Opposition says Aumannplatz meeting failed to hear residents
Friday 6th November 2026 on 18:30 in
Austria
Opposition parties in Vienna’s Währing district say a public meeting about plans to redesign Aumannplatz failed to allow constructive discussion. ORF reported that the meeting took place on Thursday evening, with opponents of the project dominating the gathering.
The plans of Green district head Silvia Nossek would turn part of Währinger Straße into a pedestrian zone, extending the park at Aumannplatz. Traffic in both directions would instead use the side by Gentzgasse. The project is expected to cost 3.2 million euros.
The Währing branch of the ÖVP called the meeting a “farce for democracy”, saying organisers had shown no interest in discussing cheaper alternatives or a traffic plan. Deputy district head Oliver Möllner said the meeting had “completely failed” in its purpose.
Some residents also questioned the plans. One said they could not understand the project’s cost-benefit calculation, while another warned that traffic and air pollution in the surrounding area could increase. Nossek said city experts had assessed the plans and carried out traffic counts, and that Vienna’s public transport operator had also said the project would work.
Criticism was also directed at how the meeting was organised. The ÖVP, FPÖ and NEOS had requested it under Vienna’s municipal constitution. FPÖ district leader Udo Guggenbichler said residents had come to participate but felt their views were not being sought.
Nossek said the project had already been through an extensive public consultation process, including three public meetings, and that planning was now complete. The Greens and Social Democrats had voted against holding the latest meeting in the district assembly.
NEOS district spokesperson Manuela Sumah-Vospernik said the meeting showed that residents wanted the plans revised. The ÖVP and FPÖ have also called for alternatives, but a change appears unlikely: the district assembly is expected to vote on the project in December, with construction due to start in March.