Cantonal Council AR Ausserrhoden cantonal council closes loophole in water space law

On Monday, the Cantonal Council of Appenzell Ausserrhoden approved the law on watercourse areas and protection against natural disasters in the first reading. With a delay of six years, the canton is tackling the federal government's task of defining watercourse areas in a binding manner.

The federal government requires the cantons to define watercourse areas in accordance with federal guidelines. For example, the distances from streams, rivers and lakes at which construction is still permitted are to be specified.

On Monday, the cantonal court dealt with a corresponding bill. The aim is to transpose the federal requirements into cantonal law. Four laws are affected by the amendments: the Cantonal Building Act, the Hydraulic Engineering Act, the Environmental and Water Protection Act and the Forest Act.

The space for bodies of water is to be defined in a binding manner, and provisions on flood protection, revitalization and protection against the forces of nature are to be regulated.

Farmers, landowners and property owners are mainly affected, as was mentioned by the Council. It was also emphasized that there was hardly any room for manoeuvre for the canton.

The Cantonal Council ultimately approved the business with its various decrees without a dissenting vote. It will deal with it again at a second reading.