The austrian program for rural development (LE-Program) 2014-20 combines all measures of supporting rural areas.

As a part of the consortium (formed by metis), mecca is assigned to the evaluation of the programme. Following the completion of the 2017 implementation report we will elaborate the extended annual evaluation report 2019. mecca is responsible for the following topics:

• Rural tourism: development of innovative pilot projects, cooperation between small economic operators, clusters in rural tourism, investments in small tourist infrastructure
• Renewal of villages: plans and concepts, implementation
• Local Agenda 21
• Implementation of climate and energy projects at local level

The Neusiedler See and its surrounding region are attractive in many respects and hence face an increasing pressure regarding spatial and settlement develpment, building areas at the waterside, recreation, culture and tourism, energy, economy, agriculture, nature protection etc.

In order to develop a coordinated strategy for the future development in the region, mecca is appointed to develop a “Master Plan Neusiedler See” based on a comprehensive regional analysis and the involvement of stakeholders, policy makers, interested public and other relevant organisations and institutions.

CEP (Courier, Express and Parcel)-Services are of increasing importance to urban supply. The demand on these services is expected to grow, caused mainly by the booming e-commerce market, but also by increasing population numbers and numbers of single-households. But how is the economic development of the sector, what’s the CEP-Service’s importance in regard to the business location and urban development and what are the hot topics in the years to come? On behalf of the Wirtschaftskammer Wien, we are working on these and further questions together with Umweltbundesamt GmbH.

NAFES (Niederösterreichische Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Förderung des Einkaufs in Orts- und Stadtzentren) supports activities aimed at increasing the attractiveness of urban shaped village centres and gaining new circles of customers. During the funding period 2013-2016 207 projects were funded with a total investment volume of € 12,4 millions.

mecca conducted an impact analysis with the aim of developing suggestions for NAFES 2017+

Lower Austria has commited to reducing the energy consuption and the greenhouse gas emisions. Measures are defined in the NÖ Klima- und Energieprogramm 2020 (Lower Austria Climate and Energy Program), they are consistent with the european, austrian and lower austrian climate protection measures.

Aim of the study instructed by EVN is the question how regional and communal development and energy supply could be adapted better. mecca conducted a data analysis and developed usage suggestions for model communities and energy space types.

Our project partners are the Umweltbundesamt Österreich (Federal Environmental Agency Austria)

The Project “Education grows” in the region Buckelige Welt-Wechselland is a initiative by educators, parents and the economy. It is financally supported by the LEADER Region Buckelige Welt-Wechselland.

Aims of the project:

• Impulses and advanced education for everybody interested in it (f.e. network meetings for parents)
• Cooporation and exchange between local businesses and schools
• “Education days” with a practical orientation and interesting lectures (f.e. by Margret Rasfeld, Gerald Hüther, Alexander Pointner)

mecca supports the LEADER Region Buckelige Welt-Wechselland with project development and implementation.

The austrian program for rural development (LE-Program) 2014-20 combines all measures of supporting rural areas.

As a part of the consortium (formed by metis), mecca is assigned to the evaluation of the following aspects:

• Model projects in the rural tourism
• Rural tourism
• Renewal of villages
• Civic Participation
• Vitalisation of town centres, revitalisation of buildings, spare time, culture and education infrastructure

Service catalogue:

• Evaluation of assistant measures
• Conducting of interviews

The austrian “Building Report” is issued regulary. The main aspects of the 3rd edition of the report are the landscape, residential building and communal construction. Hannes Schaffer is one of the experts of the chapter “landscape” alongside Sybylla Zech. They develop case scenarios which should illustrate a probable future development. This expert evaluation is used as a basis of decisionmaking for the federal- and regional politics. The report will be released at the end of 2016.

Service catalogue:

• Expertise about the subject of landscape
• Development of the case scanarios
• Organisation of workshop

The aim of the roadmap “Agenda For Urban Regions in Austria” is to establish urban regions as fields of political action.

