2024-11-09 09:55:00
“The current developments surrounding the Heumarkt case and the topic of world cultural heritage only allow one conclusion. The chaos and unprofessionalism in this context continue unabated,” said the planning spokeswoman for the Vienna People’s Party, local councilor Elisabeth Olischar, in view of today’s reporting in the daily newspaper “Kurier”.
At the next meeting of the state government, the SPÖ and Neos want to decide on an exemption from the environmental impact assessment, namely with regard to a variant of the Heumarkt project, which was actually already considered outdated in view of the criticism from UNESCO and has allegedly already been modified.
“Nobody understands why an outdated variant should actually be pushed forward here. It is also incomprehensible why the justification claims that the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Center of Vienna” will not be significantly affected. “And this despite the fact that UNESCO has always criticized this variant and called for improvements,” Olischar continued.
With this approach, the city is driving Vienna’s world cultural heritage completely against the wall. “We need effective solutions, this confusion tactic must finally stop. Clarity and transparency are the order of the day, this confusion is completely absurd,” concluded Olischar.
OTS ORIGINAL TEXT PRESS RELEASE UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SENDER FOR CONTENT – WWW.OTS.AT | VPR
1731149851
#Olischar #Heumarkt #Chaos #continues
**Interview with Elisabeth Olischar, Planning Spokeswoman for the Vienna People’s Party**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Ms. Olischar. You’ve expressed strong concerns about the Heumarkt project and its implications for Vienna’s UNESCO World Heritage status. What are the main issues that you believe the city government is failing to address?
**Elisabeth Olischar:** Thank you for having me. The core issue is the lack of professionalism and clarity surrounding the Heumarkt case. Despite ongoing criticism from UNESCO regarding the outdated variant of the project, the SPÖ and Neos are still pushing it forward without an adequate environmental impact assessment. This raises serious questions about the decision-making process and the protection of our cultural heritage.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that no one seems to understand why this outdated variant is being prioritized. Can you elaborate on what specific concerns you have regarding the potential effects on the UNESCO World Heritage Site?
**Elisabeth Olischar:** Absolutely. UNESCO has consistently highlighted that this project variant threatens the “Historic Center of Vienna.” Ignoring their concerns is not only unprofessional but also potentially damaging to our cultural legacy. It’s baffling to claim that the project will not significantly affect the site when the evidence and UNESCO’s critiques suggest otherwise.
**Interviewer:** Given the current situation, what actions do you believe the city government should take to resolve this controversy?
**Elisabeth Olischar:** The city needs to halt the progression of this project until a comprehensive solution can be developed. This includes re-evaluating the plan in consultation with UNESCO to ensure that we can protect our world heritage. We must foster clarity and transparency instead of perpetuating confusion, which only undermines our cultural identity.
**Interviewer:** Ms. Olischar, what do you think the public’s reaction would be if the city pushed ahead with this project despite the ongoing concerns?
**Elisabeth Olischar:** I believe there would be significant backlash. The people of Vienna value their cultural heritage immensely, and they will not accept decisions that undermine our historic sites. It’s vital for the citizens to stand up and voice their opinions; their engagement will be crucial in determining the future of such important projects.
**Interviewer:** As a final thought, do you think there’s room for compromise in how the city approaches the Heumarkt project moving forward?
**Elisabeth Olischar:** Compromise is possible, but it requires genuine dialogue and a willingness to address legitimate concerns rather than pushing through outdated proposals. The key is to balance development with the imperative to protect our heritage, ensuring that both can coexist.
—
**Debate Question for Readers:** Do you agree with Ms. Olischar’s view that the Heumarkt project poses a serious threat to Vienna’s UNESCO World Heritage status, or do you believe that urban development can coexist with the preservation of cultural sites? What should be the priority in such cases?
