Operator is exposed to smear campaign. Politicians and citizens want to prevent the project.
In Gerasdorf (Korneuburg district) the local entrepreneur Leopold Kovanda wants to build a gravel pit. Appropriately across from his concrete plant in the east of the city. However, the area in which the five hectare gravel pit is planned is also close to a settlement.
Neighbors run against the storm project. “We have already collected 1,400 signatures against the gravel pit and the city politicians are also against the project,” a concerned citizen and avowed opponent of the project told KURIER.
Politics against the project
The Korneuburg MP Andreas Minnich (ÖVP) has also introduced a petition against the project in parliament. The SPÖ, which governs the city, also opposes this and supports all actions against the gravel pit.
Nevertheless, around 200 hectares that are currently used as agricultural land can be used for “sand and gravel extraction” according to the spatial planning program. The right should therefore lie with the entrepreneur Kovanda.
Project size reduced to avoid EIA procedures?
The project was submitted with a size of five hectares. Initially, 9.07 hectares were planned, as the company confirms to the KURIER. According to the spokeswoman for the company Kovanda, the project was subjected to a preliminary examination by the authorities and assessed positively from a sound engineering and nature conservation point of view. Despite everything, Kovanda has reduced the project size. “From my point of view, this has to do with it, because you can avoid an EIA procedure and do what you want,” says the local resident.
That's not true, Kovanda replies: “Although the authorities received initial positive feedback, the project was fought heavily from the outset, especially by the municipality.”
Furthermore, the municipality promised to take all steps to prevent the project, according to the company. For this reason, a reduction was made, as “this is by no means subject to an EIA”. Kovanda says they take the pressure of the community seriously and still want to secure 100 jobs in the city. Mayor Alexander Vojta (SPÖ) could not be reached for an opinion on the project for the KURIER.
Arable land for expansion
For the local residents, however, the fair has not yet been read. “The company is secretly trying to buy arable land around the planned gravel pit in order to expand the project afterwards,” says the project opponent.
Kovanda replies: “Should there actually be an expansion of the mining operations, it is very likely that an EIA assessment procedure will have to be carried out. In this procedure, the question to be answered is whether the change can be expected to have significant harmful, annoying or stressful effects on the environment. Only the outcome of this procedure will show whether an EIA is necessary or not. ”In principle, Leopold Kovanda sees himself exposed to a campaign. The entrepreneurial family is said to be insulted in the village and there are also said to have been threats against life and limb.
It is curious that a planned public hearing on nature conservation and water law for November 30th was canceled due to the corona pandemic. A second negotiation in the approval process, in which only those involved and parties are allowed to participate, takes place anyway.