The roadmap shows the next steps, containing the main focuses and guide- and timelines. The roadmap relies on an interaction to the ÖREK-recommondation “Für eine Stadtregionspolitik in Österreich”, which arised from the ÖREK 2011. It focus is on measures which strengthen the political weight of planning and acting in an urban region.

Service catalogue:

• Data Research
• Involvement of and coordination with participating actors
• Discussion and answering of
  • What is/is not the aim?
  • What are possible measures?
  • What could be further steps: including Who? When? What?

The city of Bratislava would like to be approved as a “Smart City” in middle europe. The main topics of the city are “smart community”, “smart economy” and “smart resources”. A “Roadmap” for the implemenatation of these areas is planned to be accomplished by fall 2016.

Service catalogue:

• “Smart City” expertise
• Participation in workshops

Since a few years, efforts habe been undertaken to improve the cycle path along the march and find new routes, which are more suitable for touristic use. Since the new routes pass through ecologically sensitive areas, this entails certain nature conservation requirements. To meet these reqirements, a set of measures to safeguard the visitor guidance needs to be undertaken and subsequently monitored regarding their efficiency.

In close cooperation with the concerned municipalities, we elaborate the necessary measures in detail (e.g. visitor information, enclosures…), define their location and outline them in a code of practice.

The “Wohnbauforschung Niederösterreich” provides fundings for projects, aimed on research on innovative living and housing. We participate with a project considering following aspects:

1. Single-family houses have been the priority type of housing during the last few decades
2. Aging of population leads to an increasing demand on services supporting people in their everyday life (provision, caring, health)
3. Buildings and apartments not suitable/comfortable for elderly people take negative impact on their quality of living
4. Communities face the challenge of “dying” centers – especially those which cannot provide attractive housing for a younger generation

The research focuses on showing the connections of these aspects. We will illustrate the main advantages of building age-conform housings in the center of the towns – for both, elderly people and the community.

Results

• Cartographic illustration of communities facing the biggest challenges of demographic change
• An aid for decision-making to realize what their main needs are
• A “construction kit” with recommendations on “age-appropriate living” in communities

On behalf of Lower Austria, mecca elaborates a study on which activities are undertaken in the Danube Region and how they should be adapted to present and future challenges. From Lower Austrias point of view, we

• lay down priorities to be implemented in the frame of the EUSDR
• identify organisations and institutions which are helpful in implementing the stratgey
• identify themes and project ideas to be realised in the framework of the EUSDR and
• elaborate structural adjustments for optimal use of the EUSDR.

Amerang is a village in Upper Bavaria. On behalf of the Ernst-Freiberger-Foundation, mecca elaborates a site development concept for Amerang in Bavaria. Aim of the project is to establish Amerang as a sustainable, authentic and culturally interesting community which is attractive for its inhabitants and guests of the region and beyond.

mecca supports the government of Burgenland in development of a manual of modification of Land Use Plans. Aim of the project is on the one hand sorting out frequently asked questions related to the course of land use plan modifications.  On the other hand we want to standardise and enhance transparency of the process.
The manual aims at the communities and planners responsible for local spatial planning, so they are actively involved in the elaboration.

Since 2012, Upper Austria is focussing on initiating and promoting intercommunal cooperation in the field of regional planning and spatial development. To ensure the best possible cost-benefit ratio, mecca evaluates the finalised projects and develops minimum requirements for future projects and cooperations. We evaluate the technical quality of intercommunal cooperation and their contribution to the aims of the federal states and we look closely at the cooperations themselves and their processes.

Service catalogue:

• Development of an analytical framework
• Analysis of documents
• Carrying out workshops, interviews and surveys
• Elaboration of a catalogue of requirements
• Documentation and reporting

A missing transport link over the river March hinders the integrated development of the region Weinviertel – Zahorie despite similar economic and spatial preconditions.  However, after a negative referendum, the planned bridge connecting Angern an der March and Záhorská Ves won’t be built. In this project, we developed an alternative concept to enhance cross-border mobility.

