The Leipzig environmental protection association Ökolöwe has criticized plans to open up further lakes in the Leipzig region to motorboats. The background to this is an ongoing hearing procedure by the Saxony State Directorate on boat traffic on Lake Markkleeberg and Lake Störmthal. "It is unacceptable for the Free State to open up one lake after another to motorboats. People are looking for peace and quiet and natural recreation on the lakes - not pollution from motorboat noise. And nature also needs its space," said Božena Nawka, environmental policy spokesperson for the association.
The State Directorate of Saxony had already permanently opened Lake Cospuden south of Leipzig to shipping by general decree. This was supposed to apply to the northern part of the lake from the first of February. However, the Ökolöwe association lodged an objection. The release has therefore been delayed until this has been processed, the state directorate told the German Press Agency. Lake Cospuden is around 400 hectares in size and is very popular with bathers. However, according to the authority, there are already 135 individual permits for the use of motorized boats on the lake.
