Start of the restoration measures: Groundbreaking ceremony on the Lafnitz
Yesterday, on 28 November 2024, the ground-breaking ceremony for the restoration measures on the Lafnitz river took place in Rudersdorf. The event marks the official start of the measures.
As part of the IRIS project, the Lafnitz, like other rivers in the project, will be given more space again. The aim of the measures is to improve flood protection for the municipalities of Rudersdorf, Deutsch Kaltenbrunn and Fürstenfeld and at the same time improve the ecological quality of the watercourse. On a stretch of around 150 metres above the Lafnitz Bridge and west of the Fritzmühle, the river is to flow more freely again in future. The measures will create a healthy river with important habitats for native animals and plants.
A particular highlight is the planned restoration of the Mühltumpf, a long-cherished wish of the local population. An oxbow of the river is to be designed in such a way that it no longer silts up due to a feed-in below the swamp. This could also create a new bathing opportunity on the Lafnitz in the future.
You can find out more about the planned measures and how they will improve ecological quality and flood protection here.
At the event, Wolfgang Wukovits, head of the water management department of the Burgenland federal state government, emphasised the cultural and historical significance of the Lafnitz as a border river. Emil Flasch presented the technical details, while Landesrat Heinrich Dorner emphasised the political significance of the project.
The project is scheduled for completion in December 2025. We will keep you informed about progress on the Lafnitz and the other IRIS pilot areas on a regular basis.
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