Swimming pools in Mödling and Perchtoldsdorf: Do you stand before?

Swimming pools in Mödling and Perchtoldsdorf: Do you stand before?

In the Mödling district, the future of municipal swimming pools is on the brink. The mayors Andrea Kö (ÖVP) of Perchtoldsdorf and Silvia Drechsler (SPÖ) from Mödling draw attention to the alarming financial pressure, which the baths are exposed to due to rising costs. Both municipalities invest over 4.5 million euros annually in the operation of their indoor and outdoor pools. Despite these financial expenses, the municipalities see the risk of closures of the popular facilities if the framework conditions should not change. In Perchtoldsdorf, the city pool generates an annual loss of almost two million euros, which also complicates the situation.

A central factor behind the financial bottleneck are the high energy prices and rising wages that drive the operating costs up. This becomes particularly clear, since Mödling cannot pass on the price increases to the bathers without making access to the baths unaffordable. In addition, swimming lessons, which requires further resources and thus further increases the financial pressure. The Mödlinger Stadtbad, a listed building from the interwar period, as well as the leisure center in Perchtoldsdorf, which was opened in 1979 and is urgently needed to renovate, are faced with the challenge of carrying out necessary renovations to avoid closure

challenges in the company

The problems are diverse: in addition to the financial aspects, the shortage of skilled workers represents one of the greatest challenges. The industry is concerned about the availability of qualified employees, which is of crucial importance for the implementation of the company and the implementation of necessary renovation measures. A survey by the association of local companies shows that 78% of operators in Germany identify the shortage of skilled workers as a major problem. Furthermore, 60% of the swimming pool operators have registered renovation needs at their facilities, which reinforces the pressure on the already tense budgets.

In order to meet these challenges, Mayor Kö demands new, comprehensive financing models for the use of spa in the district. The lack of financial resources is perceived by those responsible as a pressing problem that cannot be ignored. A clear need for action results in particular with regard to the high operating costs and the necessary CO2 reduction measures, which also lead to load shift.

future prospects

The perspectives for the coming years are anything but rosy in Perchtoldsdorf and Mödling. While operators of the outdoor pools are carefully optimistic for the 2023 season, the location for indoor pools looks pessimistic from a long -term perspective. Many operators in Germany report that they have to count on similar or even worse conditions for the next five years, a development that will not stop at the baths in the Mödling district.

Overall, the question remains how long the municipalities can carry the financial burdens alone and whether the funding programs will be reformed in order to counter the critical situation in the spa landscape. Growing costs, the shortage of skilled workers and the need for renovations must be taken into account in order to make the bathrooms attractive and accessible to all users. Individual municipalities are already relying on modern technology, such as AI-based video surveillance, to make the operation more effective. However, the legal framework for this is still unclear, and urgent clarifications are required by the legislator.

The future of the baths in the Mödling district remains uncertain and will largely depend on political decisions and financial aid.

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