Countries: AT, SK

In December 2014, after one and a half year life time of the Marc Aurel Initiative for Health and Life Quality, mecca carried out a survey on the awareness level of the initiative and on future topics in the LEADER region Römerland Carnuntum.

mecca supports the LEADER region Römerland Carnuntum in developing a strategy for 2014+. The participation process is locally organized by the LEADER office; professional inputs and the finalization of the strategy are carried out by an external consultant team.

Service catalogue:

• Area description
• Definition of development requirements and SWOT-analysis
• Definition of targets within the framework of LEADER 2014-2020
• Preparation of a strategy and action plan
• Guiding of the implementation and quality assurance
• Incorporation of experiences and conclusions from the current period
• Presentation and documentation of the preparation process of the development strategy
• Preparation of the overall report

mecca supports the LEADER region Bucklige Welt-Wechselland in developing a strategy for 2014+. The participation process is locally organized by the LEADER office; professional inputs and the finalization of the strategy are carried out by an external consultant team.

Service catalogue:

On behalf of the Austrian conference on spatial planning (ÖROK), mecca and the department for spatial planning, Vienna Universtiy of Technology, worked on positions and milestones for a common Austrian agglomeration policy.

Download of the german “Agenda”: Agenda Stadtregionen

Expert report in fields of regional policy and material goods, recreations as well as overall apperance of the townscape and the landscape.

In the LEADER region Römerland-Carnuntum a “demography check” for the 27 municipalities and companies in the regions of Bruck an der Leitha and Wien-Umgebung was conducted. The focus for the region lies on the sector-check for Economy and Tourism, a service aimed at regional companies. it shows how well the company is organized and what kind of measures and strategies it should endorse in the future.

The new Spatial Planning Strategy for Upper Austria is supposed to formulate the most important strategic goals and measures for spatial planning, in order to respond to current developments and their spatial consequences.

The most important characteristics of the updated Spatial Planning Strategy were:

• Brief and realization-oriented regulation
• Link between the Upper Austrian law on spatial planning on the one hand and the realization instruments on the other hand
• Special relevance for realization through defined fields of action – linking of spatial planning, development planning and regional development
• Focus on issues that lie within the competence of spatial planning and regional development

This project is a cooperation of mecca, komobile and Stadtland.

Agglomeration perspective is one of five cross-cutting issues in the Urban Development Plan STEP 2015.  In cooperation with stadtland, mecca worked on a position paper on urban-regional cooperation.

Our project partner were: Stadtland – Engineering Office for Spatial Planning, Regional Development, Landscape Planning and Landscape Conservation

In the course of this expertise the following questions are covered:

• Basis and framework conditions for the cross-border UNESCO World Heritage Neusiedler See/Fertö
• World Heritage and wind parks – the European context
• History of development of the UNESCO World Heritage area and the resulting requirements and framework conditions for the use of wind power
• Assessing how far the federal state of Burgenland has dealt with the connection of the UNESCO World Heritage and the use of windpower to date

The “Regional Guiding Plan for Nordraum Wien” is supposed to ensure the coordinated spatial development along A5, S1 and A22. The project region belongs to the strongest growth regions in Austria. In order to make the development of municipalities sustainable and efficient the plan was drafted by the municipalities and the federal state together.

The regional guiding plan was a novelty in Lower Austria. Under the main idea of “equal cooperation” a new approach for regional planning was developed. It is marked by an early, constructive and goal-oriented cooperation of municipalities, the region and the federal state. Regional goals, principles and measures of spatial development should be determined and realized through cooperative labour division and grouping of competences by municipalities and the federal state.

The amendment plann for the Operational Programme (OP) Phasing Out Burgenland will contribute to an optimum impact in the upcoming years.
The approach of the revision was determined by article 48 of the Concil Regulation 1083/2006 on general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund: three reasons for revision, realization difficulties and the expected impacts of the revision were explained in the amendment. The outcome was passed to the monitoring committee.

The amendment planned for the Operational Programme (OP) Phasing Out Burgenland will contribute to an optimum impact in the upcoming years.
The approach of the revision is determined by article 48 of the Concil Regulation 1083/2006 on general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund: thre reasons for revision, realization difficulties and the expected impacts of the revision shall be explained in the amendment. The outcome will be passed to the monitoring committee.

