St. Paul approves rezoning for technology park

St. Paul’s municipal council has approved rezoning nine hectares for a planned technology park focused on sustainable materials, ORF Kärnten reported, bringing the project a step closer to construction.

Residents had a month to comment on the zoning and development plans at the municipal office. Some raised concerns about soil sealing, Mayor Stefan Salzmann said. He noted that only half the land would be built on, with the rest remaining green, and said the project had broad support.

The rezoning allows St. Paul Abbey to sell land beside the railway station to Technologiepark Lavanttal GmbH, a subsidiary of the Carinthian Business Settlement and Participation Company, known as BABEG. BABEG managing director Markus Hornböck said the purchase contract was expected to be signed soon.

It is not yet clear how quickly authorities will decide whether the project needs an environmental impact assessment. Hornböck said he hoped for a decision by next spring. Planning is expected to begin following the council’s approval, with initial work anticipated in 2027 and construction in 2028.

The project is expected to cost 30 million euros initially. The total could rise to 60 million euros once all planned buildings are completed. Funding is expected to come from the state and companies moving into the park, with possible contributions from the federal government and the European Union still under discussion.