The Ackers office evaluates these results and then makes them available to the public. The participation process will continue with a further online survey and a second workshop.

City planning officer Michael Tacke expressed his thanks for this cooperation and made it clear that the development of Salzgittersee is a special process: in 2015, the Alliance for the Region, the Economic and Innovation Promotion Agency (WIS) and the City of Salzgitter developed a concept for Salzgittersee. The Salzgitter City Council decided to use the collection of ideas as the basis for an extensive participation process, which began last year with a kick-off event.

The concept divides Salzgittersee into five areas: "Sand and Sun", "Water and Wind", "Island Park", "City and River" and "Play and Sport". In the workshop, citizens had the opportunity to discuss in working groups whether this division makes sense, whether individual projects need to be reassigned and whether an urban quarter should be developed in the south of the lake that could also incorporate the Fredenberg.

The four groups presented a wide range of proposals: Many similarities emerged with the proposals from the 2015 collection of ideas. "Nature and tranquillity" was considered just as important as "Activity and sport", "Gastronomy" and "Swimming, beach, barbecues". The exception was possible development. Here, the opinions of the four groups differed: from rejection of development to planning a residential area in the direction of Fredenberg.

City planning officer Michael Tacke emphasized that nothing had been decided yet and that all suggestions would be taken on board and incorporated into the participation process, which would continue with a second online survey at the end of March/beginning of April and be followed by a second workshop on 3 June. All the results are then expected to be presented in September before the city council has to decide on the development of Salzgittersee. The administration will then implement this political decision.

Prof. Walter Ackers from Ackers Partner Städtebau and project manager Christian Plumeyer highlighted the positive response to the previous participation campaigns, such as the lake walk and the online survey, in their reviews. 2,000 citizens took part in the online survey. The nature and tranquillity as well as the wide range of activities were cited by the majority as plus points, as was the proximity to the city center. The beach, playgrounds, water skiing and restaurants that have been built in recent years are particularly worth preserving. Garbage, dogs and the condition of some paths were mentioned as negative aspects.

The brief statements that followed also highlighted the conflicting interests: Petra Wassmann, Chairwoman of the Salzgitter Nature Conservation Association, emphasized that the good ecological potential of the Salzgittersee should be included in the development. Activities should therefore be developed that do not destroy this potential. The great closeness to nature must be preserved in the long term.

Prof. Dr. Heinz-Dieter Quack, Dean of the Karl Scharfenberg Faculty in Calbecht, said that many students have a negative opinion of Salzgitter. This image was also responsible for the fact that some professors moved to another university despite better pay. He would like the opinions of the approximately 2,500 students and 140 employees to be included in the discussion about increasing the attractiveness of the university.

Lukas Solf, deputy speaker of the youth parliament, emphasized that young people should also be considered. A skate park by the lake or opportunities for graffiti design would be desirable, among other things.

City planning officer Michael Tacke would like all citizens to get involved in order to continue to actively shape this participation process.