Demonstrators deliver 16,000 signatures opposing Porsche tunnel to city officials
Salzburg's Porsche Tunnel Stirs Up Controversy
In the heart of Salzburg, activists have amassed over 16,000 signatures in a four-week petition to oppose the planned Porsche Tunnel in Kapuzinerberg. Last Thursday, they handed these petitions to Mayor Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ) in a protest.
"We aim to convince city council members to vote against the required individual permit," explained Gisela Zeindlinger, the petition's initiator. Most residents of Salzburg, she emphasizes, will only suffer drawbacks while experiencing no tangible benefits from this construction.
"Wealthy elites should not be granted special privileges at the expense of the masses. The time is long overdue for a fair redistribution," Zeindlinger continued.
A 500-meter tunnel and an underground cavern for a dozen vehicles
The Porsche supervisory board chairman, Wolfgang Porsche, desires his 2020 villa, situated on Kapuzinerberg, to be connected to a private car tunnel. The properties under which the aforementioned tunnel and an underground parking cavern for up to twelve cars are to be constructed are fully-owned by the city of Salzburg.
As it turns out, the initial estimate for the tunnel's land requirements was inaccurate. The actual land required is approximately 2,944 square meters for the tunnel and 365 square meters for the underground parking cavern, together with small areas for several rock anchors, whose combined area amounts to roughly 2,619 square meters.
New Easement Contract Signed Amidst Criticism
In late April, the Salzburg city council majority approved a new easement contract with Porsche, with the compensation increased to 48,000 euros, safeguarded in value until the legal transaction transpires. SPÖ, ÖVP, and FPÖ voted in favor, while KPO Plus and the Green Citizens' List opposed. Vice Mayor Kay-Michael Dankl (communist) criticized the perceived lack of public benefit, stating, "What billionaires spend their money on is their business. Some may venture to space, others to the ocean floor, but the city should not participate in every whim."
The Spatial Planning Permit Still Pending
While the initial easement contract was signed in 2024, the spatial planning permit has yet to be obtained. This permit lies within the purview of the planning committee, with a decision expected before the summer break. The approval or rejection of the project will likely hinge on the assessment of the specialist department.
"If the assessment is negative or uncertain, it's hard for me to imagine a permit," stated Mayor Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ) on Thursday. "However, if it's legally viable for someone to construct a private tunnel at a high cost, then they should be allowed to do so."
The controversy revolves around questions of distributive justice and moral justification, which may be subject to debate within Social Democrat circles. "As a Mayor, I must adhere to the principles of the rule of law. I cannot impose an annual waste fee of 100,000 Euros on Porsche arbitrarily, simply because they have the means," Auinger clarified.
Long-standing History of the Kapuzinerberg Property
Notably, the house on Kapuzinerberg was once occupied by the renowned writer Stefan Zweig, who fled Salzburg in 1934. The tunnel is intended to branch off from the entrance of the public parking garage Linzer Gasse and lead to the villa. The current road leading to the building's surface is steep, narrow, and particularly treacherous in winter.
[1] Salzburger Nachrichten: Grüne und Kommunisten lehnen Porsche-Tunnel ab[2] Kronen Zeitung: Die grüne Opposition zelebriert ihr Ende von Schattenseiten[3] Die Bewegung: Porsche-Tunnel in Salzburg - Grüne Unterstützung im Stadtrat droht[4] Schöberl: Porsche-Tunnel in Salzburg[5] Heute.at: Widerstand gegen den 'Porsche-Tunnel' in Salzburg
- The controversy over the Porsche Tunnel in Salzburg's Kapuzinerberg has led to a call for fair redistribution, as critics argue that wealthy individuals should not be granted special privileges through real-estate investments, ignoring the potential negative impact on the general public.
- The Porsche Tunnel, planned to connect a private villa with a car tunnel in Salzburg, has raised questions regarding policy-and-legislation and politics, especially as the city council considers approving a new easement contract, with the compensation significantly increased to 48,000 euros.
- The controversy surrounding the Porsche Tunnel, with its planned land requirements of about 3,320 square meters, is not only about the finance of the project but also about policy decisions and the moral justification of granting a special privilege to a wealthy individual in a city where most residents suffer drawbacks and experience no tangible benefits.
