Million-euro project

Protest instead of topping-out ceremony on parking deck construction site

Forsthuber, Riedmayer and Trenner (from left) see no reason to celebrate when the new parking deck in Baden is topped out.(Bild: zVg)

The construction of the new south parking deck in Baden is causing a stir. Three opposition parties are accusing the city government of wasting money: "Too many additional cost items!"

Even when the demolition of the old parking deck in the south of the spa town was imminent just under a year ago, the opposition was united against the project. Even then, the SPÖ, Wir Badener and the Freedom Party were certain that renovation would not only be sufficient, but also more cost-effective.

"Costs of 10 million"
Now the new building has reached the roofing stage. And Gottfried Forsthuber (FPÖ) emphasizes: "But there is nothing to celebrate!" Together with Markus Riedmayer (SPÖ), Jowi Trenner (Wir Badener) and other supporters, he protested in front of the construction site against the "waste of money by the black-green city government". The opposition representatives assume that the costs for the project will add up to 10 million euros: Too many cost items were not taken into account in the tender and were therefore only added later, says Forsthuber: "The barrier system, the toilet or the necessary relocation of a transformer." In addition, a public survey showed that a large proportion of the population also considered the new parking deck to be a "false priority".

Project discussed "in detail"
Even after the protests a year ago, all accusations were rejected by the town hall. At the time, it was said that all data on the project had been presented and a "detailed mobility debate" had been held.