Penzing in turmoil: vandalism destroys important ecological facilities!

Penzing in turmoil: vandalism destroys important ecological facilities!

In Penzing, two important ÖKlos have come to an early end in the last few days. These sanitary facilities, which are important for many residents, were vandalized, leaving those responsible in disbelief.

How meinkreis.at reported that one toilet in Matzner Park collapsed completely, while the other in Ludwig Zatzka Park burned out. District leader Michaela Schüchner (SPÖ) was deeply affected and spoke of a great loss for the community. “These facilities are important for families, children and older people, especially in densely populated districts,” said Schüchner.

Financial implications and future plans

The destruction of the ÖKlos not only has emotional but also financial consequences for the district budget. A barrier-free toilet costs around 18,000 euros, which is a complicating factor in these already tense times. Especially since there have already been numerous requests from the public and from the Children and Youth Parliament for additional locations.

The good news? Although the destroyed toilets will not be reinstalled this year, the district administration is planning to put them back into operation in March 2026. “Easily accessible and clean sanitary facilities are a must,” emphasizes Schüchner and adds: “We must do everything we can to prevent such incidents of vandalism.”

The police were called in to investigate the deliberate damage to property. It seems that Penzing is not affected by such incidents for the first time, as the infrastructure has often been subject to vandalism in the past.

It remains to be hoped that the community will become more aware of the importance of these facilities and that such incidents will become a thing of the past in the future. A good hand in selecting new locations would also be helpful so that the new ÖKlos do not suffer the same fate.