The primary, secondary and special needs schools in southern Lower Austria led a pilot project on the subject, „What parents and grandparents should know about their children’s lives.“
Using a regional questionnaire, the schools sought to learn about parent’s, grandparent’s and caregiver’s impressions about what their children do during a regular day and to identify problem areas where they felt they required more information. The schools then began to develop the initial specific implementation measures in the various areas identified by the parents (eg. Bullying, internet dangers, puberty, education and learning difficulties, drug consumption and addiction prevention).

The Austrian Conference for Spatial Planning´s (ÖROK) population forecasts display clearly that all regions are facing inevitable changes that must be adapted to. In these forecasts, the growth in the number of aging people combined with a decline of the youth plays a major role. Communities must quickly adjust to this and begin to consider how they will adapt their infrastructure. Regions that find ways to engage the aging part of the population in the community stand to benefit from the financial stability that the elderly have achieved through their retirement pensions.
This project concentrates on all of the eastern regions that have been left behind by the the development of dynamic agglomerations and are now characterized by their steady or predicted exodus of people and workers. These developing trends, as well as declining municipal budgets, require specific actions on the part of the communities and their regional political bodies.

Some of the focuses of the online survey conducted in course of the development of a Regional Framework Concept for Dunkelsteinerwald were: statisfaction with communal services, important issues for the population, future challenges and knolwedge of the region. The results and recommendations for action were considered in the concept and goals of future communal cooperation.

Service catalogue:

mecca supported the State of Carinthia in the creation of the Regional Energy Concept: Upper Carinthia.  The goal was to use spatial planning to lay the groundwork for addressing critical questions facing Carinthia’s energy future. This should provide the basis for energy security through increasing the energy independence of Carinthia while at the same time improving the ‘value-added’ aspect by focusing on regional power generation. As results are gathered, they should be used to develop a detailed energy concept that is inclusive of the communities and key stakeholders.

In course of the annual LEADER region evaluation mecca supported the LEADER Management. An extensive questionnaire for different target groups led to interesting results for future LEADER work.

Service catalogue:

According to the strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, an EU strategy for the Danube Region should be prepared by the end of 2010. Therefore, Austria has worked to prepare a common statement including papers from the state goverments.

mecca supported Lower Austria in identifying relevant topics and preparing arguments for Lower Austria to take on a leadership role in coordinating further development in these topics.

Service catalogue:

The bicycle-rental-system “nextbike” functions as an interface between individual transportation and public transportation. Nextbike offers anyone without access to their own bicycle the opportunity to travel short distances within the city quickly and comfortably. In addressing traffic issues, the combination of nextbike with public transit options is a sensible approach. Rather than cost intensive “high tech” solutions, nextbike offers a simple and affordable rent-a-bike system. Nextbike has already installed a successful network of return stations in more than 20 cities in Austria, Germany and New Zealand. The feasibility study analysed the requirements for setting up a nextbike network in the city of Sopron.

Based on the network of hiking trails in the micro region of Wolkersdorf , which was prepared by mecca in 2008, a google map was drafted as a flexible PR instrument. The map shows trails and additional information concerning attractions along these trails. Standard map features like zooming or the printing of sections are available.

Based on the LEADER initiative of 2007-2013, the establishment of “Learning Regions” is a key objective within Austria. The preparation and implementation of a regional learning strategy should strengthen lifelong learning and support the regional knowledge management.

Based on the LEADER initiative of 2007-2013, the establishment of “Learning Regions” is a key objective within Austria. The preparation and implementation of a regional learning strategy should strengthen lifelong learning and support the regional knowledge management.

 Service catalogue:

Based on the LEADER initiative of 2007-2013, the establishment of “Learning Regions” is a key objective within Austria. The preparation and implementation of a regional learning strategy should strengthen lifelong learning and support the regional knowledge management.

Based on the LEADER initiative of 2007-2013, the establishment of “Learning Regions” is a key objective within Austria. The preparation and implementation of a regional learning strategy should strengthen lifelong learning and support the regional knowledge management.

