South Tyrol's Greens criticize the approval of the project at Kronplatz
08/June/2026
South Tyrol's Green Members of the State Parliament, Madeleine Rohrer, Brigitte Foppa, Zeno Oberkoflert criticize the approval of the project at Kronplatz, they say:
"Over these three years, the regional government has attracted particular attention for its environmental policy – and not in a positive way. It's a policy that ignores expert opinions, bends laws to benefit individual projects, and systematically undermines protective regulations. The most recent example: the new cable car and ski slope from Bruneck to Kronplatz.
The environmental advisory board rejected the initial project, but the state government partially approved it nonetheless. Now, the operators have submitted a revised version with an additional ski run: The board's assessment was again negative, but the state government once more overruled it and approved the revised version. State Councillor Peter Brunner explained that the responsible department head – an official directly subordinate to him – had reviewed the project again.
“If the environmental advisory board’s reports are being undermined in this absurd way, the question arises as to why the state government doesn’t simply abolish the board. That would at least be honest,” say the Green Party members of the state parliament, Madeleine Rohrer, Brigitte Foppa, and Zeno Oberkofler. They also point out that Brunner has already dismissed a proven expert in spatial planning as department head and replaced her with a politically well-connected manager.
Kronplatz is not an isolated case. "The decisions of the regional government follow a pattern – and this pattern is throwing South Tyrol off balance in the long term," said Rohrer. "It's not about saving every single tree. But now there seems to be no limit. Objective criticism is ignored and decisions are pushed through – at the expense of the environment and the people of South Tyrol," the three Green Party representatives stated.
This pattern is also evident in legislation. Last year, the state government shortened the deadlines for landscape permits to such an extent that state agencies simply no longer have the time to thoroughly review complex projects. Once the deadline expires, the municipality decides – and the state government can wash its hands of questionable large-scale projects. At the same time, only a fraction of those projects with particularly significant environmental impacts are now reviewed on-site.
“The regional government has completely lost its balance. It acts as if nature and the landscape in our region could withstand endless stress,” said Rohrer. “But one look out the window is enough: South Tyrol must regain its balance before it’s too late.” "
