the meetjesland the region the regional network leader+ meetjesland the regional strategy
What’s in a name…? Land of Meetjes ?
the region
A11
E40
The area Aalter Assenede Eeklo Evergem Lovendegem Kaprijke Knesselare Maldegem Nevele Sint-Laureins Waarschoot Zomergem
Low population density Meetjesland 162.291 inhabitants West Cork: 108.000 inhabitants Flanders: 463 inh/km² Meetjesland: 251 inh/km² West Cork: 34 inh/km²
88 180 234
645
Area Meetjesland: 646 km² West Cork: 3.150 km²
360 210
155
206 475
228 213
426
Population evolution 1970 - 2002
-18% -25% +11%
-9%
-5%
-11%
-6% +8%
-4%
+8%
+19%
-0,5%
+7%
-7%
+5%
+40%
-20% +1% +4%
+8%
+20%
+49% +9%
+3% -14%
+18%
+9%
+49% +52%
Meetjesland: +12% Flanders: +10%
+14%
+0%
+10%
-1%
+9% +22%
+30%
Ageing population Age 0-19 20-64 65+
Meetjesland
Flanders
22% 60% 18%
23% 60% 17%
40-59 years 0-19 years
increasing decreasing
60+ in 2010
25,5%
24,5%
Geographical position: the square makes the region easily accessible
Open Space 100%
% onbebouwde oppervla
80%
60%
infrastructuur Infrastructure overige open ruimte Other open space landbouw Agriculture
40%
20%
0% Meetjesland
Vlaanderen
Foto Jacques Cleppe
A diversity of landscapes
Foto: Spillebeen Eric Foto Filip Overmeire
Foto: Lagaisse Katty
An active agriculture
Foto: Jacques Cleppe
Foto: Tom De Visscher
Attractive region for tourism and recreation
Sectoral employment: typical profile of an rural area - in transition 40
%
30
Meetjesland
20
Vlaanderen
10
0 Primair
Secundair
Tertiair
Quartair
A lower level of Knowledge Economy 12.5%
10.0%
7.5%
5.0%
2.5%
0.0% Meetjesland kennisintensieve marktdiensten
Gent & Rand hoogtechnologische industrie
Vlaanderen creatieve sectoren
The food sector as a leading economic sector
Enterprises : a SME region
1 - 19 employees 20 - 99 employees > 99 employees
Meetjesland
Flanders
89,9 % - 3.255 8,6 % - 310 1,5 % - 56
88,4 % 9,4 % 2,2 %
Employment
employees self-employed
Meetjesland
Flanders
72% (33.444) 28% (12.886)
83% 17%
Employment Activity index Employment index Unemployment coefficient
Meetjesland
Flanders
73% 45% 5%
73% 66% 6%
54% of commuter traffic to Gent and environment.
Authentic, lively village centres
The typical culture
the regional network
Regional network
The Meetjesland network of municipalities, organisations and governments in which Streekplatform+ Meetjesland acts as a consultation platform for all regional actors Welzijn
Municipalities
… Onderwijs Sectors Organised pressure groups Target organisations RESOC - SERR
STREEKPLATFORM+
… Regional platforms Intermunicipal cooperation
Flemish Government
leader+ meetjesland
The Local Action Group LEADER+ Meetjesland originated from the existing network
The development plan LEADER+ was built around 2 unifying themes Research and development
Social cohesion
Landscape Culture
Education
Food
Support future-oriented developments regarding multifunctional agriculture and food
Valorise and communicate the cultural and landscape identity
Agriculture
Patrimony
Quality of life in the villages Rural entrepreneurship
Care
Recreation and tourism
Start up day Eeklo 11th October 2003
LEADER+ Meetjesland 22 projects and 2 transnational cooperation projects
A future for agri- and horticulture (4)
Link agriculture-food and diversification (5)
Regional fauna and flora
Village dynamics
Awareness of the value of the region
(3)
(4)
(6)
Transnational: Sustainable agriculture Regional branding
Leader+ Budget Total budget: € 1 512 000 EAGGF : € 756,000 Flemish Government : € 756,000 Province of East Flanders : structural costs related to the coordinator Each project : 35% EAGGF – 35% Flanders – 30% private or other governments
regional strategy An ongoing process since 1998 Process 2006
The development plan LEADER+
Research and development
Social cohesion
Landscape Culture
Education
Food
Support future-oriented developments regarding multifunctional agriculture and food
Valorise and communicate the cultural and landscape identity
Agriculture
Patrimony
Quality of life in the villages Rural entrepreneurship
Care
Recreation and tourism
1
Onderz oek en ontwikkeling
2
S ociale Cohesie
Landschap
Onderwijs en V orming
Voeding
Cultuur
Ond ersteune n van toekomstgerichte ontw ikkeling en i nzake mul ti functione le landbo uw e n voedi ng
Valorisere n en communiceren van de culturele en l andschappel ijke eig enheid
Landbouw
Leefbaarheid dorpen Ruraal ondernemersc hap
3
4
E rfgoed
Zorg
Recr eatie en Toerisme
Meetjesland 2020, a plan with future
Feedback Future Group (20p.) Experience and new blood Diversity Commitment
Municipalities Province Middle field
Extended (40p.)