Based on the LEADER initiative of 2007-2013, the establishment of “Learning Regions” is a key objective within Austria. The preparation and implementation of a regional learning strategy should strengthen lifelong learning and support the regional knowledge management.

In the micro region of Wolkersdorf (nine municipalities) single hiking paths already existed. The ‘Hiking Net Wolkerdorf’ project set out to create a network of trails totaling 90km in length and including both circular and inter-connected routes. After careful and detailed research, all the distances, attractions and accompanying signage were also prepared by mecca. Funding aspects, the central theme, as well as possible additional outputs (hiking maps, information boards for municipalities) were discussed in several workshops.

Service catalogue:

As a part of a pan-regional effort to develop a master plan for country development, mecca drafted a set of planning atlases for the city of Santana in the Romanian Banat region. The atlases display Santana’s current situation based on large scale measures of European standards at both a local and a regional level. It also displays the current and future opportunities for Santana’s development. The collection was prepared in English and Romanian.

Service catalogue:

Service catalogue:

Service catalogue:

Politicians, regional stakeholders and inhabitants of the Weinviertel Ost Region were prepared for the LEADER period of 2007-2013. In addition to fulfilling all of the formal criteria for applying as a LEADER region, this project prepared the local development strategy, created a common regional perspective and developed projects identified as being central to the success of the upcoming programme period

Service catalogue:

Politicians, regional stakeholders and inhabitants of the Lafnitztal Region were prepared for the LEADER period of 2007-2013. In addition to fulfilling the formal criteria for applying as a LEADER region, this project prepared the local development strategy, created a common regional perspective and developed projects identified as being central to the success of the upcoming programme period.

Service catalogue:

Politicians, regional stakeholders and inhabitants of the Auland Carnuntum Region were prepared for the LEADER period of 2007-2013. In addition to fulfilling all of the formal criteria for applying as a LEADER region, this project prepared the local development strategy, created a common regional perspective and developed projects identified as being central to the success of the upcoming programme period.

Service catalogue:

Politicians, regional stakeholders and inhabitants of the Marchfeld Region were prepared for the LEADER period 2007-2013. In addition to fulfilling the formal criteria for applying as a LEADER region, this project prepared the local development strategy, created a common regional perspective and developed projects identified as being central to the success of the upcoming programme period.

Service catalogue:

Politicians, regional stakeholders and inhabitants of the Triestingtal Region were prepared for the LEADER period of 2007-2013. In addition to fulfilling all of the formal criteria for applying as a LEADER region, this project prepared the local development strategy, created a common regional perspective and developed projects identified as being central to the success of the upcoming programme period.

Service catalogue:

For the first time, the energy potential from renewable sources such as biomasse, wind and geothermal have been measured in Eastern Austria. Utlitizing GIS Modelling software, the energy potential from areas as large as Municipalities and as small as ‘micro regions’ have been graphically displayed. This tool will act as an important asset as regions develop their future energy policies. This project was successfully developed by engaging in focused and regular communication with all key stakeholders.

The municipality of Suhareka, Kosovo decided to revitalise its policy framework for development and growth. Therefore, a new Municipal Development Plan was drafted in parallel with the Urban Development Plan based on GIS for the first time. Additionally the administrative staff was trained to work with the data in the future.

Download: Suhareka Environment for the future.

 Service catalogue

Academic course at the University of Klagenfurt regarding the following questions: How does the idea of establishing a protected area (PA) develop? How can it be promoted effectively?

Service catalogue:

• Lecturing
• Preparation of teaching materials

Project website: http://mpa.e-c-o.at

The project Együtt was implemented by a network of partners from Lower Austria and Hungary in the framework of INTERREG IIIA. It aimed at establishing cooperation between small- and medium-sized companies from both sides of the border. mecca evaluated whether the project objectives have been achieved and which of the used instruments could be basis for further cooperation in the programme periode of 2007-2013.

Service catalogue:

• Lecturing at the TU Vienna

Project-link: Handout