28.06.2023
Fläsch was the last municipality to approve the support package for the Pizolbahnen by a large majority on Tuesday evening.
The municipalities of Bad Ragaz, Vilters-Wangs, Mels, Pfäfers and Fläsch as well as the town of Maienfeld are thus contributing a total of CHF 5.3 million to the realization of the snowmaking project 4.0 as well as annual contributions of CHF 540,000 to the operation of the Pizolbahnen for a further 13 years. The canton of St. Gallen already pledged an NRP loan of CHF 3.0 million in February. In addition, private shareholders have subscribed to share capital of 700,000 francs. This means that external financing has been secured and construction of the snowmaking system can begin.
Thanks to the support of the three major landowners, the local community of Bad Ragaz, the local community of Wangs and the Alpkorporation Wangs, approval for this pioneering project was granted by the authorities in fall 2020. In summer 2023, the reservoir next to the Pizolhütte will now be prepared to such an extent that the sealing can be installed and the lake filled with water in summer 2024. The Twärchamm pumping station and the first sections of the pipeline network will be constructed this year. Further sections will follow in the next few years. This means that water from the new reservoir can be fed into the system for the first time in winter 2024/25. The expansion of the actual snowmaking technology will take place according to plan and successively in several stages.
The Board of Directors, management and employees of Pizolbahnen are delighted with the great support of the people of Sarganserland and the Bündner Herrschaft for this project and would like to express their sincere thanks. Without this support from the taxpayers, such an important project for the region could not be realized. It was also made possible by the excellent cooperation between the local councils involved under the leadership of the municipalities of Bad Ragaz and Vilters-Wangs. This proves that - given the will - major regional projects can still be realized.
