Administrative Court clears controversial Grafenegg gravel pit

The Administrative Court has rejected appeals against a planned 40-hectare gravel pit in Grafenegg, meaning the project can now go ahead, ORF reported. Residents and the municipality had opposed the project for years, citing concerns including increased heavy traffic and air pollution.

The court said the appeals did not raise any legal questions of fundamental importance under Article 133(4) of Austria’s Federal Constitutional Law.

The municipality, the Lebensqualität Grafenegg residents’ initiative and neighbours of the project must also pay costs. They have two weeks to pay 553 euros to the province of Lower Austria and 1,106 euros to the company that will operate the gravel pit.

Grafenegg Mayor Manfred Denk said he was disappointed and surprised by the decision. The residents’ initiative said the ruling and the court’s decision had been completely unexpected and were “very sobering”.

Both the mayor and the initiative said their objections had nevertheless led to some improvements. The company will, for example, face additional environmental protection requirements.