Region Zealand has collected something of a nose from the Environment and Food Complaints Board. The region’s Raw Materials Plan 2020 has just been canceled – partly on the basis of two complaints.
Raw materials plan to be extended
At the beginning of June, Region Zealand decided that the region’s Raw Materials Plan 2020 could be extended to apply until 2024. This should, among other things, give the plan’s efforts for a more sustainable supply of raw materials time to take effect, while the extraction from the existing gravel pits was completed. The regions’ raw material plans must otherwise be renewed or revised every four years. Region Zealand’s Raw Materials Plan 2020 is from 2018, and was therefore suitable for revision.
Region Zealand surprised and regretful
Region Zealand takes note of the board’s decision and will implement it in the future in connection with resource plans and permits to dig for resources.
– We are surprised by the board’s decision, which we take note of. We are also sorry that, in terms of planning, the region is not allowed to frame good traffic conditions in excavation areas. We believe it has worked. At the same time, we must acknowledge that we were not thorough enough in our investigations from 2016 of two excavation areas in Kalundborg in relation to Natura 2000 and the EU’s habitat directive. We will of course ensure that this does not happen in the future, says Pia Buch-Madsen, functional manager for the Raw Materials area in Region Zealand, in a press release.
Out of proportions
– However, we believe that the decision to reject the entire raw materials plan on the basis of two complaints is disproportionate, she concludes.
According to the Environmental and Food Complaints Board, it is not a matter of fact that Region Zealand has stipulated in its digging permits that a digging permit can only be granted when the road conditions to and from the gravel pits are in order. This upsets the chairman of the Committee for green transition, sustainability and the environment in Region Zealand, Bruno Jerup:
Didn’t want to bother neighbors
– One of our most important ambitions with Plan 2020 was both to ensure sustainable resource extraction, while at the same time greater and greater consideration was given to the citizens who are affected by resource extraction. Therefore, among other things, we wanted to make sure that the access conditions to and from the gravel pits were in order and caused the least possible inconvenience to the neighbours. I actually don’t think that’s an unreasonable demand to make, says Bruno Jerup.
Need to find the next step
Region Zealand’s committee and politicians must now find out what the next step is. A dialogue must also be initiated with the Environment and Food Complaints Board to clarify the reasons for the cancellation and discuss the options for remedying the situation.
– I hope that through a constructive dialogue with the Environmental and Food Complaints Board we can find a solution where we can continue with the Raw Materials Plan 2020 adjusted to the board’s decision, says Pia Buch-Madsen.
Raw materials plan 2016 applies
From and including 23 June, Plan 2016 forms the planning basis for all raw material extraction in Region Zealand. Excavation permits issued before 23 June 2023 based on the Natural Resources Plan 2020 are still valid.
Applications for digging permits received before 23 June 2023, but where a decision has not yet been made in the matter, must be re-processed on the basis of the 2016 Mineral Resources Plan.
