Transformation with Structure, from a Mining Region to a Lake Landscape
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WE/DEU/SENFTENBERG/0251 Application of The Lusatian Lakeland - Transformation with structure, from a mining region to a lake landscape A. Profile of the Initiative Geographic Region Western Europe and Others Country/Region Germany Name of City/Local Authority Senftenberg Organization Stadt Senftenberg Title, Name and Position of Person(s) Leading the Initiative Basic City Data Population size: 24,803 Population Growth Rate(%)0.60 Surface Area (sq.km): 127.000 Population Density (people/sq.km): 194.000 GDP Per Capita (U.S.$): 32294.000 GINI Index: 0.29 URL/Webpage of Your City: URL/Webpage of Your Initiative: Main source of prosperity (e.g. industry, trade, tourism, creative industry, etc.): tourism and services B. Title and Abstract For a large integrated initiative, please consider submitting up to three initiatives under the same title. For example, you may wish to submit under “Low-Carbon Urban Development for My City” an initiative on public transport, an initiative on energy efficiency in buildings, and an initiative on use of renewable energy. The Lusatian Lakeland - Transformation with structure, from a Title or Tagline of the Initiative mining region to a lake landscape Sub-title Start date of the initiative 2000-01-01 Tentative End Date of the Initiative (if 2025-12-31 not yet completed) Economic Thematic Areas Environmental Abstract/Short description of the innovative initiative being submitted for Award.(150 words max) Surroundedby numerous abandoned lignite mines, the town of Senftenberg has been affectedby a massive landscape and structural transformation. The objective of theproject entitled"Lusatian Lakeland"is to make this structuralchange ecologically and economically sustainable. The idea behind the LusatianLakeland is based on the flooding of the opencast mining holes to createEurope's largest artificial lakeland with around 30 lakes and approx. WE/DEU/SENFTENBERG/0251 14,000hectares of water. In the heart of the Lusatian Lakeland, a network of lakeswith a contiguous usable water area of approx. 7,000 hectares is being formedthrough the linking up of 10 lakes by means of navigable channels. In order to bring this new lakeland to lifeand to provide it with an economically viable concept, stimulating urbandevelopment measures and structurally sustainable projects have been and arebeing implemented. Such projects are, for example, the town harbour ofSenftenberg, the Koschener Canal, the first navigable connection, and the plannedcommercial area of"Nordufer Sedlitzer See". With the construction ofthe town harbour, the town of Senftenberg was given a point of reference to thewater, a link between the town and its recreational landscape. It displays ahigh level of building culture. The Koschener Canal, 1,050 metres long,connects Lake Senftenberg and Lake Geierswalde. An industrial park forwater-related production and tourist services with direct access to the wateris to be constructed on the northern shore of Lake Sedlitz. A central harbouroffers optimal conditions for economic development. C. Background Information Describe the legislative or policy framework under which the initiative is taking place, for example, a public policy document at the central or local government level, a policy statement, a covenant, a compact or internationally recognized agreement including, for example, the Sustainable Development Goals, and/or the New Urban Agenda Withregard to the lignite surface mines, the Federal Republic of Germany and the federalstates concerned have, on basis of administrative agreements, taken on the taskof rehabilitating the area affected by mining and of re-using it. In Lusatia thetowns and municipalities have united to form special purpose associations tosolve the task of re-using the mining landscape and reorienting the regionthrough close cooperation. This has resulted in the special purpose associationof the Lausitzer Seenland Brandenburg. D. Summary of the Origins of the Initiative Describe how the initiative came about and what challenges or issues of sustainable development it is meant to address using the following lead questions as your guide. (350 words max) 1. Describe briefly the reason(s) for undertaking the initiative including social, economic, political or cultural challenge(s) or issues confronting the city/region/community. Include where relevant number of people, enterprises or institutions affected. Sincethe end of the 19th century, Lusatia has been characterised by the mining oflignite and its use. With the massive withdrawal from lignite mining since the1990s and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs, the region faces the challengeof creating new jobs, healing the scarred landscapes, reducing the enormousloss in population and providing economic alternatives and reorientation. Inorder to be able to master these tasks, started in 1999 the “InternationaleBauausstellung” (IBA) Fürst-Pückler-Land, a broad-based future WE/DEU/SENFTENBERG/0251 programme ofrestructuring for the mining region in Southern Brandenburg. From 2000 to 2010,the IBA provided numerous economic, ecological and design ideas to handle theenormous landscape and structural transformations. 