Herbosch-Kiere is building two locks at the De Bunt nature reserve in Hamme. This heralds a new phase of the project to transform the area into a controlled flood zone with reduced tides. De Bunt will collect river water, thus better protecting the Scheldt and Durme valleys from flooding. At the same time, a unique freshwater tidal habitat will develop so that the area will act as a climate buffer.
The first phase of the works has been completed for a while: a ring dyke was built around the nature reserve to protect the surrounding areas from flooding when De Bunt becomes a flood zone. In this phase, two locks are being built: a drainage lock in the Scheldt dyke and an in and out lock in the Durme dyke. Water flows into the in and out lock twice a day according to the tide on the river. Bog and salt marshes with reeds and willow flood forests will develop at De Bunt.