Having previously experienced delays in the realization of plans, the relevant 19 authorities wanted to draw one combined plan in order to aid close cooperation with interest groups and citizens.
To exchange and make use of information as efficiently as possible during meetings, several methods were developed. One method was to enlist the services of cartoonists. The use of this medium to display discussion points made many of the complex issues crystal clear at a glance.
A distinct structure of planning process was also adopted consisting of four phases which were
- Problem definition
- Draw up of planning strategies
- Design of region plan
- Execution.
In the first phase, all issues were classified in three categories which were:
- Category I: the solution fit within the existing policies and needed administrative, juridical and/or financial attention.
- Category II: the solution was not obvious. Knowledge and creativity needed to be applied to reach a solution. Once the solution is determined the administrative, juridical and financial aspects will be studied.
- Category III: the solution was outside the scope of the project, as defined in the process plan, for administrative, juridical or financial reasons.
The result was then compiled into a booklet before starting the second phase. The second phase involved working sessions with experts who processed all ideas and checked them against the operative policy. The results were the formation of steering group and the selection of building blocks for the regional plan The third phase involved transforming these building blocks into concrete measures for the plan. In June 2001, 36 measures were determined in the planning program and seven packages of measures were identified which were:
- Water Package
- Wet Nature Package
- Water Sport Package
- Use of shore of Flevoland Package
- Recreation Flevoland Package
- Use of shore of Gelderland Package
- Recreation Gelderland Package.
The final phase spanning between 2002-2010 was the execution phase where these 36 measures were to be executed and the public was kept in the loop through annual presentations and newsletters.