14.03.2023
Regional Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, meeting press release, 14 March 2023
The provincial government met on Tuesday 14 March in Oulu. On lobbying issues, Provincial Director Markus Erkkilä presented the state of play of air traffic.
The financial statements and the report of the Board of Directors were approved
The Regional Board approved the financial statements and the report of the Board of Directors of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The result for the financial year 2022 is a surplus of EUR 84 342.90. The financial statements and the report of the Board of Directors proceed from the meeting of the Provincial Government to the Provincial Council in May for consideration.
Even though the operating environment has undergone a revolution, the goals of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia can be well suited for change. Strengthening the Western connections in advocacy and international cooperation, in regional planning through wind power, which has increased energy self-sufficiency, and in supporting the green transition with cohesion policy instruments respond well to the challenges brought about by the geopolitical change, emphasised Pauli Harju, who will be on leave at the end of March, in a review by the Provincial Director.
Lohi Iijoki -project
Project Manager Mirko Laakkonen presented Iijoki's project portfolio. Several projects, research and official work have contributed to the restoration of the natural cycle of migratory fish in the Iijoki River. The Iijoki Otva project (2015-2018) formed a shared view of all key stakeholders in the use and management of the Iijoki river basin on the future of the Iijoki river basin and on ways to increase the value of the river basin. As a result of the Iijoki migratory fish tip project (2017-2020) and the Iijoki migratory fish project (2020-2022), the first downhill migration route of smolts in Finland has been built in Haapakoski, Iijoki.
In the Lohi Iijoki project (2022-2024), a large-scale telemetry monitoring study of smolts will be carried out in Haapakoski/Pahkakoski, a downhill migration path will be trialled and developed, underwater camera monitoring of smolts will be organised, overtransfers of smolts will be started, and a video on the river nature and fish population of Iijoki will be produced. The project will continue the over-transfers of high-rise fish, the restocking of small juveniles and the promotion of the Raasaka power plant dam bypass solution.
The Lohi Iijoki project is funded by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, the Natural Resources Institute Finland, PVO-Vesivoima Oy, the Lapland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ii, Oulu, Pudasjärvi, Taivalkoski, Kuusamo and the Iijoki fishing area. The project is also being implemented by Metsähallitus and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia. The project will run from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2024 with a total budget of EUR 902 000. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia manages a share of EUR 620,000 and the Natural Resources Institute Finland manages a share of EUR 282,000. The project has received funding from the NOUSU programme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Promoting security of supply and overall safety in Northern Ostrobothnia through regional development
The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has applied for a project to promote the region's security of supply and overall safety. The project runs from 1 March to 30 September 2023 and has a total estimated cost of €35,000. €28,000 of national AKKE funding has been applied for the project. The aim is to use funds from the Development Fund of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for the self-financing part of the project.
Comprehensive security is a cooperative model of Finnish preparedness, in which the vital functions of society are taken care of in cooperation with authorities, industry, organisations and citizens. The Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia is a statutory regional development authority, so it is natural that the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia looks at supporting issues related to maintenance disability and overall safety from the perspectives of the development and targeting of the contents, implementation and tools of regional development. The priorities of the Regional Programme for Northern Ostrobothnia have numerous interfaces for overall safety and security of supply.
As a result of the project, an implementation plan for regional development in Northern Ostrobothnia will be created from the point of view of security of supply and overall safety.
In brief
- The provincial government stated that the decisions of the provincial council were taken in the prescribed order, that the provincial council did not exceed its powers of action and that the decisions were not unlawful and decided to implement the decisions of the provincial council.
- The Provincial Government approved Cooperative Team Kala to carry out the capture and over-transfer of live Atlantic salmon and trout in Iijoki in 2023. The total cost of the procurement shall not exceed EUR 63 900.
- The information control plan of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia was confirmed for use.
- Esa Aunola, Executive Director of the North Ostrobothnia Villages Association, was appointed as a member of the regional cooperation group as a representative of the Advisory Board for Organisations, and Heli Hietala (Finnish 4H Federation, Central and North Ostrobothnia and Kainuu) was appointed as his deputy.
- Decisions of the Regional Director for the period 4.2.-3.3.2023
- Statements issued by the Office for the period 4.2.-3.3.2023
