“I am cautious when it comes to these clear guidelines,” said Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) to the “Vorarlberger Nachrichten” (Wednesday). The 2.5 hectare limit could “certainly be a brake” on economic growth. Breaking down the brakes into a specific number is a bit too short-sighted, says Brunner.
Not every federal state has the same requirements, argued the finance minister and referred to his federal state of Vorarlberg. This has special topographical challenges; other federal states may have more areas. “It would be important to pay attention to this individually. It would also be important to think things through to the end and not from one day to the next,” said Brunner.
The negotiations on an Austrian soil protection strategy have so far failed due to resistance from the states and the association of municipalities. They reject a binding target to limit land consumption to 2.5 hectares per day by 2030, as agreed in the turquoise-green government program.
