Court ruling deals blow to Schlotterer expansion plans

A ruling by the Administrative Court in favour of a neighbouring family could further delay sun protection company Schlotterer’s planned expansion in Adnet, Salzburg, ORF reported.

Two separate proceedings concerning the project have stalled: one covering nature conservation and another covering commercial regulations. Schlotterer is one of the largest employers in the northern part of Salzburg province.

The nature conservation dispute has drawn considerable media attention for years. The Salzburg Environmental Ombudsman’s Office and the Nature Conservation Association continue to oppose the expansion. Schlotterer secured an important partial victory before the Regional Administrative Court in the summer, but the Nature Conservation Association filed another appeal. A final decision could still take years.

The latest setback affects the commercial proceedings. The Administrative Court upheld a complaint from a neighbouring family, meaning Salzburg authorities must review the case again.

Schlotterer managing director Peter Gubisch said the process had been running for more than five years and had already cost the company five million euros. “There is no end in sight, either in the nature conservation proceedings or in the commercial proceedings,” he said. The company still wants to realise Plant 3, but whether that will be possible “is up in the air.”

Gubisch said relocating from Adnet was not an option for the company, despite repeated claims to the contrary.