Stocksee in the gravel trap: community residents demand more distance!

Stocksee in the gravel trap: community residents demand more distance!

Gravel mining in Stocksee is causing lively discussions and considerable concern in the community. As the Kiel News reports, the current draft regional plan for Schleswig-Holstein provides for large mining areas for gravel and sand, which extend far into the town. This planning raises concerns among citizens as there is a risk of creating a crater landscape and severely restricting the community's development opportunities.

In total, around a third of Stocksee is to be designated as a gravel mining area, which corresponds to almost 390 hectares and takes up around 35 percent of the municipal area. Mayor Dirk Jaetzel confirmed that the regional plan specifies priority areas for gravel mining, which could have a negative impact on future development. Another aspect is that the planned residential areas are only 80 meters away from these raw material reserves.

community concerns

The community's concerns are diverse: It is feared that the increasing density of trucks will significantly affect traffic and the quality of life in terms of dust and noise pollution. Residents expressed their concerns at an information meeting. Jaetzel emphasized that gravel mining cannot be prevented, but that an acceptable implementation is absolutely necessary.

The municipality is also planning a partial land use plan to specifically control gravel mining and ensure recultivation measures. Another third of the area is intended as a “core recreation area”, although the designation of areas for photovoltaic systems could be hindered here. The mayor also criticizes the fact that areas with contaminated gravel should be designated as recreational areas, which does not simplify the situation.

The situation remains tense

Additional concerns arise from a nearby pig farm, which could cause odor problems. After a conversation at the Interior Ministry, Jaetzel was optimistic that the community's concerns would be taken seriously. Nevertheless, the current planning significantly limits the design options to 70 percent of the municipal area. “There’s something going on” – at this point it’s important to keep an eye on Stocksee’s future.

The situation in Stocksee invites reflection and shows how important the balance between raw material extraction and community development is. It remains to be hoped that the population's concerns will be taken into account in the planning and solutions will be found that are acceptable for everyone involved.

For interested readers who would like to learn more about urban renewal and municipal plans, the example of Piazza Santa Rosa be of interest in Rosario, where public spaces are being revitalized in innovative ways and important community spaces are also being created.