Langtaufers Ski Connection With Kaunertal Rejected Again
The regional government has reiterated its decision to reject the additional intervention in the "Langtaufers" ski area for the ski connection with the Kaunertal area.
Peter Brunner, State Councillor for Spatial Development, Environment, Nature and Climate Protection, proposed the resolution after the Commission for the Assessment of Socio-Economic Aspects and the Environmental Advisory Board had again given a negative assessment of the statements made by Oberländer Gletscherbahn AG. With its report of June 2024, the Environmental Advisory Board confirmed its negative report of November 2018.
"The approval of additional interventions in ski zones requires a positive report from the environmental advisory board - a negative report cannot be used to justify the approval of the intervention," said Brunner. Compared to the time when the municipality initiated the procedure (2016), sensitivity to environmental issues and questions about climate change has also increased significantly, said Brunner. The position of the municipality of Graun in Vinschgau has also changed in the meantime: the majority of the population and the administration no longer want a ski connection with the Kaunertal.
The history
In December 2017, the regional government rejected the project for the Langtaufers-Kaunertal ski connection (LPA reported). As a result, the company "Oberländer Gletscherbahn AG" filed an appeal with the Administrative Court, Autonomous Section for the Province of Bolzano. In March 2018, the regional government then initiated proceedings to annul the 2017 decision in self-protection. The reason for this was a legal defect, according to which a member of the environmental advisory board, who had assessed the environmental impact of the intervention, had a conflict of interest (LPA reported).
In April 2020, the state government again rejected the ski connection after checks (LPA reported). A State Council ruling in March 2023 overturned this decision with a ruling. This stated that the state administration should have provided the company with the reasons for the impediment before submitting the rejection to the state government.
The Langtaufers-Kaunertal ski connection project of the Oberländer Gletscherbahn AG includes a lift system with a valley station in Melag and a mountain station at the Karlesjoch including ski slopes and, as an alternative, a variant via the Weißseejoch. The council of the municipality of Graun in Vinschgau approved the project in 2016.
