Webinar: How do municipalities in neighbouring countries handle town centre revitalisation and land policy
On 25 February, a (German language) webinar entitled 'How do municipalities in neighbouring countries handle town centre revitalisation and land policy, and what can Austria learn from this?' brought together experts and local leaders to discuss sustainable spatial planning.
Peter Tramberend, from the Environment Agency Austria and the SPADES project, opened the session by introducing its international scope. He presented process-oriented approaches that enable municipalities outside Austria to conserve soil and land resources in urban and peri-urban areas. Key insights were drawn from three specific pilot regions:
Montpellier, France: Integrating agricultural land in spatial planning development.
Ljubljana, Slovenia: Showcasing a green urban corridor.
Gothenburg, Sweden: Demonstrating smart spatial planning in industrialised and contaminated urban areas.
To further this transnational exchange, CIPRA International presented compelling examples from the Alpine region that target the creative redesign and multifunctional use of street spaces, with the aim of enhancing community life and soil health.
The webinar also featured practical insights from Rainer Handlfinger, the mayor of Ober-Grafendorf in Austria. He discussed the realities of local governance, explaining how bold environmental and spatial decisions can be realised despite financial constraints by building consensus within the local population.
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