Basel Oceanarium Plans Unveiled, New Plans for the StadtCasino, Star Footballer Outruns Jail Sentence, But Not a Fine, New AllStadt Driving Policies Revisited

  At a monday press conference Representatives of the Basel Zoo presented the future plans for the construction of an Oceanarium on the grounds of the Zoo.     The plans call for an 8 story building, including 4 basement levels connected by a spiraling walkway guiding visitors past the aquarium installations.     Ecosystems expected to be on display include coral reefs, an ocean basin, and polar life.     Basel Zoo Director Olivier Pagan stressed that the Basel Zoo's philosophy and expertise are are focused on research and education, and will be integrated into the construction and operation of the new aquarium.   The project is expected cost 100mm francs which will be funded primarily through expected donations.  It is also expected that ticket prices will be approximately 20 chf and between 500,000 and 700,000 thousands visitors will attend annually.  Project planners believe such a financing model will mean Basel can avoid raising public funds through debt.     Although there have been public criticisms of the project, mostly from environmentalist groups, the Zoo stressed that no endangered species will be on display or sourced for the planned aquarium. ===========================================================   On Friday, the StadtCasino Committee for planning and the star Architecture firm Herzog & De Meuron unveiled the expansion project for the reconstruction of the Concert Hall at the Stadt Casino.   A comprehensive renovation and expansion is planned thats meant to enhance the foyers, auditoriums, artist areas and service rooms.     The new concert hall has been re-conceived as an autonomous structure with its own entrances and exits.  The current entrance and stair area behind the stadtCasino will be demolished.     As the plan calls for the rear facade to be extended towards the BarfusserKirche the interior space of the new structure will be sufficiently enlarged to provide new seating levels in the new Music Hall and the Hans Huber Hall.   The project is expected to take 3 years and the new Stadt Casino will be reopened for the 2019-2020 season.    The StadtCasino will continue to operate in its existing form until the end of the 2015-2016 season.  The exhibition company is evaluating replacement sites to ensure an uninterrupted performance calendar during the construction.   The expected cost of 77.5 million Swiss francs will be financed from a mix of private and public sources with the basel government pledging 49% of the cost.   =========================================================   Raul Bobadilla, the ex-striker for FCB managed to avoid a jail sentence and has to pay a hefty fine resulting from his speeding.     Appearing at the district court the 26 year old was sentenced to a suspended 16 month imprisonment, and a fine of 15,800 francs.  In addition, the footballer will be driving with a probationary driver's license for the next four years, meaning if he breaks the law again, he'll have to fulfill his suspended prison sentence.   All of this stems from a driving incident Last July, when driving on a road outside the city of Seewen in the canton Solothurn, Bobadilla's vehicle was flashed and clocked traveling at 111 km per hour in a 50km per hour zone.     Currently, Raul Bobadilla lives in Dornach and plays in the Bundesliga for FC Augsburg and a prison sentence would have probably ended his career.   In his current contract, the fine represents more than a month's net salary for the player, no doubt a painful lesson for the footballer.   ==========================================================   Earlier this year we reported on the Basel Grand council enacting a new policy which would have prevented all car traffic from entering the central part of Basel.  While well intentioned, apparently the overreaching policy failed to properly address the commercial and infrastructure needs of the area.     The first set of amendments seeks to create a set of short term permits that would allow those needing regular access to the innerstadt to drive into the zone.  This would address the needs of commercial delivery trucks and parcel delivery vehicles.     Entities could also register by phone or computer for temporary or emergency permits that are valid for periods of less than one day.     Needless to say these pragmatic changes have not been proposed without ensuing controversy.  there are politicians in the justice and security department who believe the rule changes deviate from the original mandate of the rules preventing the vision of a car free zone from being realized.     They say the rules have already been sufficiently modified to allow government and eco friendly vehicles into the car free zone, and don't need further changes to accommodate other interests.