Stoisits: Promised sports ground for school has been missing for years now

The children often attend hours of classes without ever seeing the sky. There is a sports hall, but no possibility to do sports outside – although already in 1992, the construction of the sports ground was decided by the Lower Austrian city concerned. Back then, the original school yard and the sports ground had to make way for the new sports hall and the elementary school.

The teachers still try to have sports lessons outside, for example in the park nearby. The mayor pointed out several sport facilities like the soccer field. But for a 50-minute-period, the field is too far away from school, confirmed a teacher. The rowing club or other sports clubs are no solution for the mother concerned since they are opportunities after school, but not within the context of school lessons. Children must have the possibility to get to know several kinds of sports.

The ideal place for a sports ground would be located in front of the school, but the owner plans to lease it only for ten years maximum – too short to invest in an expensive sports ground. Another possibility is a property next to the cemetery, but the question of financing is not clear yet.

Ombudswoman Stoisits: „The promise back in 1992 was not kept by the municipality. Originally, sports grounds existed for the school and these have not been replaced yet. It is a wonderful school, but free space alfresco is missing. This is the greatest shortcoming.” By law, the Lower Austrian compulsory school law and the law for maintaining compulsory schools oblige the schools to sports- and playgrounds.

The mayor said he would try to find a solution and he would be in regular contact with a committed sports teacher. The municipality alone could not cover all the costs - surrounding municipalities should co-finance. The possibility of the sports ground next to the cemetery seemed to be possible according to the mayor, but sanitary equipments and changing rooms have to be installed. Ombudswoman Stoisits: „We have also talked to the President of the State schools inspector. Our goal is a fast solution, not just criticism. The current condition must be ended and the sports ground has to be built.”

Re-examination: Wet cellars due to reactivated cloister-creek

A small stream in Maria Enzersdorf was the reason for great excitement: floods, wet basements, mold, and damages to the houses as well as substantial allegations to the competent authorities. From 2005 on, the groundwater had risen enormously, the cellars of five houses were flooded and remained wet after that. The alleged cause of the problem: The so-called Klosterbacherl had once been a blocked up stream and has now been reactivated. It flows only a few meters in front of the houses.

In 2004, the community had the idea of building a bike path and to reactivate the cloister-creek. The project was approved by the District Commission according to riparian rights, and not objected by the neighbours. They assumed that they would not be affected by the creek. Six months later, the fire department had to help: the water pump in the basement of a house had caused a short circuit. The ground water table had risen substantially; the cellar was wet and partly unusable. The neighbours asked for waterproofing at parts for the creek.

In the broadcast of 27 March 2010, neither the municipality of Maria Enzersdorf, nor the district commission Mödling or the Lower Austrian Government were present. A discussion during pending proceedings was rejected.

Seven months later, “Bürgeranwalt” visited the neighbours. Two weeks after the broadcast, a hearing had taken place, in September 2010, a construction unit came and in October, the creek was gone. The construction company had trenched the creek and installed pipes. Two days after the waterproofing the water pumps in the cellars stopped working since there was no ground water left to pump out. The neighbours are satisfied with this fast solution.

Ombudswoman Stoisits: „I am pleased that the district commission acted promptly, the construction is finished and we have a confirmation of the leek testing. The problem caused by the district commission is now solved. Any claims for damages must be brought in before a court.“