Advising the Innovation, Urban Planning and Mobility business group
Wien (OTS/RK) – GRin Mag. Heidemarie sequence (GRÜNE) discussed aircraft noise in and around the city. There is already a ban on night flights for the south and west of Vienna, but not for areas in the north or east of the city. Therefore, she announced a corresponding motion that should “eliminate this injustice”. She finds the argument “absurd” that the ban on night flights supposedly “doesn’t achieve anything”. According to citizens’ initiatives from Lower Austria, there are 7,400 approved night flights over the area, says Sequence. It’s not about forbidding people to do something, but about ensuring that they get a healthy night’s sleep. She does not accept references to technical innovations such as the “curved approach” because these have been around for a long time – without any improvement for those affected. Neither is the call for a third runway for Vienna Airport, because it is incomprehensible how more flights could lead to an improvement in the situation. Sequence also submitted a motion to say no to the third airport runway.
GRin Dipl.-Ing. Elisabeth Olischar, BSc (ÖVP), described the topic of public space and mobility as city councilor Ulli Sima’s “favorite topics” based on the projects implemented in Vienna. Even if they didn’t agree with everything, the ÖVP MPs still agreed to two out of three cycle path projects, said Olischar. The decision is one thing, but the implementation is another. Olischar therefore congratulated all employees involved for their work over the last year. This also applies to the project to renovate the western exit, which Olischar mentioned explicitly. In other areas she would like to see more creative designs – for example play areas. In the area of urban planning, Olischar saw deficiencies in “sensitivity, foresight and focus”. You also miss access to more profound reforms and processes here. She saw “a lot of room for improvement” in the cooperation in this regard in the local council. The issue of world cultural heritage, which has preoccupied the city “for many years,” is also a problem. UNESCO once again did not give the city a good certificate regarding its preservation. This particularly affects the project at Heumarkt, where the project developer is now “understandably” putting pressure on implementation. Olishar renewed her call for concrete measures to “eliminate this problem.” Simply waiting is not enough. She also lacks transparency when it comes to the question of the new stand development plan (STEP), which has been announced but of which she is not yet aware. In this context, Olischar recalled the potential of densification in the already built-up area, which must be given priority over widening “into greenfields”, and at the same time called for the inclusion of a mobility concept in the aforementioned urban development plan.
GR Erich Valentin (SPÖ) reminded that aircraft noise and air traffic are not a task within the autonomy of the states, but are negotiated at international and national levels – also with the participation of Vienna. Vienna already has a night flight ban that goes beyond what the previous speaker Olischar called for – namely from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. This is the “most far-reaching ban on night flights in Europe”. The issue of aircraft noise is about ensuring that “as few people as possible” should be affected. This is also the case, “since more people live in Vienna than in neighboring communities in Lower Austria,” says Valentin. Valentin praised the fact that the long standstill in comprehensive parking space management had been resolved in the current legislative period. This is also necessary because it curbs traffic and thus creates space for cycle paths, for example. There is a general “change of mind” in Vienna in the areas of mobility, greenery and quality of life – this is also thanks to the city government. Valentin described the revival of the Viennese markets as a particularly successful project, which had recorded a “huge increase” in visitors. Valentin once again saw the good coexistence in the city confirmed. He expressed his thanks to everyone who played a part in this.
GR Wolfgang Kieslich (non-club member) recalled that the bus terminal, criticized by the Green parliamentary group as the “second best choice”, was planned under a Green planning councilor. Regarding photovoltaics, he recalled that the liberal parliamentary group had already called for improvements in 2011. Ultimately, says Kieslich, it should also be the task of politicians to reduce aircraft noise as much as possible – for everyone, regardless of whether they are in Vienna or Lower Austria. Unfortunately, Kieslich continues, there has been no “sense” in transport policy – the many cycle paths that have been built are evidence of this. These led to more traffic jams and therefore more air pollution. He spoke out against the expansion of cycle paths “if they are not planned sensibly and at the expense of car traffic”. Parking space management is a “money machine” for the city, again at the expense of drivers. Vienna is growing, but “not necessarily to the benefit of the population,” emphasized Kieslich. There are many challenges, including the infrastructure. However, the question that should be taken into account is whether the Viennese would benefit from this growth and the associated construction activity. In Kieslich’s opinion, this is not the case. He is therefore calling for stricter requirements for construction projects and better protection of Vienna’s green spaces. (cont.) jazz
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