Forest Fire in Föhrenwald: Affected Party Criticizes Authorities Over Costs for Ordnance Survey

At the centre of the criticism is the question of who bears the costs for the ordnance survey, which becomes necessary after a fire on former military training areas. In its statement, the Ministry of Defence points out that property owners themselves must commission a private company for the survey. The costs for the work of these private companies are to be borne by the respective client, according to the Ministry.

Ordnance as the Key Issue

Grabner sees this as an unreasonable burden on those affected. The cleanup work, securing against munitions remnants, and the actual reforestation could hardly be financed without official support, he argues. He also criticizes the communication between the Neunkirchen district administration, military offices, and the Ministry, which he perceives as confusing.

The Neunkirchen district administration is also involved in the proceedings, as it decides on clearance of the affected areas after a fire on a munitions-contaminated site. Those affected, such as Grabner, report that they were informed about timelines and responsibilities only gradually and in some cases contradictorily. From the owners' perspective, there is a lack of a central point of contact to coordinate the entire process.

The Föhrenwald is considered a historically munitions-contaminated area, as military exercises took place there for decades. After fires, there is a risk that duds or other ordnance may be exposed, which is why professional surveying is legally required before any further work. The Ministry of Defence emphasizes that the military offices only clear their own areas, but that owners are themselves responsible for private land.

Demands on Politics

Several names keep coming up in the debate: Stefan Plainer, Hermann Hauer, as well as those responsible at the Neunkirchen district administration and the Ministry of Defence. They stand as examples of the interfaces between civil protection, military administration, and municipal authorities that are becoming visible after the fire.

Experts on forest fires and contaminated sites point out that the costs for professional ordnance surveying can easily reach five-figure amounts depending on the area. Added to this are expenses for forestry measures, fencing against browsing by wild animals, and reforestation with site-appropriate tree species. For private co-heirs, this is often not manageable without relying on subsidies or special funds from the state of Lower Austria.

Open Cost Questions

Grabner announced that he would lodge a formal complaint with the responsible authorities and seek dialogue with state politicians. He hopes that at least part of the survey costs will be covered by public funds, since the munitions-contaminated subsoil is the result of decades of military operations.

The case raises a fundamental question: Who bears the consequences of forest fires on historic military areas when the contamination of the soil was not caused by today's owners? Local residents and forest owners in the district of Neunkirchen are calling for a clear regulation that does not leave those affected to bear the full costs alone.

The responsible authorities have not yet substantively responded to Grabner's allegations. The Ministry of Defence merely maintained its previous line, according to which private clients must bear the costs of the survey. Whether there will be a political reassessment remains open for the time being.