Only MFG stands up against the unusable solution surrounding the new kindergarten at the Vöcklabruck rectory:
A nice signal would be that the site is made available free of charge; as we all know, the church is not short of money. The church not only has a responsibility for children, families and coexistence, but also a social mission.”
Ursula Soriat, MFG local councilor in Vöcklabruck
Vöcklabruck’s mayor Peter Schobesberger (SPÖ) describes the planned new construction of the kindergarten at the Catholic rectory as a “significant milestone for our community”, which has now been waved through in the Vöcklabruck local council with the exception of the approval of MFG: “Both the agreement with the church and the financing are more than in need of improvement, foresight and sustainability are completely missing from the agreed solution,” criticizes MFG local councilor Ursula Soriat. She calls for a return to the start.
“The agreement to pay building lease interest over 50 years at an impressive, index-secured amount of 15,000 euros per annum for the property belonging to the church – that is good for the church and a shot in the foot for the community,” says Ursula Soriat. And this agreement actually harbors a great danger: “After 50 years, the building will revert to the church without compensation or will have to be demolished at their request, with the community also having to bear these costs – what is supposed to be sustainable about this solution?”
“50 years is far too short”
Ursula Soriat demands that at least the term must be extended: “50 years is far too short, or does anyone seriously believe that we will no longer need childcare facilities in 50 years? In other construction projects, a standard term of 99 years is often agreed upon, and that should be the aim here too.” It is also clear that a well-built object has a much longer lifespan than just 50 years: “So does that mean, conversely, that we have one Put up a cheap building that only has to last 50 years anyway?”
Where is the social responsibility of the church?
Another problem with the negotiated agreement, which all factions waved through without much questioning: all costs must be borne by the community – from making the site ready for construction, to construction and construction costs, maintenance and parking area management: “Actually, the church should – in this case the St. Florian Abbey as the landowner – be aware of their social responsibility and not just hold out their hand,” says Soriat.
“A nice signal would be that the site is made available free of charge; as we all know, the church is not short of money. The church not only has a responsibility for children, families and coexistence, but also a social mission.”
According to estimates, the church in Austria has assets of around 4.5 billion euros – a large part of which consists of land and real estate. In the case of the rectory, the church collects a secured building lease interest of 15,000 euros net per year for 50 years – that makes a total of 750,000 euros. With an estimated value of one million euros for the approximately 3,200 square meter property, you could buy the property and not be far off the purchase price, but the community doesn’t own it after 50 years. Ursula Soriat: “Why doesn’t the church build the building itself and the city rent it instead of burdening the community and thus the citizens with everything? That would be a truly sustainable solution over many generations.”
Young and inexperienced instead of far-sighted and sustainable?
“I suspect that the current mayor and the deputy mayor from the ÖVP simply lack both the knowledge and the intergenerational foresight due to their young age and the lack of their own offspring. In addition, Peter Schobesberger (SPÖ) is under a lot of pressure because kindergarten and… There is a lack of playroom spaces, and at the same time there is a lot of residential construction, which increases the pressure. “In addition, due to the tense financial situation, the community could be more inclined to make short-term, seemingly unplanned decisions,” says Ursula Soriat. The location is by no means without alternatives. Soriat: “There was no really serious process for finding a sustainable location; I think that is absolutely irresponsible.”
Questions & Contact:
MFG State Parliament Club Upper Austria
(+43 732) 7720 – 17402
press-you@mfg-oe.at
www.klubmfg-ooe.at