Ecology and safety in focus: work at the Stegenwald power plant continues

Work in the Salzach river has been suspended at the Stegenwald power plant construction site since the end of August 2024. The reason for the partial construction stop was the decision of the Administrative Court (VwGH), which cancelled the decision of the Salzburg Provincial Administrative Court regarding the positive awarding of the nature conservation permit. On 2 October 2024, the Salzburg Provincial Administrative Court lifted the suspensive effect associated with the appeal proceedings, meaning that all nature conservation-related work on the construction site can now continue. The main focus was on ecological and safety aspects.

The decision by the Salzburg Administrative Court was preceded by an application by the project operators VERBUND and Salzburg AG, who sought the exclusion of the suspensive effect on 13 September 2024. The analyses of the energy producers showed some very serious disadvantages and risks to public interests, which a partial construction stop would entail for safety and especially for nature. Current precipitation and flood forecasts were also taken into account. All this showed that continuing with the nature conservation work is urgently required for ecological and safety reasons. 

Due to the high water levels in recent days, the banks of the Eckhartgraben near the ÖBB railway tracks and the B159 road, for example, have already been breached and urgently need to be repaired for safety and ecological reasons. This also jeopardises individual structures required for construction and for the originally planned project duration, such as the construction bridge.

The administrative court in Salzburg, which is responsible for the proceedings, has now reached an interim decision that the continuation of the nature conservation-related work is permissible – even before it makes a new decision on the original appeal against the nature conservation permit.

Partial construction freeze primarily prevents the implementation of important ecological measures

After a construction period of 14 months, more than 95 per cent of the necessary interventions in nature for the generation of zero-carbon electricity have already been carried out. However, only around 60 per cent of the measures intended to compensate for or improve these interventions in nature have been implemented. The pending nature conservation measures represent a particularly positive balance for nature and should therefore be implemented without further delay. 

With the cancellation of the suspensive effect, the ecological measures in the river and on the banks, for example, can be continued with immediate effect. This involves the creation of gravel banks and islands, which are important habitats for birds (kingfisher, sandpiper) along the Salzach.

The Stegenwald power plant is still scheduled for completion in mid-2025.