WE START WITH THE GGN 2.0 TRACK.
PRESS RELEASE September 6, 2024
WE START WITH THE GGN 2.0 TRACK.
The County Administrative Board has approved GGN in two separate decisions. One case (4695-2023) was a consultation regarding the impact on the natural and cultural environment (Chapter 12, Section 6 of the Environmental Code), which covered the entire operation—from the construction of the track and competition center, through the staging of the competitions themselves, to the final restoration work. The second case (4506-2023) specifically concerned an exemption from the Off-Road Driving Act. Since the activity reviewed in the consultation case explicitly refers to off-road driving, it can be said that the same matter has been partially reviewed twice, and both times with positive results for GGN.
The Gotland Botanical Association appealed the county board’s decision regarding the consultation (not the off-road driving exemption), expressed concerns about a shorter transport route, and requested that Nordic Sport & Event provide security for the restoration work. Nordic Sport & Event agreed to the revised route, which was consequently also approved by the Land and Environmental Court. The court rejected the association’s request for security. Seven private individuals (four families) appealed the county board’s decision and requested that the exemption be revoked and that the GGN project be prohibited from proceeding. Regarding the public consultation, the Land and Environmental Court determined that these individuals were not directly affected and rejected their appeal (Nacka District Court, case no. M 6304-24, judgment on August 23, 2024). In the off-road driving exemption case, the administrative court rejected their appeal (Administrative Court in Stockholm, case nos. 15456-24 and 15485-24, judgment on September 3, 2024).
To be clear, this is not about GGN being operated on land owned by the complainants’ families; rather, they live in Hejdeby and are not immediate neighbors of the land on which we will build the track.
– Conny Bohlin, CEO of Nordic Sport & Event, says that, in all material respects, the county board’s approval of GGN still stands. Both decisions are subject to conditions. We will meet these conditions, and the GGN will proceed as planned.
NORDIC SPORT & EVENT ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY AS WE NOW BEGIN WORK IN HEJDEBY.
Since August 28, 2023 (when the Armed Forces notified us that GGN could not remain at the Tofta shooting range), Nordic Sport & Event has worked closely with all relevant authorities, but above all, with the county administration and Region Gotland. We will assume full responsibility as we now begin the work and, guided by the precautionary principle, safeguard all natural and wildlife habitats in the area. The County Administrative Board and two courts have approved our environmental impact statement based on our thorough preparatory work.
“Throughout the process, we followed the advice and guidance of the authorities and engaged the consulting firm SWECO to conduct the environmental impact assessment, sampling, and investigations. Furthermore, right from the start, we hired Professor Nils Ryrholm, an environmental expert, who assisted us throughout the entire process,” Conny Bohlin adds, “and we therefore feel confident about beginning the work in Hejdeby.”
In its decision regarding off-road driving, the County Administrative Board has stipulated that the exemption does not apply to, for example, motorcycles or ATVs prior to the race days on October 25 and 26 of this year. This restriction will no longer apply if the decision becomes legally binding. Loaders are also subject to the same conditions; however, in all other respects, both decisions of the County Administrative Board remain in effect even if they are appealed.
“As for the work involved in building the tracks themselves—with or without other vehicles and machinery—there are no obstacles. And as far as the preparation of the two venues (the gravel pit in Roma and the old asphalt plant) is concerned, the off-road driving requirement does not apply,” says Conny Bohlin.
To clarify, we, as the organizers, have the legal right to hold the competition as planned in October, even if the matter has not yet become legally binding.
– We have the full support of all 19 landowners directly affected by GGN 2.0 in Hejdeby as we begin our work. For the previous track construction work, we hired contractors who are experienced and trained to work in forests, nature, and wildlife habitats, concludes Conny Bohlin.
Gotland needs GGN, and GGN needs Gotland.
