Liesingbach is becoming a green oasis: renaturation starts now!

Liesingbach is becoming a green oasis: renaturation starts now!

Today, September 5, 2025, an important environmental policy project will be launched in Vienna. The start of construction work on the renaturation of the Liesingbach between Gutheil-Schoder-Gasse and Breitenfurter Straße represents another important step in the ecological upgrading of the water body.

In total, the renaturation project covers a 9.2 kilometer long stretch of Liesingbach, of which 3.5 kilometers have already been successfully redesigned. The final renaturation work in Draschepark has now been completed. The aim of the project is to transform the Liesing into a green natural oasis and at the same time improve flood protection. A new stormwater canal will be built parallel to the renaturation of the stream.

Ecological measures and water quality

Water Minister Norbert Totschnig emphasizes the importance of the project for flood protection and improving ecological conditions. The renaturation should not only create a habitat for plants and animals, but also significantly improve the water quality of the Liesingbach. The planned measures include, among others:

• Pendelstrecken im Gewässerlauf für abwechslungsreiche Gewässerzonen;
• Die Schaffung einer Erholungsinsel bei der Riegermühle;
• Pflanzung von 260 hitzetoleranten Bäumen und über 780 heimischen Sträuchern;
• Eine innovative Rankbegrünung mit dem Konzept „Schwebendes Grün“ auf Höhe des Steinsees.

The new stormwater sewer is being built using the microtunneling process and has an outside diameter of 172 cm and an inside diameter of 140 cm. Particular attention is paid to minimizing emissions such as noise and dust caused during construction work. The EU project LIFE EnCAM will accompany the construction work with climate-friendly measures.

Project financing and implementation details

The total gross costs of the project amount to around 85 million euros, with the city of Vienna contributing around 69 million euros and around 16 million euros being funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The city's share is therefore the largest financier. The construction work is being carried out by the Vienna Waters Department (MA 45) in collaboration with Vienna Canal, and the renaturation project is scheduled to be completed by 2027.

The administrative authority has already successfully implemented the first construction phase, which began in the middle of 2022 with the first renovation work, specifically between Großmarktstrasse and Gutheil-Schoder-Gasse. District leader Gerald Bischof emphasizes the role of the new underpasses for pedestrians and cyclists that these measures will create.

Public relations and information center

An important element for the success of the project is public relations. The B.A.C.H.L. Information Center at Gutheil-Schoder-Gasse 19, which has been open since 2021, offers information about the project, construction progress and an interactive exhibition. This commitment promotes understanding and support among the population.

The renaturation of the Liesingbach is not only a sign of environmental responsibility, but also an example of how ecological and urban development challenges can be mastered through effective project management, clear target definitions and the involvement of the public. For more information about the planning and implementation of renaturation measures, those interested can visit the website Federal Environment Agency access.

As the renaturation work on the Liesingbach progresses, it remains exciting to see how this valuable nature project will develop and what positive effects it will have on local biodiversity and the quality of life in Vienna.