Protests against clearing in Wiener Neustadt: Trees fall for road construction

Von WOM

A small group of demonstrators recently gathered in front of a controversial construction project in Wiener Neustadt. Her protest was directed against the clearing work that is necessary for the construction of a new road connection. Despite the activists' efforts to leave the site, the unannounced assembly was dissolved at around 8.50 a.m. Some of the protesters, who in their opinion stand up for the environment, were held responsible before the law. A brave demonstrator who had tied in a tree top was freed from the police around noon and arrested for a short time.

Despite the protests by environmental activists, the city of Wiener Neustadt continued the work. As part of the project, nine older trees had to give way, while the rest of the area of ​​the area was classified as shrubs and dead wood. The clearing are part of the so -called ring closure, which is supposed to create a connection between the roundabout on the B60 and the S4 motorway exit. This 4.3 kilometer street is planned for around 40 million euros by 2027.

environmental protection in focus

The reactions to the clearing were considerable. Environmental protection organizations such as Greenpeace and Attac expressed sharp criticism of both the tree felling and the police evacuation of the protesters. Greenpeace spoke of a "disaster for nature and agriculture", while Attac saw the evacuation as unjustified. The Lower Austrian Greens joined the criticism and described the project as "outdated" and an "attack on climate and soil".

The city council of Wiener Neustadt, on the other hand, emphasized the construction project. She referred to an ecological assessment regulation and planned compensatory measures. A reforestation is planned for November, which should be three times as large as the cleared area. In addition, a habitat is to be created on an area of ​​4.6 hectares, which is particularly suitable for skylarks, an endangered bird species. This area is already owned by the state of Lower Austria.

a controversial project

The construction project of the east bypass has been a hotly debated topic in the region for years. Despite extensive protests, it officially received a positive approval in all instances, as the state press service announced. The opponents of the Eastern bypass include the "Reason instead of eastern" platform, the Environmental Protection Organization Global 2000 and the NEOS, which raise all concerns about environmental compatibility. Despite the continuing controversy and the reviews, the city remains determined to drive the project forward, and thus shows how challenging the balance between infrastructure development and environmental protection can be.