Population Process team (3p.)
Formal reporting
Regional umbrella organisations External coaching
STREEKPLATFORM+ Board Local Action Group Leader+
Experts
binding
reflecting
consulting
strategy planning
Feedback to governments, middle field, local people
Translation into
Actual strengths
Building the regions future upon
Opportunities for the future
Ingrediënts for a longterm project
Key tasks or challenges for the region
- goals - projects
BRAND
Desired identity
jan - april 2006
Unifying element
+ image database + products may 2006
may 2006
june 2006
july-sept 2006
first half 2007
SWOT Meetjesland STERK ⇒ Open space, valuable culture landscapes ⇒ Attractive geographical location (cities nearby, coast, the Netherlands) ⇒ Attractive envir onment for living (peacefull, safe, healthy, not too expensive) ⇒ Social contact ⇒ Willingness for cooperation between regional actors ⇒ Willingness to work and independency / self employment ⇒ Concentration agri food ⇒ Absence of major social problems
KANS ⇒ Development of knowledge economy and services, telewor king ⇒ Increasing group of mediores and elderly wi th opportunity for kansen voor: o Leisure sector o Wellfare sector and wellness ( healthcare en wealthcare) ⇒ Young and active families (25-40 years) looking for peace and quiet and reasonably priced houses ⇒ External resources (province, Flanders, Europe) for regional development
ZWAK ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒
Older population structure, stop of population growth, less diversity Weinig “ bruis” of stedelijke dynamiek Beperkt inkomen van personen Beperkte bestuurskracht: financiële middelen en capaciteit Beperkte innovatie (o.v.) Zwak imago (intern en extern): gebrek aan externe uitstraling en weinig identificatie met de regio (benadr ukken van de heterogeniteit) Gebrek aan onderzoeks– en kennisinstellingen Lage tewerkstellingsgraad, beperkte professionele mogelijkheden (brain drain), bedrijventerreinen uitgeput Beperkt facilities and services (onderwijs, welzijn, handel, cultuur, toerisme) Kleine speler op Vlaams niveau, zwakke stem (ook omdat men te weinig opkomt voor eigen regio) Zwakke toeristisch-recreatieve infrastructuur: fietspaden, logies, waterrecreatie, mogelijkheden voor kinderen, … Geen optimale mobiliteit: beperkt openbaar vervoer (vraag ook beperkt, bepaalde verkeersinfrastr ucturen zwak Op zichzelf gericht (individueel en als organisatie of bestuur) Te weinig aandacht voor ruimtelijke kwaliteit
BEDREIGING ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒
Pressure on the open space Quality of life in small village centres under pressure Increasing duality in society? Pressure on the environment (waste, energy and water use, …) Tensions about the organisation and the use of the open space
Benchmark West Cork - Meetjesland West Cork
Meetjesland Physical resources 5 4 Image
Human resources 3 2 1 Culture & identity
0
External Relations
Activities & jobs
Know-how & skills
Governance
Mission Qualitative (Open) Space
Living Working Recreation Cooperation internal - external
Competent ‘policy makers’
5 challenges for the future 1.
A high quality environment for living
2.
A progressive region
3.
Competent people and structures
4.
Powerful cooperation
5.
Strengthening the region’s identity
managing (open) space with great care, dynamic villages
anticipate on socio-economic and technological changes
encouraging training, innovation and creativeness
a strong internal and external network
creating a positive image, enhancing the region’s attractiveness through an active regional branding strategy
Regional Branding West Cork
-
Meetjesland
?
