The felling of woodlands next to the motorway will allow an extension to the runway, which worries locals, because the trees provide wind protection. Yet more concerns have been raised regarding a new announced scheme for replacement farmland – replacement would be needed for more than 200 hectares in total.

100 hectares of farmland is to be provided by tree-felling in Kidričevo, where the felling of woodland is already being prepared due to Magna. This is why locals are not enthusiastic about the state’s idea for further tree-felling. Mayor Anton Leskovar says they will discuss the matter provided that fertile soil is brought in. They are not happy about the fact that this farmland will in the end most probably be managed by Perutnina Ptuj, which is foreign owned.

But farmland is not the only problem. Simona Marko, a representative of the Miklavž Initiative, says that this locality does not need the planned airport extension. According to Marko, noise, environmental pollution and the uncontrolled further expansion that will follow a several hundred million euro Chinese investment are especially contentious.