If a new cross-country skiing arena is built in Leonfelden, it will be in Weigetschlag and not on Sternstein.
BAD LEONFELDEN. Sports state councilor Markus Achleitner (ÖVP) recently announced that two variants for a new cross-country skiing center in Bad Leonfelden were being examined – those at the Sternstein lifts and the Nordstern trails in Weigetschlag.
departments checked
After an informal examination of the forestry, biology, nature conservation and water departments, Weigetschlag emerged “as the clear favourite”, as Achleitner emphasizes. The reason: “The cross-country skiing area already exists, has been successfully managed by a strong club for years and is very well received by the athletes. In addition, this infrastructure can also be used in summer for a scooter route,” says the provincial councilor. The project applicants – the Sportunion and entrepreneur Peter Möllinger in charge of Nordstern – would now have to obtain offers and create cost estimates.
Green against it
There are critics: because the question is whether a cross-country skiing arena at around 800 meters above sea level makes sense given the forecast for global warming in the next few years. Projects in Sonnberg and Hellmonsödt failed for this reason. There is also skepticism in Bad Leonfelden, although there was a majority decision in the municipal council (21:4) for the Nordic Arena in the summer. “The fears of global warming are correct, but something has to be done for young athletes,” says Mayor Thomas Wolfesberger. His ÖVP supports the project because it would be “an impulse for Leonfelden”, for example for restaurants or accommodation facilities. Young and popular sports would be promoted.
The Greens are against it: “Nothing has been decided yet. However, it is already clear who will pay the price for this project: Farmers are losing fertile soil and water. The villagers are losing quality of life, we taxpayers are paying a lot of money for the benefit of less and we all lose because global warming and climate change are being ignored,” says Green Party spokesman Thomas Kronsteiner. There are around 60 affected residents in Weigetschlag.
The forest department is said to have spoken out against the Sternstein variant, as Sternstein managing director Andreas Eckerstorfer confirms: “We have electricity and the entire infrastructure here, but the forest department does not want the necessary clearing.”
Snowfarming
In Weigetschlag there is no need to clear and for the scooter route (1.9 to 2.8 km) only an existing path would have to be asphalted, says Möllinger from Nordstern. Achleitner wants to support the following cross-country trail project: A 3.5 km long artificial snow trail that can be guaranteed by “snow farming” and two other natural snow trails (7 and 9 km). With snow farming, snow is preserved over the summer using foils. “There’s enough surface water for that,” says Eidenberger. But a pond must be dug. Möllinger expects a total of around four million euros to be invested in Weigetschlag. This includes above all snow farming, snow cannons, snowcats, ponds, scooter tracks, floodlights and parking spaces. Buildings for ski rental, changing rooms and restaurants would also have to be created.