It should be ready by the weekend and, if necessary, start operations for 480 people, explained Jürgen Karall from the state’s crisis management on Thursday. Festival fans know the area, just before the Nickelsdorf border crossing off the Ostautobahn and then on a goods road towards wind turbines, there is plenty of that here as well as plenty of wind. The 1,100 square meter hall normally serves as a storage space for various festival paraphernalia, such as barriers. This is now stored next to the building.
Since Tuesday evening, employees of the state and a production company have been busy clearing out and preparing. On Thursday, the hall was cleared of dust using a compressor before the electrical installations can be carried out. Light and internet are still needed. The mobile sanitary facilities are already in place. Likewise containers from the Red Cross with blankets and camp beds.
During the Nova Rock Festival, the hall houses artists’ dressing rooms. Here, where the musicians are preparing for their performance, Ukrainian refugees are to be taken in if necessary. It is planned that people who come to Austria via the Nickelsdorf border crossing will be provided with the essentials after their arrival before they are taken to quarters after a maximum of 48 hours – if they want to stay in Austria, explained Karall. Currently, the majority of Ukrainians already arrive with a destination address.
The hall will be ready for occupancy in the next few days and will also be heated. When exactly it will be put into operation depends on the number of refugee arrivals. The Red Cross will be responsible for the care and catering of those seeking help. In any case, the rescue organization can start work here within a few hours, according to Christoph Frimmel from the Red Cross.
In June, after a two-year break due to corona, the festival guests will be welcomed back to the Nova Rock on the wide area near Nickelsdorf.
Meanwhile, the influx of refugees from Ukraine at the Burgenland-Hungarian border on Thursday was still manageable, according to the APA request from the Burgenland State Police Directorate. Compared to the past few days – around 3,000 people from Ukraine entered the country on Tuesday – the situation is unchanged. According to the police, most of the refugees travel on to other countries – to relatives or acquaintances who live there.
Source: Nachrichten
