Mayor’s 380-kV referendum petition faces legal challenge

A petition launched by the mayor of Sachsenburg over a planned 380-kilovolt power line has triggered a dispute among 18 citizens’ initiatives, ORF reported. Austrian Power Grid says the line is intended to secure the power supply by closing a gap in the grid.

Wilfried Pichler, mayor of the municipality of Sachsenburg in the upper Drautal valley, recently placed forms on his own initiative to collect 7,500 signatures in support of a public referendum in the municipalities affected between Oberdrauburg and Völkermarkt.

However, the move has raised concerns among the other citizens’ initiatives, including the association Lebensraum Kärnten ohne Hochspannungsleitungen. Vienna-based lawyer Wolfgang List, who specialises in infrastructure projects and represents the initiative, said the wording on the signature form was not constitutional.

According to Eberhard Burkel, head of the Elkos citizens’ initiative, the form lacks a legally required reference to the province of Carinthia because responsibility for the high-voltage line lies with the federal government. He said the mayor’s approach was politically desirable but legally unsuitable in its current form, and that the initiatives would not recommend signing the petition. He also described the wording as misleading.

List is still working on a draft for a constitutionally compliant referendum. Burkel said it was doubtful that this would be achieved soon because of the legal difficulties. Whether a referendum could take place depends on how the province of Carinthia is involved in construction of the 380-kilovolt line, he said.