Our great infrastructures are the backbone of the Netherlands. But, warns Philip van Nieuwenhuizen, chairman of MKB INFRA, we take them too much for granted. Municipalities therefore need to invest structurally in maintenance, and local SMEs provide additional added value in the process.
The Wennink report assumes an optimally functioning physical and digital infrastructure as the basic prerequisite for "The Route to Future Prosperity." At the same time, the Mobility Alliance and the Logistics Alliance are sounding the alarm about the enormous task of guaranteeing that. And recently the new survey of the State of Infrastructure was published. Its first paragraph states, "The state of Dutch infrastructure paints a worrying picture. We are facing the largest maintenance task of our infrastructure ever and it is taking the greatest effort to stay on schedule with it. The infrastructure in the Netherlands is the backbone of our society and economy and keeps our delta safe. It is important to keep investing in it."
There is a systematic lack of attention to the full value of our infrastructure. Value is very different from cost. We only really realize what value is when maintenance costs have been understated and, as a result, a bridge is taken out of service, the electricity or Internet goes down, the toilet overflows, the heating fails, or no or undrinkable water comes out of the tap.
Not to mention the somewhat less tangible values, such as public health and longevity, which are at such a high level with us due to clean drinking water, sewers and sewage treatment. Or about well-being, which is promoted by plenty of water and greenery in the environment. Or about climate adaptation through smart double use of infrastructure for water storage and drainage. These values should guide our priorities and budgets.
But no, as long as when we return from vacation we are happy to drive on comfortable Dutch roads again, have fast Internet, nice hot showers and water from the tap, we think our infrastructures are the best in Europe. So no one makes it an issue in elections. After all, it doesn't attract voters if you put money into something that is (still) functioning.
Meanwhile, though, a lot of infrastructure is creaking at the seams, being decommissioned or even on the verge of collapse. And we're not just talking about the nation's rail, water or highways. Everyone knows of an indoor bridge or quay that you can no longer cross by car. Power outages are also increasingly affecting entire neighborhoods, and just recently residents of Utrecht and Amersfoort hammered drinking water en masse because there were bacteria in the drinking water.
Now we still manage to avoid real tragedies like in Genoa and Dresden, but that won't last long. Doing nothing could cost us dearly, because without infrastructure everything comes to a standstill, not just our economy. The whole social and physical connection, comfort and daily life are affected or disrupted. That cannot be monetized.
Unfortunately, appreciation of the value of infrastructure usually comes only when it is so far and thus too late. Therefore, the call to all parties in the upcoming municipal elections is: don't be short-sighted and ensure sufficient budget to avoid tragedies. Establish a minimum percentage for infrastructure maintenance in municipal budgets and, in doing so, leverage the strength of local SME infrastructure companies. They depend on that infrastructure to function and will therefore deliver optimal quality, in planning and execution. This is also good for the carbon footprint and local employment, thus adding value for free.
