Because the planned Digital University took a second step before the first – millions of dollars were wasted:

MFG was one of the first and most vehement forces to speak out against the planned rezoning of 100,000 square meters of grassland in the Urfahran green belt: “The fact that the city of Linz is now abandoning the planned rezoning is also due to our resistance – which, as so often, others have taken over,” says LAbg. Joachim Aigner, MFG-OÖ state party chairman. “Someone always has to go first – the first spark of resistance also came from MFG when it came to the planned compulsory corona vaccination approved by the National Council in 2022. This shows that even a supposedly small force can achieve big things.” Governor Stelzer, who was the driving force behind the 234 million euro university project, is now confronted with the fact that he wanted to push through completely out-of-the-box decisions that… obviously have no legal basis.

With the votes of the SPÖ and ÖVP, the Linz local council wanted to convert over 100,000 square meters of grassland north of Kepler University into building land and gradually seal it. Previously, the federal government and the state of Upper Austria, as the actual project drivers, had already put pressure on the project, organized a highly prized architectural competition and even chosen the winner, which was presented at a large press conference in the country house.

Joachim Aigner: “You have to imagine this: Without knowing the statements of environmental and nature conservation and without having the absolutely necessary rezoning in hand, the state, under the leadership of Governor Thomas Stelzer, is embarking on such a gamble. The bottom line is that, according to estimates, a seven-figure amount has already flowed into preliminary planning, architectural competition including prize money, planning for the planned light rail stop, etc. Mr. Governor, please take responsibility for this now!“

The question remains: Who is liable for this immensely expensive and obviously unplanned project? Enormous sums of money have already been wasted – for nothing and nothing, as it now turns out. Once again, Governor Stelzer wasn’t there, he had already cleaned himself off in the city. But obviously nothing has been learned from the last few days, because as we hear, they want to wait until the Linz mayoral election (January 12, 2025) and then make a new attempt for the greenfield location: “Should the SPÖ and ÖVP really do that “The two of them will get a bloody nose again,” said Joachim Aigner.

MFG’s demand is clear: preserve and protect Linz’s green belt – without any ifs or buts. There must be no further rezoning in this sensitive zone. In the state capital there is more than enough unused, already sealed land that can be used for urban development. Petra Lindner, MFG Linz district spokeswoman: “Our favorite for the Digital University was, is and remains the planned PostCity near the main train station. A location outside of Linz would also be conceivable for us, because the regions also need high-quality educational institutions.”