“Have things been understood correctly?” – The 15 million euro project is opposed in Oulu for strange reasons

A 5,000-seat futsal stadium is being planned in Heinäpää, Oulu. The city council unanimously approved the plan change made for the project at the beginning of February.

After this, six individuals living in the nearby area filed a complaint with the Administrative Court of Northern Finland, proposing the cancellation of the plan change.

– Of course it hurt. If the complaint is not withdrawn, the project may be delayed for a couple of years, says the chairman of OTC Stadion Oy, which is running the stadium project Tomi Kaismo.

Provincial newspaper Kalevan according to the nearly 20-page appeal, the annulment of the formula is justified on several different points. It requires, for example, more detailed noise studies on the sounds caused by kicking the ball and the referee’s whistle.

– The question arises as to whether things have been understood correctly, because there are now four football fields in the planning area. Kicking sounds and whistles have been heard there for 40 years, and the stadium would only muffle these sounds, AC Oulu’s director of development and member of OTC Stadion’s board Juho Meriläinen states.

MTV’s according to the complaint, the complainants demand additional clarifications also in matters related to storm water, parking changes in the area and traffic.

Connection received

A press conference about the stadium project was held on Tuesday evening, where Kaismo and Meriläinen answered people’s questions. The two do not know if the complaining six were present.

– It could be that they were there, they just didn’t want to ask anything else, because there were more people there, Kaismo thinks.

So Kaismo and partners contacted the group of six after the event and suggested a meeting where the concerns could be discussed.

– They answered that they will discuss it in a group first and then come back to the matter.

As of midday on Wednesday, the appeals team had not yet returned to the matter.

– I hope that this is just a misunderstanding and that we can arrange a meeting with these people as soon as possible, says Kaismo.

The story continues after the picture.

Bird concern

If everything had gone according to plan, AC Oulu would already be playing next summer in the new rough stadium.

However, the project has already been delayed by a year, when in addition to bat, traffic, light and noise and nature studies, Kaismo’s team also required more detailed bird studies.

– In the nature survey, birds were already surveyed, but in addition to that, a separate survey of birds’ migration, nesting, and feeding was required. It moved the project forward by a year.

The ornithological survey practically examined whether endangered and protected birds nest or feed on the soccer fields on which the stadium is to be built.

After a careful investigation, it turned out that no bird species requiring special attention were found to be nesting in the fields that were in daily use, and endangered migratory birds did not use the area as a resting and eating area.

– It can be said that, based on the observational data produced by bird and bat surveys, there are no binding restrictions to promote the planning of the Nuottasaari sports area.

The project was allowed to continue.

Familiar hustle and bustle

It is not the first arena project that is facing a backlash due to numerous complaints. For example, in Pietarsaari, Espoo and Tampere, stadium projects have been stuck for a long time thanks to energetic appeals.

Now, however, a new 8,000-seat arena is being built in Tampere, and last fall the administrative court also rejected the complaints about the stadium project in Espoo.

Now a similar show may be coming up in Oulu as well.

– Even from the city’s management, hopes have been expressed that the appeal would be withdrawn, Meriläinen says.

Kaismo is confident that the project will progress despite the setbacks.

– This is just unfortunate, because all the reports indicate that there are no obstacles to the stadium.

“No one’s interest”

The 15 million euro project is to be financed 75 percent with private funds.

25 percent comes from the public side and the Football Association, which can distribute the support provided by UEFA. According to Kaismo, Palloliitto granted grants of one million euros to the Tammela stadium and 400,000 euros to the Pietarsaari stadium project.

– The amount is up to the Finnish Football Association to decide, but it’s probably in that range.

Financing patterns may have to change if the project drags on and the costs increase.

– Then the private financier might wonder if the project makes any sense anymore.

However, Meriläinen believes that a stadium will be built in Oulu one way or another, because there is a need for it.

– It’s not for the horses to give up here.