Republik Österreich
Territory:	83.871 km²
Inhabitants:	8.316.000 (2007)
Number of communities:	2357
Inhabitants per community:	3.528
Density of population:	99 Inhab./ km²
GDP per Inhabitant:	US$ 37.117 (2006)

«specialist responsibility versus territorial responsibility»

• Currently preparing "Scenarios of Austrian Spatial Planning 2030" with the ÖROK.
  Developing many Austrian planning offices with working groups. In a first step in sectorial scenarios were developed for the economy,
  tourism, agriculture etc. In a second step they will be combined in
  integrated scenarios. These integrated scenarios will be quantitatively highlighted and spatially located. The discussions about integrated scenarios are continuing and the first results were presented and talked about in Vienna on 13.11.07.
  
• A continuingly important issue for spatial planning in Austria is to adapt transport infrastructure, especially towards the east and north.
  
• Considerations about the spatial development of Austria clearly bear in mind the Alpine location and the relevant organisations, for example the Alpine convention. 

Summary
The two big issues of Austrian spatial planning are services of public
interest in rural areas (declining population and ageing) and growth
related problems e.g. suburbanisation in urban areas (an expected 10% population increase in due to an influx of people). An initiative started by the Federal Chancellery "Scenarios of Austrian Spatial Planning 2030" will devise spatial development scenarios from a regional responsibility perspective, which will be discussed by a broad specialist community.
Current problems of Austrian spatial planning are, apart from climate change (Alpine tourism and provision for risks), transport problems (Brenner Basis tunnel) as well as energy issues.

interviews
Manfred Schrenk
Central European Institute of Technology (CEIT)

Markus Seidl
Geschäftsführer Österreichische Raumordnungskonferenz (ÖROK)