Planning for the future

Lifts at the border triangle stand still in winter

An investor is being sought for the Dreiländereck.

(Bild: Wallner Hannes)

The lifts at the Dreiländereck will remain closed this year. However, this should not mean the end for good: Following the insolvency application, the search for a future solution for the ski resort is now feverish.

"We will put together a group from all political groups in the municipal council. This group will enter into negotiations with the liquidator and potential investors on behalf of the municipality," explains Mayor Reinhard Antolitsch.

At the same time, efforts are being made to obtain financial support from the state of Carinthia and tourism. "There have been talks again recently and the signals are very positive. However, a sustainable concept is required," explains Antolitsch. And this clearly envisages a year-round offer at the border triangle.

"This requires offers on the mountain, such as a mountain bike route, a climbing garden or something similar." Implementing such attractions requires the consent of the landowners. "We were able to reach an agreement with the Seltschach neighborhood to make one hectare on the mountain available to us. Further negotiations with landowners are ongoing," says the head of the municipality.

The lifts will be at a standstill for this year. The small solution with the practice lift is not legally possible.

Bürgermeister Reinhard Antolitsch

This is because future winter closures could only be cushioned with revenue from summer operations. Climate change must also be taken into account in a concept for the border triangle. It is therefore all the more important to bring the chairlift up to date in the future. According to Antolitsch, the family-friendly slopes at 1600 meters are easy to operate despite winters with little snow.

The head of the municipality rejected the idea of a "small solution" with the municipality operating the practice lift this winter. "We have asked the liquidator whether it would be possible to lease out parts of the estate. Unfortunately, this is not legally possible," explains Antolitsch. According to the mayor, the liquidator's ultimate aim is to serve as many creditors as possible with the liquidation. 

Mayor Reinhard Antolitsch is fighting to preserve the ski area.

(Bild: Fister Katrin)

He also says no to the idea of merging municipalities in order to run the Dreiländereck ski area by public authorities in future. "It is not the job of municipalities to run ski lifts or swimming pools. We wouldn't even have the financial means to do so." 

With the ski lifts at the Dreiländereck at a standstill, the municipality of Arnoldstein will also not be running a lift pass campaign for young people this year. In the past, the municipalities of Arnoldstein, Finkenstein, Feistritz/Gail and Hohenthurn had subsidized the operation of the Dreiländereck and Hrast lifts with this campaign. Antolitsch: "We would rather invest our financial resources in the future of the Dreiländereck." There will probably be a season ticket campaign for the Hrast lift. This will be voted on by the Bad Bleiberger municipal council on Monday.