Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) calls the proposal a liberalization of the shoreline protection.
This is very much longed for by the Swedish people, says the minister.
The shoreline protection will be abolished for inland lakes up to a maximum of one hectare and for watercourses up to two meters wide. The shoreline protection will also be removed for lakes or watercourses constructed after June 30, 1975, and it will become easier for companies to start businesses near water.
Sweden should be a country where people's lives are not restricted by regulations that are often perceived as absurd, says Infrastructure and Housing Minister Andreas Carlson (KD).
He takes as an example that a farmer today can be prevented from building a property on their land if a ditch is covered by the shoreline protection.
It will be a bit more sensible now.
"Unserious"
The government assesses in its memorandum that the changes are expected to have "negative consequences for the living conditions of animal and plant life on land and in water".
The Green Party's spokesperson Daniel Helldén tells TT that the shoreline protection is one of the most important environmental laws Sweden has for biological diversity and that the bill is "unserious".
The government does not know how many smaller lakes and watercourses are affected. That is the problem – they do not know what the consequences will be.
Pourmokhtari believes that the government has made a balanced assessment and the Sweden Democrats' Martin Kinnunen sees no reason to worry about biological diversity.
I perceive it as unfounded concern from activist organizations that oppose all forms of easing in this area.
"Does not threaten the right of public access"
However, the law also risks reducing access to shoreline areas covered by the right of public access and worsening opportunities for outdoor activities, according to the memorandum.
But the proposal does not threaten the right of public access, according to Pourmokhtari. She believes that it can instead lead to more people seeking out nature, for example, to buy an ice cream at a kiosk by a lake that would not have been built with the current shoreline protection.
For me, it is very important that we use our nature in a wise way and that more people get access to Swedish nature. Not just those who are used to, have a tradition or have inherited being close to nature.
Marcus Alexandersson/TT
Anna Hansson/TT
The bill in brief
TTTT
The general shoreline protection is abolished for watercourses up to two meters in width and lakes that are one hectare or smaller.
The shoreline protection is abolished for lakes and watercourses constructed after June 30, 1975.
Shoreline protection can, however, be introduced for small watercourses or lakes that are of special importance for the purposes of shoreline protection.
Shoreline protection will no longer re-enter when an old detailed planning is replaced by a new one, if the area is to be used in the same way.
Companies will be able to obtain dispensation from shoreline protection – this to promote businesses such as restaurants, cafes, and companies within hunting and fishing.
Aquaculture – such as mussel and fish farming – will receive exemptions from shoreline protection.
The law is proposed to come into force on July 1 this year.
Source: The Government
