Rotterdam offers lessons for Delta’s way of life

In October, I attended the World Conference Cities and Ports “Crossovers” Conference in Rotterdam, Netherlands, home to Europe’s largest port. The mission provided an invaluable opportunity to learn best practices from some of the world’s finest ports and how these practices can be implemented in a B.C. context.

For me, this is extremely important as Delta is home to Canada’s largest container terminal and we are in the process of identifying a balance between preserving our community’s identity, prime agricultural land base and quality of life, while also enjoying the significant economic benefits of the Roberts Bank Terminal.

Local port operations generate a combined tax revenue of $1.3 billion a year and provide employment for more than 50,000 across the region.

Delta’s delegation also included our chief administrative officer, director of engineering and chief of police, who brought their unique expertise to discussions around municipal oversight, industrial operations and community safety — key areas when considering port growth.

While in Rotterdam, we were also able to tour local port facilities, see first-hand how these communities evolved around their maritime industry and engage in candid conversations with senior leadership from Europe’s largest ports about interfacing with municipalities.

Although the Port of Rotterdam handles significantly more volume than Port of Vancouver (Rotterdam receives 30,000 vessel calls annually, while Port of Vancouver receives 3,100), there are striking similarities: Both are the largest ports in their respective countries. Both have communities with deep historical ties to maritime trade. Both are located in urban areas with more than a million people living within roughly 1,000 square kilometres. Both have generated and continue to support other trade-oriented industries. And both are grappling with a range of issues related to growth, including land constraints and environmental and wildlife impacts.

These are issues facing ports worldwide and there is no single solution. However, several best practices were presented at the conference about how ports and cities can grow together.

For me, the key take-away is the importance of collaboration. While European and Canadian ports differ fundamentally in their governance structures, an overarching theme was the importance of multilateral co-ordination. In the Lower Mainland, that means all levels of government, industry, local communities and First Nations must embrace collaboration, especially in terms of how the efficient and economical movement of goods is integrated into regional, provincial and federal planning processes.

Another element of success is broad public awareness. The Port of Rotterdam is over 600 years old. The surrounding community has grown alongside and because of its port. In Rotterdam, there is a deep understanding of the critical economic role and comfort with port operations that is lacking here. While the recent mission was an invaluable first step in raising the awareness of our municipal leaders, there should also be increased efforts to educate the public on issues and benefits of the port in local communities.

Lastly is the importance of sustainability. After learning more about other global ports, I’m confident the Port of Vancouver has implemented world-class environmental initiatives, including unique programs to protect air and water quality as well as habitats and wildlife throughout the region. But we need a holistic approach to sustainability in order for our port and cities to grow in tandem, which means considering how to best balance our region’s critical trade activities with environmental and community impacts.

Based on these insights, I’m encouraged about our future. We have a strategic location for shipping in the modern global economy. We have communities committed to preserving our environment, quality of life and asking the tough questions. And we have a local port that pumps more than $9.6 billion into the Canadian economy and has demonstrated its readiness to work collaboratively with municipal staff, listen to residents’ concerns and place sustainability at the centre of its operations.

If we continue to work together, gain a deeper understanding of the issues at play and make decisions with long-term sustainability in mind, I know we will find a balance that ensures our port and cities can grow together.

Lois Jackson is mayor of Delta.