Gravel mining in Irschenberg: citizens' initiative wants to stop projects in Oberhasling

Created: 01/25/2022, 10:00 am

By: Sebastian Grauvogl

Mobilizing against gravel mining: the founding members of the Irschenberg citizens' initiative with (from left) Veronika Westphal, Martin Geier, Konstanze Knoblich, Tatjana Piontek, Helge Greive and Florian Kories.

© Thomas Plettenberg

The planned gravel quarrying in Oberhasling is not just a concern for the direct residents.

Twelve citizens from neighboring Auerschmied founded the citizens' initiative Irschenberg.

Irschenberg

– The A8 separates the Irschenberg district of Auerschmied from Oberhasling. Nevertheless, people feel connected to each other - now even more so, because: With the planned gravel pit north-west of Oberhasling, not only the direct neighbors there fear problems, but also the residents of Auerschmied. That's where the truck route would go if they transported the extracted gravel to the B472 and on towards Irschenberg. The Auerschmiedler fear more than 100 trips per day with the corresponding noise and dust pollution - and they want to prevent that. Shortly before the municipal council will vote on the company's application on Wednesday evening, they founded a citizens' initiative on Saturday.

Spokesman Florian Kories (35) explains the spontaneity of the action with more and more dwindling hope for a clear "no" from the municipal councils.

"We're missing a clear positioning here," says Kories.

Rather, one feels a certain impotence that a rejection of the application will not bring anything, because the municipality has no recourse against the project under building law.

The citizens' initiative, which found more than 230 supporters within 24 hours thanks to an online petition, still wants to fight against it.

Because even if the gravel quarrying cannot be stopped completely, there are still a number of things that can be done to make the consequences more bearable.

Mayor refers to information event

Mayor Klaus Meixner found out about the initiative from Auerschmied.

When asked by our newspaper, he again emphasized that a veto by the municipal councils would at best have symbolic value.

But there is no carte blanche for the company, on the contrary: all departments at the district office (nature conservation, water law,...) are involved in the process.

There are strict rules and requirements for dismantling and transport.

On top of that, the company is willing to talk and will answer questions from citizens at the information event this Tuesday evening in the gymnasium in Irschenberg.

Concrete numbers would also be mentioned.

"There's a lot going around that's not right," says Meixner.

Of course, the audience could also take the floor.

Also read: Gravel mining in Oberhasling: residents are very concerned

Kories announces that the Oberhaslinger and Auerschmiedler will do the same.

Despite the short time, a lot has still been accomplished.

The comrades-in-arms printed as many flyers and posters as their home office ink cartridges could handle.

They also drew posters.

With the online presence of the citizens' initiative, Kories even managed a small coup.

He secured the still free domain www.irschenberg.org.

The official homepage of the community is www.irschenberg.de.

Citizens' initiative formulates clear goals

In addition to a clear rejection of the gravel quarrying in the municipal council, the fellow campaigners want all levers to be set in motion against the project.

Although Oberhasling is on the outskirts, it is actually a residential area, which means that the gravel pit actually has to be 300 meters away from the houses instead of just 20 meters.

When it comes to traffic, Kories thinks it is necessary to think about more 30 km/h.

The trucks would pass two kindergartens and many schools on their route.

In addition, one must ensure that the pit, which is prescribed after the end of mining in ten years, is not backfilled with contaminated material.

Also interesting: Fire in Oberhasling: Building completely in flames

Last but not least, the initiative wants to prevent gravel quarrying from becoming a door opener for further projects of this kind.

Kories asks: "Who can guarantee us that more meadows will not be dug?"

The information event

on the planned gravel mining in Oberhasling starts today, Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the gym in Irschenberg.

Entry is already at 6.30 p.m.

As the municipality reports, a maximum of 70 seats are available due to the distance rules.

The 3G rule and an FFP2 mask requirement apply.

so called