political Figures Criticized for Geographic Misinformation Regarding Lobau Tunnel Project
Vienna, Austria – Environmental association VIRUS has sharply criticized Transport Minister Leonore Hanke and Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Herbert Kickl, along with FPÖ parliamentarian Martin Graf, for demonstrably inaccurate statements regarding teh Lobau area and the proposed Lobau Tunnel project. The organization alleges a fundamental misunderstanding of the area’s geography and protected status.
The controversy stems from recent public statements made by Hanke and Kickl. In an October 27th interview with OE24-TV, Minister Hanke stated the tunnel project concerns the “northern Lobau, not the southern area, which is protected.” Kickl, on October 23rd, posted on Facebook, claiming the northern Lobau is a “designated industrial area,” a claim echoed by parliamentarian Graf during a special parliamentary session on October 22nd. Graf further confused the issue by misidentifying landmarks and riverbanks,and denying the presence of a nature reserve in the tunnel’s planned construction zone. He specifically referred to the Freudenau power plant as being in the Lobau, and incorrectly described the location of a major inland port.
VIRUS spokesperson Wolfgang Rehm refuted these claims, stating, “The entire Lobau, with the exception of a relatively small tank farm and associated loading port, is part of the Donauauen National Park and not an industrial area.” Rehm further clarified the area’s geography, pointing out the Danube flows from west to east in vienna, creating an Upper and Lower Lobau, with the tunnel project slated to cross the Upper Lobau. He emphasized the tank farm is located in the south of the Upper Lobau, not the north.
Rehm also highlighted the historical context of the Lobau, noting past attempts to industrialize the area, thwarted by the end of World War II and later initiatives in the 1970s. He expressed frustration at the repeated inaccuracies, stating, “If you don’t want to live in the past, then you could know about it.”
VIRUS questions whether Hanke’s statements were influenced by the FPÖ’s narrative. Rehm concluded,”A federal minister should in any case be expected to have at least an idea of what he is talking about and not to spread false information.”
Source: OTS Original Text Press Release – VIRUS. (www.ots.at)
