Co-creating value through renewing waterway networks: A transaction-cost perspective

Abstract

Since modern waterway networks are increasingly confronted with ageing assets, waterway renewal will increase in importance for western countries. Renewal can be regarded an impetus for realising integrated waterway networks that internalise externalities, which entails broad stakeholder involvement. This can be coordinated through different inter-organisational structures. Applying a transaction-cost perspective, we contribute to the assessment of effective governance arrangements for renewing waterway networks in such an integrated fashion. Our aim is to examine efficient inter-organisational structures for waterway renewal, as perceived by actors involved in a case study of the Dutch waterways. Our findings show that waterway renewal incorporates additional functionalities in terms of capacity (expansion or reduction), but not so much in terms of quality (combining transportation aims with spatial objectives such as ecology or regional development). Inter-organisational structures that address geographical interrelatedness and, hence, broader stakeholder involvement were associated with uncertain and time-consuming transactions, because of extensive negotiations regarding the alignment of conflicting interests and the crossing of geographical and administrative boundaries. Also, a change in interdependency from hierarchical towards contractual relationships was required, putting dominant actors (the national government) in an unfamiliar position in which they loosen their grip on infrastructure investments. Perceptions on transactions centre on sectoral aims and individual assets, whereas the actual transaction may be different if a perspective is taken that includes the greater waterway system, the wider spatial surroundings and a longer-term horizon. We conclude that shortterm, transportation objectives overrule longer-term, integrative objectives, which withholds strategic considerations required for aligning waterway interests.

What prevents people accessing urban bluespaces? A qualitative study

“…European networks were created to facilitate industrialisation, but now serve largely ecological and recreational purposes, often linked to tourism or urban redevelopment (Vallerani and Visentin, 2017). Aging waterway infrastructure can only be renewed with significant investment, the return on which should be societal benefits (Boscacci et al, 2017;Miller, 2016;Willems et al, 2018).…”

Environmental Viability Analysis of Connected European Inland–Marine Waterways and Their Services in View of Climate Change

“…The sustainable establishment, expansion, and operation of inland waterways must protect the ecological functions of river systems in terms of channel continuity, riparian and floodplain connectivity, flow regime, and biodiversity. Therefore, a certain level of trade-off may be required between the intensity of waterway exploitation, infrastructure maintenance and renewal, and nature conservation, taking into consideration the possible future climatic and hydrological uncertainties [37].…”

Impact assessment of waterway development on the socioeconomic conditions and ecosystem in the upper Yangtze River

“…Although waterway regulation and dredging projects have significant economic efficiency, their influence on riverine ecosystems cannot be ignored (Cui, Hu, & Zhai, 2011;Nanding et al, 2020;Willems, Busscher, Woltjer, & Arts, 2018). Engineering activities in the river influence the water flow pattern and river connectivity (Grill, Lehner, & Thieme, 2019), which subsequently affects the habitat (Xu, Wang, Duan, & Pan, 2014;Zhou et al, 2019) and species diversity of aquatic organisms (Zhao, Sheng, Yang, Wang, & Zhang, 2015;Zhao, Wang, Pan, Xu, & Li, 2015;Zhou et al, 2017).…”

“…The waterway from Chongqing to Yibin in the upper Yangtze River (Figure 1) plays a vital role in the comprehensive transportation system of western developing areas in China (Rohacs & Somongati, 2007), and it is also the foundation for establishing an international shipping center in the upper Yangtze River (Zhao, 2015). Although waterway regulation and dredging projects have significant economic efficiency, their influence on riverine ecosystems cannot be ignored (Cui, Hu, & Zhai, 2011; Nanding et al, 2020; Willems, Busscher, Woltjer, & Arts, 2018). Engineering activities in the river influence the water flow pattern and river connectivity (Grill, Lehner, & Thieme, 2019), which subsequently affects the habitat (Xu, Wang, Duan, & Pan, 2014; Zhou et al, 2019) and species diversity of aquatic organisms (Zhao, Sheng, Yang, Wang, & Zhang, 2015; Zhao, Wang, Pan, Xu, & Li, 2015; Zhou et al, 2017).…”