The Vienna Green Party leader, Peter Kraus, envisions the “Vienna River Oasis,” a revitalized and ecologically enhanced Vienna River that would serve as a natural and recreational space for residents, plants, and animals. Currently, the river is underutilized and degraded due to past flood regulation projects that have pushed the waterway back and made it difficult to access.
The key to this vision is the expansion of the Wiental Canal by 2028, which would prevent wastewater from entering the Vienna River during floods. This project is estimated to cost around 250 million euros. With the canal expansion, the Vienna River would have clear water of excellent quality, transforming it from a “concreted” body of water into a dynamic and vibrant green oasis.
The benefits of a renatured Vienna River are numerous. It would create a cold air corridor from the Vienna Woods to the city’s first district, providing cooling for hundreds of thousands of Viennese residents. The plan also includes the redesign of the river’s banks, creating local recreation areas, especially for several districts in the city. Additionally, by structuring the watercourse with varying depths and flow speeds, fish migration would be facilitated, and habitats for various creatures such as crayfish, brown trout, and dragonflies would be restored or preserved.
Moreover, the proposed project would involve the creation of an attractive cycle route spanning over ten kilometers, providing a safe and crossing-free path for cyclists from Auhof to Naschmarkt. This would encourage more people to commute by bike, contributing to a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle for residents.
The renatured Vienna River aims to bring back the natural connection between the Danube and the Vienna Woods, restoring the river’s original function. It would serve as a treasure, improving the overall quality of life for the city’s inhabitants.
The vision presented by the Vienna Green Party highlights the importance of forward-looking planning to reclaim the potential of the Vienna River. By investing in the renaturation and revitalization of the river, Vienna can transform it from a “poor trickle” to a thriving ecological and recreational hub, benefitting both the environment and the people of the city.