light bulbs project ended 30 th of April 2019 and decreased by using led-lights, solar into LEDs, by only illuminating was succesful with 45 enterprises, panels and collectors; flush toilets important traffic situations (cross- 20 of which were situated in using rainwater reduce the con- roads and residential areas), and by Oudenaarde. 1 2 06 Entente Florale Europe 2019 Oudenaarde, growing green city! To reduce the energy need of important factor. 83,15 % of the waste illegal dumping of waste. This households the focus is mainly water is purified in Oudenaarde, coaching project has 5 pillars: on sustainable construction. The which is one of the best results in the infrastructure, environment, par- town offers free building advice, Flemish Ardennes. Between 2014-19 ticipation, sensitization, communi- premiums to install sustainable almost a million € was invested in cation and finally maintenance. energy-systems and took over the sewer systems. The town has its own team of interest charges for inhabitants who Apart from this, the town also workers to clean the streets; they contracted an energy loan. pursues an active policy in the are helped by a group of voluntary A financial grant is given to clubs application of rain and precipitation: workers and of ‘ploggers’, (quite and societies taking part in climate two buffer zones were created to unique in Flanders) collecting litter projects. relieve areas prone to flooding; while jogging. Because the quality of air is impor- furthermore, a team of architects The control of weeds and pests is tant for all life the local government and engineers found solutions to effected by hotwater- weedbrushers cannot simply be on the sidelines.