The plan is for the gondola to run between the center of Odda and the mountain Rossnos. With its 1404 m. is the highest mountain peak in Odda. The hike up is demanding and takes around six hours. But now the mountaintop can become more accessible. A majority of the county committee in Vestland county council went in on Wednesday to recommend the construction of a gondola up here. Ap, Høgre and Frp voted in favor. It passed with only one majority vote. Photo: Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter Splits the town The gondola project in Odda is hotly debated in the local community and is dividing the town. Those who want development argue, among other things, that the project will lead to growth in population and jobs, in addition to positive effects in the center of Odda. The gondola will be the highest in Norway. Those who are against fear the project could be expensive, both for nature and the wild reindeer, the municipal coffers and other tourism investments. Two groups have been created on Facebook. “Yes to the preservation of Rossnos, no to Gondola” and “Rossnos for all! Yes to Gondol” There is great commitment from both sides about the decision in the county committee. “Here there are probably some politicians in Odda who have fed the county politicians with their completely incomprehensible and totally misleading arguments.” “Now I was genuinely happy. Goosebumps factor. A sensible decision taken by neutral politicians. The track and nature can live side by side” “Unbelievable” “Positive for us all” – High temperature Local newspaper Hardanger Folkeblad notes that there are still deep contradictions in the gondola case. – There is a high temperature in the comment field both in social media and on our own platforms. Hardly a day goes by without us hearing people mention this project when we are out in the field, says editor Eivind Dahle Sjåstad. He says that it is undoubtedly a great victory for the developers and campaigners to get the majority of the county politicians on board. – There is probably a narrow majority in the municipal council to adopt the detailed regulation plan, but in odd politics anything can happen. Resistance to the project is hardly less now than before, says Dahle Sjåstad. Autumn in Odda. The mountain Rossnos in the background. Photo: Tale Hauso / news Debated All over the country, plans are now being made to build railways that will transport up to 100,000 tourists to the mountains each year. In Loen, the new skylift has become a major attraction within a few years. But both from the general public and from those who are concerned with nature and the environment, there are many protests to the new projects. At Voss, there was an uproar when the new gondola ran directly over rooftops. Several homeowners received compensation. If the gondola is realised, it will run from Skalltaket in the center of Odda and to the top of the mountain Rossnos. – Another betrayal County deputy mayor Natalia Golis (MDG) in Vestland county municipality is surprised and disappointed by the decision in the county committee. She believes that the party has broken its own decision with this, because the county has an overarching goal of protecting the wild reindeer’s habitat on the Hardangervidda. – We don’t need a gondola on every single peak, says Golis. – Hardangervidda is large. Is it important whether this particular section gets a gondola? – The reindeer are already being hunted by road construction, housing estates and cabins. This is just another betrayal of our international responsibility for endangered wild reindeer, she says. County deputy mayor Natalia Golis (MDG) believes that it is a betrayal of the party to vote for a gondola lift. She is particularly worried about the wild reindeer on Hardangervidda. Photo: Fredrik Hagen / NTB The benefits of a heavier road Arve Helle (Ap) in the county committee in Vestland county municipality believes that the gondola lift will generate activity and give a boost to the center of Odda. – We believe that the advantages are greater than the disadvantages, he says. He thinks it is particularly positive that the gondola will leave from the closed smelter. He emphasizes the importance of facilitating business development. But add that they do not wish to eradicate any wild reindeer tribe. – We do not think this will have a negative impact on the wild reindeer. This is not inside a wild reindeer area, it is on the outskirts, says Helle. The county administration wanted to strongly advise the county committee not to have the gondola built, but with a majority vote, a majority of the county committee went in to recommend construction. The state administrator must come up with his conclusion, before the matter will finally be decided by the government. Arve Helle (Ap) believes the gondola will generate activity and give a boost to the center of Odda. Photo: Arne Stubhaug / news
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