Schmuckenschlager: "Right to the great outdoors already enshrined in the constitution"

2023-08-19 10:53:39

The number of public bathing spots has increased significantly in recent years

Vienna (OTS) – “The right to a free nature is already enshrined in the constitution in Austria through the principle of sustainability. In addition, as early as 1996, public access to lake shores owned by the Republic of Austria and managed by Österreichische Bundesforste AG was enshrined in law. Access to a lake affects spatial planning and zoning in the vicinity of lakes; the federal states and municipalities are responsible for this. The numbers show us that the number of public bathing spots has increased significantly in recent years. The SPÖ’s demand for free access to the lake in the constitution is therefore in vain,” says the environmental spokesman for the People’s Party, Johannes Schmuckenschlager.

“One thing is clear: property owners are free to decide on access to their property – and that will of course remain the case. However, the declared goal is to further expand public access to the lake if possible,” continued Schmuckenschlager, who finally emphasized: “The SPÖ pursues ideological party politics against property and owners in our country. With a new party leader, many within the SPÖ expected a factual course for social democracy – these expectations were disappointed by Andreas Babler.”