France/Urbanisme. Transfer of Loiret dyke management to local authorities: new expenses from 2024 onwards

On January 28, 2024, maintenance of the Loire dykes will be the sole responsibility of the six local authorities in the département, including Orléans Métropole. Over five years, this will represent a total of 6.1 million euros for maintenance work. We'll also have to think about heavy investment expenditure.

The countdown is on. It has been going on for some time now, but as of January 28, the six Loiret intercommunal cooperation bodies concerned, including Orléans Métropole, the communauté des communes giennoises and the communauté de communes des Loges, will be fully responsible for managing the Loire dikes, including the upper part of the levee, on their respective territories.

They will be responsible for surveillance, maintenance and even reinforcement, thereby ensuring the safety of people, businesses and property located in protected areas.

As this transfer of powers between the State and local authorities is taking place without a specific budget, the latter will have to find new resources to carry out these new missions. These missions will be carried out by the Loire public establishment, via the Orleans platform, to ensure continuity in the work undertaken.

"No consensus

While all have opted, or will opt, to introduce a Gemapi (Gestion des milieux aquatiques et prévention des inondations) tax, the Communauté de communes des Loges is the exception to the rule. "We had the option of levying this tax, which is well regulated, but we didn't," says Anne Roumeras-Porche, vice-president in charge of Spanc, Gemapi, wastewater and drinking water. "We're going to take the money from our general budget, but it's a divisive issue because there's no consensus among us."

Be that as it may, it was decided between the different communities to dedicate the sum of 1.2 million euros per year for operating work, i.e. maintenance. This sum was allocated on the basis of two criteria: population and the length of the dikes. Orléans Métropole will contribute just over 600,000 euros. These amounts will remain the same for five years, for a total budget of 6.1 million euros.

Numerous Class A dikes in the Loiret region

On the other hand, the largest investment projects are not included in this budget. "We'll have to formalize the work to be carried out and pay for part of it," explains Anne Roumeras-Porche. "In the Val d'Orléans, there are three communities to manage. For the record, in 2017, colossal dike reinforcement work was carried out on Guilly, Saint-Denis-en-Val, Sigloy and Saint-Pryvé-Saint-Mesmin. The budget was 7.5 million euros, paid 80% by the State and 20% by the communes.

She also points out that there are many class A dykes in the Loiret region, protecting at least 30,000 people. This means that the stakes are high if we are to avoid a further catastrophe in the event of significant flooding. "Communities of communes have a role to play in crisis management. We have to keep an eye on things and sound the alarm if necessary", says Anne Roumeras-Porche.

Source: www.larep.fr/