introduction | site restoration | maximizing the natural resource | employee involvement in health & safety | sustaining a rural economy | renaturalization of a river area | innovative regional development | operational best practice | conserving natural heritage | working with a fishery association | reducing employee accidents | lowering emissions | developing geo-tourism | health & safety best practice | local community partnership | facilities for local organisations | protection of species - biotopes | decreasing environmental impacts | cooperation with regional authorities
Innovative Regional Development
THE CHEVRIERES-LONGUEIL SAINTE MARIE PROJECT
BACKGROUND
Lafarge was founded in 1833 and is the world's leading producer in building materials. It has more than 77,000 employees in 75 countries. The Chevrières-Longueil Sainte Marie sites, which consist of a processing plant, multimodal transport hub and an alluvial quarry, are located in a flood plain in a rural area on the outskirts of Greater Paris (Ile-de-France) that is currently becoming urbanized. Alluvial materials from the site, as well as crushed rock aggregates transported by rail from Northern France, are sold locally and throughout the Ile-de-France region. This double role places it at the heart of local stakeholders that go far beyond the scope of the quarrying activity.
In this context, only exemplary conduct could facilitate the continuation of industrial activities by obtaining new extraction authorizations. The extinction of quarrying activities in the Oise could have had disastrous economic consequences since urbanization entailed increasing needs for crushed rock.
ACTION
When Granulats de Picardie arrived in the area in 1997-98, quarrymen were not seen in a positive light because former quarries had been abandoned, creating hazardous areas for illegal dumping.
After assessing the situation, Granulats de Picardie was structured and teams in charge of restoring the abandoned zones were formed, in collaboration with all local stakeholders. Since 1999, 376 hectares were restored with:
- Supply of materials to a region characterised by high demand, taking into consideration the substitution between rock and alluvial aggregates.
- Contribution to the development of multimodal logistics in preparation for a forthcoming shortage of materials in the Ile-de-France region. A junction hub between water and railways avoids road traffic.
- Creation of flood control basins in former quarries, spares local communities from the consequences of potential flooding at a low cost.
- Development of economic activities on the restored sites that are a source of employment for the area.
RESULTS
The Chevrières-Longueil Sainte Marie sites in this way gave birth to pioneering initiatives that contribute to the concept of innovative country planning and regional development.
introduction | site restoration | maximizing the natural resource | employee involvement in health & safety | sustaining a rural economy | renaturalization of a river area | innovative regional development | operational best practice | conserving natural heritage | working with a fishery association | reducing employee accidents | lowering emissions | developing geo-tourism | health & safety best practice | local community partnership | facilities for local organisations | protection of species - biotopes | decreasing environmental impacts | cooperation with regional authorities
