The gas pipeline leading to Żerań CHP Plant: The Summary of the 1st stage of consultations
More than 100 persons took part in the first round of public consultations on restoration of the land following construction works made on the gas pipeline. The meeting participants are highly concerned about keeping the natural character of the Żeran Channel. The most frequently raised inquires related to the current infrastructure and establishing of the pedestrian paths and bike trails.
Consultations, requested by GAZ-SYSTEM, have been carried out by Utila, based in Warsaw, that uses Planning for Real (TM) techniques. GAZ-SYSTEM does not interfere in the methodology of consultations, yet it barely provides maps and information about the investment.
A worldwide recognized Planning for Real (TM) planning process is based upon meetings, throughout which the participants place cards, on previously prepared models, presenting various local issues, needed to be solved. The whole idea is about delivering a catalogue of solutions addressed to a particular area in the form of cards located on the map. The variety of cards, that have been selected for leisure, open and public areas, in this particular case, are meant to display how different types of activities could be implemented within certain premises - all of it is required due to the approved methodology. This is only a tool that stirs up brainstorming – explains Michał Kazem-Bek, Utila.
In the event of workshops, conducted in the commune of Białołęka, the participants have used 122 previously prepared cards, that authors of the program defined as universal. Most of all they included nature-related issues – flower meadows, ornamental trees, shrubs as well as trees, that feed birds, or a bicycle trail. These kinds of cards have been eagerly picked by the workshop participants. Moreover, they reported the need for places, where they could meet up and relax. According to them, the Żeran Channel should maintain its current, natural shape. We are glad to see an involvement of inhabitants and their commitment, as the total number of submitted requests reached as much as several hundred.
The geo-questionnaire is still available on http://kanalzeranski.pl/ . The participants could submit their ideas until October 24. Over 100 individuals have filled it by far.
Another workshop session will be held in several weeks - this time it will be based on the outcome of the questionnaire and consultations. In the end of the day, a coherent and functional concept for restoration of the areas within the Żeran Channel is going to be produced.
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The Gas Compressor Station located in Rembelszczyzna, alongside the Żerań Channel, is necessary to be built due to the start-up of the steam and gas power unit in Żerań CHP Plant. The investment is going to increase the energy security in the Warsaw Metropolitan Area and enhance air quality (reduction of dust emission in Żerań CHP Plant by more than 60%).
The entity in charge of construction of the gas pipeline is GAZ-SYSTEM. Building works to be launched at the beginning of 2018, will be conducted over a distance of ca. 10.5 km, including around 9 km within the commune of Białołęka and approx. 1 km within the commune of Nieporęt.
The investment covers laying down a steel pipeline with the diameter of 500 mm, placed at the depth of minimum 1.7 m and, then, restoring the building site, comprising reinstatement of landscaping and tree planting. The hindrances that prevent from smooth placing of the gas pipeline down in the trench, e.g. bridges, flyovers and railways, piers, heating infrastructure, will be overcome using trenchless technologies, i.e. ramming or horizontal directional drills (HDD).
