Reactions to the Ohlsdorf Court of Audit report: “Cannot understand criticism”

In a broadcast, VP State Councilor emphasized Markus Achleitner, he still considers Ehrenfeld II to be “suitable” for companies to locate there. This was also the decision of the Inkoba Salzkammergut Nord association with eleven municipalities “on the basis of a higher-level spatial planning area”. One and a half times the forest area will be reforested as a replacement, so he “cannot understand” the criticism of the clearing. And Achleitner explains: “If you can no longer set up businesses right next to the motorway, then nothing will work in Upper Austria anymore.”

• More on the subject: Clearing for the Ohlsdorf operating area was not carried out properly

The Court of Auditors’ recommendations on spatial planning that the state of Upper Austria should issue binding regional spatial planning programs for all regions will “of course be examined closely and followed accordingly.” These already exist for Linz-surrounding areas and Eferding, among others. Based on this, plans for other regions are being developed.

The Austrian federal forests (ÖBf) stated in an initial reaction that the issue of surface sealing would now be incorporated even more into the decision-making process. Regarding the criticism of the Court of Auditors, Asfinag and, above all, the Federal Forests did not secure themselves sufficiently contractually to benefit from the sale, it is said: “The fact is that the ÖBF sold the property well above the value determined by an independent appraiser. The expected dedication as a commercial development area at that time was Of course, this was factored into the pricing.” A subsequent improvement clause was therefore not considered useful. In addition, the ÖBf share only amounted to a third of the total area. And, as it is finally emphasized: “The sale of the area was not at the initiative of the ÖBf.”

Neos call for commission of inquiry

In an initial reaction, the Neos Upper Austria are calling for an investigative commission in the state parliament. “In the Ohlsdorf case, the report paints a fatal picture of looking the other way, listening and talking away,” says the Neos club boss Felix Eypeltauer. The only winner of this “huge scandal” is a “former ÖVP mayor and major ÖVP donor.” The Neos are therefore demanding that an investigative commission be set up in today’s state parliament session. However, this could be difficult. Because – unlike in other federal states – in Upper Austria the appointment of such a commission is the right of the majority.

• More on the subject: Long wait for the “lead location” in Ohlsdorf
• Also read: Ohlsdorf clearing: District captain under pressure
• Also Interesting: Federal Forestry boss: “We have learned our lessons from the Ohlsdorf case”

It is also incomprehensible why the state government never carried out a more detailed examination, says Neos budget and agriculture spokeswoman Karin Doppelbauer. As early as 2021, several inquiries about the matter had been made in the National Council: “It is completely incomprehensible how the Federal Forests were able to sell off this piece of land under these conditions and with these conditions.” Political responsibility must be clarified: “State Councilor Markus Achleitner has recently consistently maintained that everything in the Ohlsdorf case was done fairly.”

“The Court of Auditors shows the concentrated system failure in the Ohlsdorf case and thus confirms the Greens’ criticism to the letter,” responded the Greens’ state spokesman, Stefan Kaineder, on the Court of Auditors report. The processing at the state level is “far from being” completed. Kaineder, who is responsible for the department, can understand the Court of Auditors’ criticism that no environmental impact assessment was carried out: “My department would have loved to have carried out this assessment, but the legal requirements were not met.” An environmental impact assessment is only necessary from 20 hectares; 19 hectares were requested for the project. “But the 19 hectares were obviously deliberately chosen by the applicant in order to avoid an EIA,” says Kaineder. We therefore support any legal measure that gives the environmental department more control in technical audits.

For the Green Party’s spatial planning spokesman, Rudi Hemetsberger, “complete and intensive educational work” is now necessary. The country must investigate how the clearance permit came about: “With this report, the reassurances of the responsible authorities crumble.”

The SPÖ Upper Austria calls the Court of Audit report “devastating” in its statement. SP spatial planning spokeswoman Heidi Strauss sees this as confirmation of the criticism of this “large-scale land grab”: “12.2 million euros in profit for the ÖVP major donor Asamer is the icing on the cake.” She also sees State Councilor Achleitner as responsible for “checking the background and putting all the cards on the table”. Personal consequences cannot be ruled out for Strauss. A total overhaul of spatial planning law is also needed.

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