Political ticker: Support for “yes to the trail, but not like this”, avoiding energy shortages
The citizens’ initiative “Yes to the trail, but not like that”, which has signed lists in the parish office and the parish church in Hötting as well as on the Höttinger picture, receives political support. The city has taken numerous measures to create reserves for mpossible energy bottlenecks met. Demand: “Ban of AirBnB and Co in particularly polluted parts of the city possible – Innsbruck must follow suit!”
INNSBRUCK. The city of Innsbruck has dealt intensively with the topic of security of supply with energy for the winter. “Pages of the country is with Provincial Councilor Anton Mattle An expert in the direction of which I consider myself lucky. We have also been taking precautions in Innsbruck for weeks. Dependence on gas is relatively high in the city. More than two-thirds of households in Innsbruck are heated with gas and almost 15% with oil. Even though we hope that due to the EU’s master plan, there will be enough gas and oil and we take precautions for possible bottlenecks,” explains Vbgm. Johannes Anzengruber opposite the Innsbruck district newspapers.
public safety
In addition to the necessary heat supply, the basis of public safety also plays an important role here. The authorities and organizations with security tasks (BOS) have a high demand for fuel. That is why Anzengruber and his team from the individual offices recently had an evaluation carried out as to which measures can be taken to ensure public safety and to be fully prepared in the event of bottlenecks. Target figures are evaluated with regard to the energy sources wood, fuel, heating oil, electricity and gas, but also firewood for security of supply. Building on this, further measures will be taken to complement those already achieved.
Limited alternatives
As far as a possible electricity or gas shortage is concerned, the alternative actions of the City of Innsbruck are limited. There were joint discussions on security of supply with IKB and TIGAS as suppliers of electricity and gas. Preventive measures have been initiated by the energy suppliers. With regard to the supply of heating oil and pellets, according to Anzengruber, it is important to find out which municipal buildings are heated with oil and pellets and what security of supply is given. At least a certain minimum level or a minimum stamina can be defined in consultation with the IIG.
Planned minimum tank levels
With regard to the fuel supply, the professional fire brigade carried out an initial assessment of the security of supply in the area of public safety and infrastructure and measures were taken to increase the security of supply for the Innsbruck fire brigade. As with the fire brigade, there should also be minimum tank levels in all other necessary areas (fire brigade, meals on wheels, public transport by IVB, road operations, IKB, etc.) so that public safety can be maintained even in the event of bottlenecks. For authorities and organizations with security tasks, a filling level is aimed at that is aimed at for at least two months of normal operation in the event of a failure of the regulated supply. An expansion of the storage quantity for emergency generators is also being planned.
Logging is increased
Low-income families are particularly affected by the massive increase in the price of firewood. In addition, a shortage in retail can be observed. “The first precautions have already been taken here,” explains Vbgm. Anzengruber.. “In the commercial area, a storage area for storing wood was secured. In addition, firewood will be displayed in the municipal agricultural forest.” Depending on the possibilities, firewood will be stored before the winter of 2022/23. The wood could then be processed into logs in the fall and dried for the next heating season, or immediately processed into wood chips. This means that log wood reserves and wood chip reserves are available for the city or for municipal facilities, such as e.g. B. the IIG-Areal Rossau, available. For Anzengruber it is now important to pull together in order to take precautions for a relatively normal winter in addition to the many challenges in autumn for the population. It is also important to push ahead with independence from fossil energy and measures to protect the climate. Two issues that are at the top of Anzengruber’s political agenda.
Climate-fit city forest
In the last 2.5 years, more than 50,000 trees have already been planted for a climate-friendly city forest. “We also need many more trees in the city so that we can create a natural heat barrier there.” Unfortunately, the photovoltaic master plan introduced in 2021 has not yet been implemented as far as renewable energies are concerned. However, the first important steps were taken here as part of the cost-of-living package from the city of Innsbruck. For Anzengruber, the topic of savings through thermal renovation is also right at the top of the political agenda. As a basis for energy policy decisions, it is now important to quickly identify energy potential in the city and then implement rapid investment measures.
Citizens’ initiative starts signature campaign, BezirksBlätter Innsbruck article
“Yes to the trail, but not like this”
The FPÖ-Rudi Federspiel parliamentary group fully supports the Hötting Parish’s collection of signatures for the relocation of the Hofwaldtrail. Vice Mayor Markus Lassenberger is pleased in a statement that the residents of Hötting and Sadrach are no longer putting up with everything from the green mayor Georg Willi. “Information at the protest meeting at Höttinger Bild announced that Willi would be looking for a solution, although he knew very well that he had already followed the instructions of the responsible deputy mayor. Johannes Anzengruber overruled internally by ordering the continued construction of the original trail over the heads,” explains Lassenberger.
New route planning
“One can ask oneself whether one can still believe the green mayor,” said the FPÖ deputy mayor, who adds: “Normally, construction would have been stopped for the time being, then the new route planned, and the official procedures initiated and finally the let the city senate decide. However, the green mayor Willi does it as always, with his head against the wall and tries to deceive the population with fake information.” Lassenberger concludes: “Our parliamentary group was against another trail on the Nordkette, since in Mühlau, have shown the problems that arise as a result. The fact that this Hofwaldtrail should also cross the Besinnungsweg and affect the Höttinger Bild – a popular excursion and pilgrimage site – is incomprehensible and in any case wrongly planned. Therefore, to prevent the worst, a new route planning is the order of the day.”
Innsbruck must ban AirBnB and Co
According to the decision of the Administrative Court (VwGH), the designation of residential zones and an (almost) complete ban on short-term rentals in these are legally permissible, the legal basis in the building code for Vienna was confirmed. SP city party chairman GR Benjamin Plach is pleased with the decision and appeals to the state government: “Even Innsbruck, as a tourist stronghold, finally needs the opportunity to be able to completely ban short-term rentals in particularly polluted parts of the city through residential zones. Designate areas as residential zones, as the living and quality of life apartments can also be mobilized for long-term rental.” AS THIS IS THE PERMANENT, STAMP RENTED BEWARE AND NOT PERMITTED IN CONFIGURED RESIDENTIAL ZONES. Thus, the VwGH sees a violation of the usage requirement of § 7a Para. 3 Vienna Building Code. Such a legal basis could also be created for Tyrol at any time and thus enable the designation of these zones in Innsbruck.
residential zones
As early as 2018, the Vienna State Parliament decided to introduce residential zones in order to reduce short-term rentals and preserve the housing stock. Since then, the SPÖ has also been demanding implementation for Tyrol and Innsbruck in particular. “Successful steps require a bundle of measures. The introduction of the working group for short-term rentals of living space and the vacancy monitoring to collect data on the housing stock are the beginning. Subsequently, residential zones must be designated in all parts of the city so that commercial short-term rentals can be put a stop to. The state must now finally create the basis so that we can also enforce such an expulsion in Innsbruck,” Plach reiterated his demand.
More news from Innsbruck can be found here