Toespraak van minister Henk Kamp bij het 'Building with Nature event', in Sydney

Toespraak | 03-11-2016

Minister Stokes,

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

Dutch history is intimately linked to water. For centuries we have battled the North Sea and the rivers that flow into it to protect our people and to create space for them. The land we reclaimed became the foundation of our prosperity and defines our geography as much as it does our culture.

 

Our mastery of water is a testimony to our ability to adapt and innovate. In the wake of the 1953 flood, for example, we built the world-famous delta works, a world-class system of dams, sluices and storm surge barriers. Today, the Netherlands is a global leader in maritime construction, dredging, water management and other water-related disciplines.  

 

I am proud that around the world, Dutch maritime expertise is making the lives of millions of people better and safer. We have built Palm Island in Dubai, helped New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and are working with cities like London to protect it from the rising waters.

 

In Australia, as in the rest of the world, the challenge is to provide people and businesses with a safe, sustainable and economically viable environment. This is not an easy task considering the impact of climate change, population growth and urbanisation, which tends to focus on coastal areas such as this one.

 

The Netherlands knows this challenge. Our country is densely populated and our key cities, infrastructure and industries all lie in flood-prone areas. We work hard to protect ourselves, but we have also learnt that fighting is not the only answer. Rather than fight water, we try to live with it and build with in, in harmony rather that in conflict. This approach could be valuable to Collaroy and other coastal communities concerned about their beaches.

 

Haskoning Australia and BAM show we need to work together to have real impact. The examples showcased today align with our innovative sustainable approach for challenges that we all face. So let’s be ambitious and create innovative ways to protect and strengthen our coasts. Both here in New South Wales and in the Netherlands.

 

On Tuesday, the Australian and Dutch governments signed a Letter of Intent to collaborate more on water-related activities. The innovative Building with Nature cases shown today are symbolic of the vision and expertise that the Netherlands shares with Australia. I hope that in the years to come, the Netherlands and Australia will partner more to ensure Australia’s beautiful coast remains safe and economically productive. Thank you.