Flood chaos in Matzleinsdorf: damage and visions of the future

Flood chaos in Matzleinsdorf: damage and visions of the future

Massive flooding has caused significant damage in the municipality of Zelking-Matzleinsdorf and the situation remains tense. Hundreds of residents were denied access to their homes and the Matzleinsdorf Volunteer Fire Department was also affected. Mayor Gerhard Bürg expressed his concern: “It is a catastrophe that we have never had before.” Currently, over 200 homes across the community have been affected and over 40 people have had to be evacuated from their homes.

Preparations for flood protection in the region began in 2009, shortly after an earlier flood event. According to the municipality, a flood runoff study was carried out by the company Geoconsult Vienna in 2010, followed by a tender to develop a flood protection project in cooperation with the state of Lower Austria. However, despite the intensive planning, the implementation steps have been delayed, which is due to several factors.

Dispute over property

The delays were most recently identified as a problem by an anonymous tip: An important site of just 15 square meters, which is needed for the protection project, failed due to disputed ownership. “The landowner should have been expropriated,” was the demand from those around the community. Mayor Bürg is trying to remain diplomatic and plans to hold talks with the affected families again.

However, he emphasizes that the first priority is to urgently assess and limit the damage, as well as to provide acute help for those affected. These steps are seen as necessary in the context of a catastrophe that has already occurred, and the mayor has the fate of his fellow citizens in mind.

Looking into the future and renaturation

However, Walter Handl, a former local councilor from the SPÖ, sees the situation more critically. In his eyes, saving the Melk, which has largely lost its natural flow and now acts like a canal, is crucial. He has been warning about possible floods for a long time and is calling for renaturation measures to be taken in good time. Handl said concreting the riverbed allowed water to flow at high speeds - a factor that contributed to the destruction.

A realistic view of the problems is considered necessary. Handl suggests bringing in a state mediator to make the negotiations with the landowners objective and constructive. "It's no use burying your head in the sand. The climate crisis is real and disasters are becoming more frequent," said Handl. The divisions within the community are directly linked to the need to take every possible measure to prevent future flooding.