Excursion:

Salzburg’s new mayors networking

Trio of mayors: Berger (Schleedorf), Huber (St. Johann) and Islitzer-Lerch (Hollersbach)

(Bild: ANDREAS TROESTER)

Newly elected mayors from all over Salzburg on an "excursion" to the Chiemseehof: during a visit to the Chiermseehof, there was a lot of information exchange across districts and church steeples.

The cell phone cameras click: around 20 new mayors take part, including a trio of ladies. Eveline Huber (SPÖ, St. Johann), Sieglinde Islitzer-Lerch (ÖVP, Hollersbach) and Martina Berger (ÖVP, Schleedorf). They get on well - across party and district boundaries. "Today we get to see everything from the front row," says Huber happily. And fellow mayor Christian Altendorfer (ÖVP) from Seeham adds: "We were even all welcomed in the state parliament." He arrived on the train together with his colleague from Schleedorf and started networking during the journey.

New collaborations are planned
Stimulating discussions were also held between neighbors. The best example: Wals-Siezenheim and Großgmain. "We Untersberg communities want to network even more," said Andreas Hasenöhrl and Martin Panzer (both ÖVP). There are enough worries and challenges on the city border, and the municipalities want to join forces, especially when it comes to traffic issues. Another topic is expensive housing.

Mayor traveled from Lungau
Neo-mayor Andreas Fanninger from Unternberg has traveled from Lungau. He was elected as the first FPÖ mayor in Lungau. There are also plenty of challenges in the community of 1042 people: "Our spatial development concept, the new fire station," he says, citing examples. Party colleague Willibald Bodner from Mühlbach am Hochkönig also has a lot planned: "We're going to start building: Fire department, building yard, kindergarten."

And Harald Humer (SPÖ), Strobl, wanted to know: "I would like to get in touch with citizens more via social media. Is there any support?" He was given some tips.