After years of intensive work by many stakeholders, the steering and budget committee (StuBA) of the federal and state office for lignite remediation made a decision last week that was not only fervently hoped for in Frankfurt (Oder). According to the decision, the federal mining rehabilitation company, Lausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbh (LMBV), will be responsible for the rehabilitation of Lake Helene near Frankfurt (Oder), which has been closed as a bathing area for almost four years. Together with the State Office for Mining, Geology and Raw Materials (LBGR) of the State of Brandenburg, which will now carry out the next planning steps.
The federal government and the State of Brandenburg will each bear half of the expected costs, which are expected to run into the millions.
René Wilke, Mayor of Frankfurt (Oder): "The joint efforts of all those responsible in the city, the state and at federal level have borne fruit. What we have achieved together here, namely that legal issues were put aside in the interests of the citizens and budgets that had already been finalized for Helene were reopened at federal level, is something that very rarely happens. I am grateful to everyone involved. And of course very happy. It is now up to us to continue to maintain the successful cooperation between the city administration and city councillors, as well as between the building owner and those responsible at state and federal level, to support and ensure the rapid emergence of binding planning and to prepare the next steps for how a renovated Helene can become even more beautiful and better than it was before the closure by developing surrounding areas."
