Advising the Climate, Environment, Democracy and Human Resources Business Group
Vienna (OTS/RK) – GRin Julia Klika, BEd (ÖVP) dedicated herself to the topic of animal protection. She thanked the City of Vienna for its achievements in this area and then spoke about dogs with yellow ribbons. These yellow ribbons would draw attention to the fact that a dog has special needs – be it due to an anxiety disorder or physical limitations. Unfortunately, according to Klika, many people are not aware of the meaning of this yellow ribbon. This leads to “potentially dangerous” situations and an awareness campaign is therefore necessary. Klika also wants to encourage dog owners to provide their dogs with such a bow if necessary. Klika submitted a corresponding motion.
GRin Mag. Nina Abrahamczik (SPÖ) spoke about the report by the Vienna Environmental Advocate and spoke about the topic of young trees and mentioned that they were exposed to “stress”. Care is necessary, there is a budget and sponsors for the trees are being sought. Animals that live and or breed on and around buildings are another issue that requires consideration. The example of bats shows the quality of life in Vienna – according to Abrahamczik, 22 of 28 bat species lived in Vienna. Abrahamczik praised Wiener Wohnen, which also pays a lot of attention to animal protection during renovations. The city’s environmental protection department is also very active; Abrahamczik cited the “Nature Network” protection program as an example. She praised the property management in the Nordbahnviertel, which shows a great deal of commitment to biodiversity in the area. Funding for inner courtyard greening and roof greening would be increased. Unsealing funding will also come, she announced. Abrahamczik spoke of programs and workshops to promote sustainable and healthy nutrition for young people. In this regard, Abrahamczik praised the Animal Welfare Ombudsman and its purchasing guide for purchasing animal products. Abrahamczik spoke about microchipping animals. This makes it easier to find lost animals. In contrast to cats, dogs are required to be chipped – unfortunately many dogs are chipped but not registered. There is a need to catch up. Regarding the loop mentioned by GR Klika (ÖVP), Abrahamczik said that it was already part of the certificate of expertise. The Vienna dog teams would be out and about more in 2024 to point out obligations and provide information on the topic of animal welfare.
Official StR Mag. Jürgen Czernohorszky (SPÖ) opened by pointing out that this year is the hottest in thousands of years. Politicians must therefore do everything they can to ensure a “good life” in the future. Climate protection requires “courageous and decisive” politics to protect people from the effects of climate change. “Climate protection is social policy,” said Czernohorszky. The city is “in the middle” of restructuring and there is “fire on the roof”. However, alarmism is not helpful and is just as unproductive as “ignorance”. It is important to “never lose optimism”. From the energy transition to the gas phase-out, the city has already achieved a lot. The topic of circular economy is no less important. Vienna has ideal conditions for this and “takes care of the crap one hundred percent”. This is “unique” for a city of millions. It is important to prevent and recycle waste, but also to use resources. Repairs are a “huge” topic and the repair bonus is a success in this area – as is the 48er’s “Orange Week”. Vienna does not want to “waste any resource”. We want to use whatever crap still exists to generate energy. Renewable energy sources – such as photovoltaics – would be expanded with 30 million euros. They are well on the way to “sixteen-fold” the performance that Vienna achieved at the beginning of the current government. The expansion of green spaces is also progressing “rapidly”. This is important for the quality of life. They want to redesign or redesign 400,00 square meters during the legislative period; they have already achieved “significantly more” than half. In 2024 we would be heading towards two “big” elections. Czernohorszky thanked the employees who would do a lot – such as the MA 62. In a city like Vienna, one would be “well advised” to do their part to ensure that the “quiet ones become loud”. You have to involve people. This was achieved, for example, with the Vienna climate teams, which had collected more than 2,500 ideas and would continue to work. The Democracy Workshop, the Local Agenda and other initiatives would also make a contribution. Urban infrastructure is important, Czernohorszky cited water infrastructure as an example. More than 100 million euros would be invested to secure the water supply in the future. Czernohorszky said that next year the Vienna Canal would celebrate its 100th anniversary. The extension of the Wiental Canal will create 60 million liters of storage volume. The heating infrastructure is another important means of phasing out oil and gas. A strong renewable heat law is “essential”, a regulation for the existing buildings would have been needed, the fact that the federal government is not creating the framework conditions is “unacceptable”. Czernohorszky quoted Marty McFly from the film “Back to the Future” with the words “You may not be ready for it yet, but your kids will love it!” Finally, Czernohorszky thanked the employees of the City of Vienna. “You are one big climate team.”
Advising the Housing, Housing, Urban Renewal and Women Business Group
GR Mag. Dietbert Kowarik (FPÖ) opened with the statement “nothing new in the East”. 4.3 billion new debt is a “bitter number”. This is about money, most of which comes from taxpayers. A sensitive handling of the money is required. According to Kowarik, the city government should “write this down in the register” because apparently they are not aware of it. One problem that the city has is its constant growth. Infrastructure needs to be created for around two million people. This particularly applies to the living space. Social housing must be implemented – but there is a lack of housing, says Kowarik. According to Kowarik, the city would not achieve its goals for new municipal housing. Just over a thousand apartments have been completed so far, as Kowarik quoted from wien.orf.at. You need apartments, and “quickly”. Kowarik said that Wiener Wohnen’s renovation plan was not sufficiently covered by the budget. According to Kowarik, the rent freeze “came too late”. Rents would have risen sharply in 2023 and a freeze would have been necessary. The City of Vienna is taking a “patschert” approach when it comes to renting to political parties. Kowarik also questioned the City of Vienna’s property sales. The Court of Auditors found sales that were “too cheap”. There would remain “many construction sites in the housing department” and he could not agree to the budget.
GRin Dipl.-Ing. Selma Arapovic (NEOS) found it a shame that GR Kowarik (FPÖ) had a “negative connotation” on construction sites. Arapovic said many were positive and signs that something was happening. Arapovice said that an important issue is not where we build, which is the task of urban planning, but how we build. The future of Vienna must be “climate-fit and climate-neutral”. Legal framework conditions are created, incentives are set and funding is made possible. Arapovic cited the building regulations as an example. The amendment to the law is “important” for many Viennese; there have already been 163 comments on it. Adaptation to climate protection and the creation of affordable living space are key points. The parking space obligation is another focus. The creation of the legal framework for the energy spatial plans is very “important”, but a directory of all gas connections in Vienna is needed for the future. You can work with this data and plan the expansion. You also have to know what necessary infrastructure needs to be built. The Renewable Energy Act must provide more in this regard, and Arapovic called for cooperation. The renovation ordinance shows that Vienna is not only promoting the reduction of energy consumption, but also decarbonization measures. You have to take both elements into account, that’s a challenge. Here too, the federal and state levels must work “together”. The renovation of entire districts, such as the Volkertviertel, is particularly “close to Arapovic’s heart” – also because it is possible to implement ideas from the population, for example with neighborhood councils. (Continued) pos
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