Public Relations

The Client

The sewage system around Lake Velence, lying 50 kilometres west of Budapest, was only partially completed by early 2000. To reach a full system local governments decided to join forces and apply for a grant. They set up a joint consortium with the Transdanubian Regional Waterworks to administer the sewage investment project and applied for an EU grant for infrastructural investment.

Investment costs were planned to reach HUF 6.1 billion Forints: 70% financed by the EU, 25% by the Hungarian Government and 5% by the members of the consortium.

Professional challenge

Communication had to be coordinated in an area of residents and holiday-home owners in 6 different settlements. To reach the full population including non-residents throughout the year posed a special problem, because works were carried out in low season as well.

ST Scope’s solution

The image and the communication tools of the project were largely determined by the  National Investment Bureau, responsible for large scale EU investment projects.

Lake Velence is mostly a holiday area, so it seemed obvious to involve each local government to be able to contact owners personally. Intense cooperation between the project office and the contractor ensured that the scheduled date of works in the neighbourhood was known to each individual owner. We also operated a special telephone line and a website to provide regular information about the project.

Beside addressed direct mail, the local television channel proved a very useful tool. With our help they could follow  and record the various stages of the new sewage system and show them to local inhabitants.

We considered young people an especially important target group, so we organized regular open days at the sewage plant. Local school groups were shown around the plant and learned how it really worked. Besides, we prepared a special CD for regional schools: an educational CD that shows the Lake’s surroundings, geography, flora, fauna and special sights as well as demonstrates the investment  and the operation of the sewage plant.

Achievements

Local inhabitants supported the project and cooperated with the contractor.

87% of respondents were happy with the investment. Only very few people were against it.

88% were aware of the fact that the investment could be realized with EU support only.

89% believe that the investment will improve the Lake’s environment.