Explosive report – wine route that has slipped: it’s getting tight for vintners

Forest clearing on the Grassnitzberg in Straß, South Styria, has been causing a stir for years. Despite resistance, the well-known winegrower Manfred Tement obtained permission from the BH Leibnitz to establish a new vineyard on a particularly steep slope – but after that there were always problems.

tourism suffers
A few weeks ago, after heavy rains, what many had warned about happened: part of the old wine route slipped. Months of roadblocks and long detours are the result, which still affect tourism and residents.

According to deputy governor Anton Lang (SPÖ), the total costs are estimated at around 550,000 euros. The traffic police officer from Styria therefore asked who should pay the costs.

Clear result
Since Tuesday it has been clear who will bear the bill for the extensive renovation measures – and for the country the case is clear. The report commissioned by the Styrian State Highway Administration concludes that “the cause of the landslide can clearly be found in the underlying slope area and not in the area of ​​the road body of the state highway.”

In other words: the construction activities of Tement GmbH would be the cause of the problem.

Winemaker denies responsibility
However, the report has been sent to the constitutional service and further legal action is now being discussed.

Manfred Tement could not be reached on Tuesday for a statement to the “Krone”. However, the winegrower’s family had already had an expert opinion issued in advance. He came to a different conclusion: “The landslide came from the roadway of the L 613, not from the adjacent vineyard,” according to their expert’s acquaintance.

A legal aftermath is therefore beyond dispute.