Rambervillers – A renaturation project for the site of the former Matussiere and Forest paper mill

This Friday, December 16, the signing of the agreement that concretized the work of the renaturation of the old paper mills Matussiere and Forest in Rambervillers between the Public Land Establishment of the Grand Est (EPFGE), the municipality of Rambervillers, the Community of municipalities of the Rambervillers Region and Public Territorial Establishment of the Meurthe-Madon Basin (EPTB).

Wasteland rehabilitation is indeed a key issue in the sustainable development of territories to control urban sprawl, to limit the consumption of natural, agricultural and forest areas and to protect the land against its artificial production.

What requalification project for Matussere and Forest paper mill?

The municipality of Rambervillers benefited from the revitalization operation of the town center in 2018, an operation co-financed by the State and Departmental Council, which is now included in the “small town of tomorrow” system. The requalification of the wasteland of the former Matussiere and Forest paper mill is one of the actions of this program that was confirmed on March 3, 2020.

The inter-ministerial “place for projects” platform brings together all partners to identify prospects for the re-qualification of the former paper mill and direct the project towards the restructuring of the site. The site of the former paper mill is in the flood zone (red and blue zones of the Flood Risk Prevention Plan); the renaturation of this site will allow the expansion of the floodplain in these plots and thus lower the water level in the city center during high water periods.

The cost of the rehabilitation: €4,655,000

The cost of this rehabilitation, which includes studies, project management, deconstruction, depollution and restoration, is estimated at €4,655,000, of which €4,200,000 is financed by the EPFGE (ie €80 % of the operation). The renaturation will be supported by the EPTB as part of the Flood Prevention Action Program (PAPI) with funding from the Rhine-Meuse Water Agency.

Requalification of brownfields: What are the issues?

This project to remake the site of the former Papeteries Matussiere et Forest proposed and financed by various partners is a real financial and environmental opportunity. The requalification of wasteland is a powerful lever available to local authorities that makes it possible to restore the attractiveness of the territory and bring about a re-evaluation and improvement in the image of the site.