Ötztal Alps: Glacier marriage or sale of souls?

The planned merger would connect the Sölden ski area with the lifts in Pitztal by means of 3 new gondolas, which would open up 64 hectares of new pistes. Also planned are a ski tunnel from the Sölden side into the Pitztal, a large cable car center with restaurants below the Braunschweigerhütte, as well as a reservoir and snowmaking facilities.

"Last Alpine open spaces must not be sacrificed to mass tourism"

This is how the Alpine clubs and nature conservation associations summarize their criticism. According to the DAV, the extensive construction measures would "technogenically transform" a near-natural, high alpine landscape and also destroy the habitats of sensitive flora and fauna in the left side of the Fernerkogel. There are also concerns about the attractiveness of the Braunschweiger Hütte as a touring base in both summer and winter. The development would obstruct the popular ski touring area around the Linker Fernerkogel and summer hiking would also be less attractive if it took place in a ski area (a stage of the E5 long-distance hiking trail leads over the Braunschweiger Hütte and through the development area). Instead of focusing on the expansion of glacier ski areas in times of climate change and in view of rapidly dwindling glacier areas, one should invest in sustainable summer tourism concepts, according to the critics.

Next steps

In September 2019, the environmental impact assessment and responses to objections from nature conservation associations will be published by the Office of the Tyrolean Provincial Government and an assessment will be made as to whether the project is environmentally compatible or not. The nature conservation associations then have another opportunity to submit objections and technical comments until October 2019. This will be followed by an oral hearing in Tyrol. In February/March 2020, the Office of the Tyrolean Provincial Government, Department of Environmental Protection, will announce the final assessment of environmental compatibility and thus, if applicable, approval. An appeal against the authority's decision can first be lodged with the Federal Administrative Court (BvWG). The decision of the BvWG, in turn, can then be appealed to the Administrative Court (VwGH) in the case of legal issues of fundamental importance.

The ÖAV is hoping for public participation in order to generate political pressure: anyone who would like to campaign for the preservation of the unspoilt touring area around the Linker Fernerkogel can write an email or send a postcard to the provincial governor. The letter templates can be downloaded online or the postcards can be ordered from the AV department spatial planning and nature conservation.

Further information (ÖAV)