Extra Flemish money for finishing athletics track: “The entire Zenne region has been experiencing a disadvantage for months” (Beersel)

The Flemish Government is allocating almost half a million extra resources for the Huizingen athletics track, which has been open and unusable for months. After all, major unforeseen problems had arisen at the start of the works for the planned renovation of the track. “It even looked as if no more matches would be able to take place in Huizingen,” says Minister Weyts.

Last year, Minister of Sports Ben Weyts invested in the renovation of 18 athletics tracks, including that of Huizingen. The plan was to provide a new top layer. The costs were estimated at approximately 660,000 euros, of which Flanders would pay 400,000 euros. The province of Flemish Brabant and the City of Halle, because of the use by athletics club Olympic Essenbeek Halle (OEH), also invested.

However, at the start of the works, unforeseen problems were encountered. “Hidden beneath the former top layer, there appeared to be irregularities and errors in the slope of the track,” explains Flemish Minister Ben Weyts (N-VA), responsible for Sport and Vlaamse Rand. “The works were stopped. As a result, sports have not been possible in Huizingen for months. Without a structural solution, the track could no longer be homologated, meaning no more competitions could ever take place. Neither the province nor the City of Halle can bear the additional costs.”

Flanders is now stepping into the breach with an additional €460,000 in additional resources from the Flemish Randfonds, on top of the previous investment. “In this way, the discovered problems can be tackled structurally. The underlying asphalt layer will be completely scraped off and replaced. The athletics track can then be completely rebuilt and re-approved.” “

Because the athletics track has a supra-local importance, Minister Weyts can use money from the Flemish Randfonds. “The Flemish Government has created a Flemish Randfonds during this period of government, and that appears to be really necessary. We can now switch faster. The slope is home to Olympic Essenbeek-Halle, but is used by many more people. The entire Zenne region has been experiencing disadvantages for months now because the slopes are open. We are now securing the future of the athletics track in Huizingen. Flanders is therefore making an extra effort to tackle all problems thoroughly. This way, sports can be resumed quickly and competitions can continue in Huizingen for a long time to come.”

To finance the additional expenses, art club OEH had previously started a crowdfunding campaign. The goal was to raise 40,000 euros. The counter currently stands at 5,274 euros.