First swimmers expected at Lake Seelhausen soon

Lake Seelhausen near Löbnitz is getting closer to being used for tourism: the first visitors could be swimming on the newly created beach, which is around one kilometer long, as early as this year. The federally owned Lausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft (LMBV) says it has created the necessary conditions. Now it is up to the municipality and district to decide on the so-called public use, said LMBV Technical Managing Director Bernd Sablotny during a visit to the site by Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter (SPD).

"We want to hand over the lake to the people as quickly as possible," explained Sablotny. However, bathing, sailing or rowing would first require approval from the district.

The mayor of the municipality of Löbnitz, Detlef Hoffmann (CDU), confirmed that the municipality is going along with this - but referred to outstanding formalities. He said that a usage agreement for the beach area and lake was needed in order to implement public use. A draft is available, but still needs to be agreed. The earliest realistic release date is the end of September.

Beach meets protected area

Not the entire lake is intended for swimming. In addition to the beach, nature and species conservation areas are also being created. According to the LMBV, a balance must be struck between tourist use and nature conservation.

The remediation of the former open-cast mine under mining law has largely been completed. Water law projects such as the connection of the Lober-Leine Canal and a connection to the neighboring Great Goitzsche Lake are now pending.

Panter emphasized how big the tasks still are after the end of lignite mining. "Most people don't know that we still have a lot of work to do after lignite mining in terms of renaturation and restoration." All of this has to happen safely - with a great deal of planning and high costs.

Millions for the future

According to Panter, additional measures for tourism development that go beyond mere renovation will be particularly difficult. "We always have to work again as the Free State to ensure that we can provide the millions that are now usually available. Let's see how that works out in the future," he said. He conceded: In recent years, it has become "increasingly difficult" to provide the necessary money when budgets are tight

Since the lake lies on the border between Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, close coordination is also necessary, he said. "From everything I have heard from the experts, we are working very well together," emphasized Panter.