Building application first works Slagmolen submitted

On 21 February 2017 the Flemish Land Agency asked an urban permission for the first of ecohydrologic and recreative measures in the surroundings of the historical Slagmolen at the Stiemerbeek in Genk. 
The most important goal of the redevelopment is to bring pure water to the nature reserve of De Maten. Today, the Schabeek supplies the ponds of De Maten but also water from the Stiemerbeek flows to De Maten. The Stiemerbeek is often polluted by sewage overflow during peak rainfall. In that way, sewage water comes to De Maten and threatens fauna and flora of the pond system. By separating the Schabeek from the Stiemerbeek, the ponds of De Maten can make ecological progress. The Schabeek is transformed into a naturally meandering stream throughout a wet marsh area. That way, the natural water retention capacity can be increased to prevent flooding. 

Equally, we want to upgrade the area to an attractive, green and accessible meeting place with walking and cycling connections. We make the existing walking connection accessible for wheelchairs. Along the new Schabeek a plank path will connect the Slagmolen with the city of Genk.

Together with the supervision group Stiemerbeekvallei, The Flemish Land Agency made a land development plan for the Slagmolen in 2015-2016. The first development works start beginning 2018 at the earliest and are financed by the Flemish government, the city of Genk and Europe through the Life+project Green4Grey. At a later stage, we want to give the Slagmolen another function, transfer the parking zone into a meeting place and connect the Slagmolen by new cycling connections with Hasselt and Diepenbeek. End 2017, residents are invited to gather ideas for the redevelopment of the Slagmolen.