Voitsberg-Bärnbach

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Voitsberg-Bärnbach is the working title of a planned community merger of the western Styrian cities Voitsberg and Bärnbach on a voluntary basis by the end of 2019. This should create the fifth largest city in Styria with around 15,000 inhabitants and an area of ​​approx. 60 km². However, the Bärnbach population rejected the merger in a vote. The plans were announced in June 2018.

Voitsberg and Bärnbach

After the corresponding decision by the municipality of Voitsberg to start negotiations, there was a municipal council decision of the city of Bärnbach going in the same direction. At the same time, the Köflach municipal council also decided to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a merger and, if necessary, to enter into merger talks.

In August 2018, the commissioned KDZ - Center for Administrative Research presented a study on the financial effects of the merger, which was largely positive. From November 22nd to 24th, 2018, the two cities held a survey of the population of the two cities regarding the merger, the result of which is not legally binding, but should be recognized as binding. The fact that this survey was not conducted in accordance with the Styrian People's Rights Act caused criticism. If the survey turns out to be positive in the interests of the initiators, the plan was to dissolve the previous municipalities at the end of 2019 and to merge them into the new municipality of Voitsberg-Bärnbach. Until the next municipal council election, which is scheduled to take place in spring 2020, the new municipality should be administered by a government commissioner .

While 84% voted in favor of the merger in Voitsberg, 54.8% voted against in Bärnbach. At around 40%, voter turnout in Bärnbach was around twice as high as in Voitsberg. The mayor of Bärnbach, Bernd Osprian, immediately announced that the plan would not be implemented against the will of the population.

Further mergers

An additional inclusion of the cities and municipalities Köflach , Rosental and Maria Lankowitz was discussed in June 2018 - this idea for a West Styria city is older. The merger of Köflach, Voitsberg and Rosental alone would have created the second largest city in Styria after Graz with 25,000 inhabitants .

Planned merger between Voitsberg and Bärnbach (yellow) and any other merger candidates Köflach and Rosental (blue)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ steiermark.orf.at - "Voitsberg and Bärnbach plan merger" on June 7, 2018
  2. ↑ kleinezeitung.at - "Voitsberger mandatars unanimously for merger talks"
  3. ↑ mein district.at - "Merger talks in Bärnbach decided by a majority"
  4. ↑ mein district.at - "Fusion: First stage on the new path"
  5. ↑ mein district.at - "Köflach: First facts, then referendum on fusion"
  6. ↑ voitsberg.at - Association of Cities Voitsberg-Bärnbach
  7. ↑ kpoe-steiermark.at - MUNICIPAL MERGER VOITSBERG-BÄRNBACH: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE RESULT OF THE SURVEY?
  8. ↑ steiermark.orf.at - Citizens' survey on the Voitsberg-Bärnbach merger
  9. ↑ The merger of Voitsberg and Bärnbach burst after a public survey
  10. ↑ Is the "West Styria City" coming now? orf.at, June 7, 2018, accessed June 7, 2018.