Salzburg estimates Antheringer Au restoration at 38 million euros

Planned renaturation measures along the Antheringer Au floodplain in Salzburg’s Flachgau region are expected to cost about 38 million euros, ORF reported, citing information provided by the Salzburg state government in response to an inquiry from the SPÖ in the state parliament.

The SPÖ has sharply criticised the planned spending. Karin Dollinger, the party’s spokeswoman for nature conservation in the state parliament, described the Antheringer Au as a “million-euro grave”.

The cost is slightly higher than the controversial purchase price, which had already drawn strong criticism. The Salzburg state government said negotiations with the European Union and Austria’s federal government would determine how much of the restoration costs the state itself would have to cover.