Over-allocation of funds for the speed skating rink
At its meeting today, the city council approved the allocation of additional funds totalling 1.7 million euros for the speed skating rink in Küchwald.
The outdoor track has been undergoing renovation as a training facility suitable for competitions since March 2020. It was originally due to be completed in October 2020. This date has been postponed. The operator, Eissport- und Freizeitgesellschaft (EFC), will now open the rink at the end of January 2021, with alternative times available to use the space in the ice rink.
The reason for the later completion and the cost increase is the professional disposal of the old insulation material from the speed skating rink. As pollutants were detected here at the start of construction, the disposal had to be clarified in consultation with the regional authorities. A preliminary investigation was not technologically possible due to the operation of the track and the filled ammonia pipework. The risk of an accident and evacuation of the neighbouring residential area was too high. This process took a very long time and caused significantly higher disposal costs.
Now, an additional 850,000 euros have to be raised for the disposal of the material alone. In addition, 400,000 euros have to be spent on new crash barriers and 315,000 euros on lost revenue for EFC GmbH. In total, the additional costs amount to around 1.7 million euros.