2. Describe the goals of the initiative in terms of desired change or outcome and timeframe for achieving the change or outcome (for example, change in policy, strategy, business model, technology, means of implementation, financing arrangements, human development and empowerment, measuring and evaluating progress and impact, etc.). Withthe creation of the Lusatian Lakeland as a tourist and business location, newperspectives on the job market are being created. Water-related industry andservices along with the development of innovative technologies in automation(checking a test track for autonomous driving at the Lausitzring) as well asenergy generation and storage are to be permanently anchored – such as Germany'slargest solar thermal system. The recultivation of the scarred landscape tooffer a high degree of attractiveness for people's leisure and recreation mustgo hand in hand with the creation of valuable and sustainable habitats forfauna and flora. 3. Describe whether the innovation involves any partnership (public-public, public-private, public- community, etc.) and if yes, who is or was the leading partner(s), the role they each played and whether other parties have benefited or are benefiting from your innovation and how? Thedevelopment of the Lusatian Lakeland is being driven forward primarily inpartnership with the state-owned company Lausitzer und MitteldeutscheBergbau- Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (LMBV), the special purpose associations ofthe Lausitzer Seenland Brandenburg (a subsidiary of the town of Senftenberg) aswell as the individual municipalities. The projects are being supported by thefederal state of Brandenburg and private companies. The initiative forindividual projects emanates from the towns and municipalities. The LMBV is areliable partner when it comes to implementing the projects. 4. Describe the resources used for implementing the initiative, including funding/financing strategy or arrangements and any significant contributions that are not in cash, for example, in human, technical or managerial resources. TheFederal Republic of Germany and the federal states of Brandenburg,Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Thuringia have been jointly responsible for the rehabilitationof the lignite mines. They finance for a great part the necessary safety andrehabilitation measures. The towns and municipalities will bear 20% of thecosts for measures of re-use concepts. E. Summary of the Innovative Aspect(s) of the Initiative Describe the innovation for the initiative using the following lead questions as a guide. (350 words max) 1. Describe whether the initiative should be considered evolutionary or revolutionary. Evolutionary would imply that innovation evolved over time based on lessons learned from experience and that the changes or outcomes are cumulative. Revolutionary would imply something quite new or something that has been borrowed from elsewhere but never been tried before in the sector or context in question and therefore bears a certain degree of risk. If it’s borrowed from elsewhere, describe what the linkage with the other preceding experiences is. WE/DEU/SENFTENBERG/0251 Therecultivation of a former mining landscape and its transformation into a uniquelake district is revolutionary. The size and variety of the navigable usablewater surface gives the network of lakes its special character thanks to the 13canals that are planned. The former mining landscape will be rebranded as atourism region, coupled with a high share of innovative businesses. Senftenbergnow proudly bears the title of"state-approved leisure resort". Of anevolutionary character are the strategic objectives of the Lusatian Lakeland forflood protection (retention) to reinforce and ensure the quality of water inall lakes in the lake network. The overall project of the navigable lakenetwork is so far unique in Germany and has pioneering character. The timelineextends to the year 2025. Use cannot be made of experience gained in comparableprojects of this complexity. The concept is absolutely untested. 2. Describe where the innovation is being applied, for example, in policy or strategy; planning, design and implementation; business model or financing arrangement; tools and technology; governance and administration; etc WE/DEU/SENFTENBERG/0251 The creation of the Lusatian Lakeland serves thedevelopment of the area as a tourism region, the strengthening