According to caboodle.hu, Budapest District III (Óbuda) mayor Balázs Bús has applied for the section of Hajógyári (Shipxyard) Island owned by the City to be transferred to the district. A little more than half of the island, the venue for the annual Sziget festival, is owned by the state, while the rest (43%) is controlled by the City.

The mayor thinks the city neglects this area, where illegal races are being held at night. He also feels that if more of the island would be owned by the district, the green area would be larger, and more development aid would be assigned to the district. Those resources would be spent on the island. He added that within the framework of the “Dream Island” investment planned for the southern part of the island, some €1.5 million would be spent on managing the green areas.

About the effects this would have on the festival, Balázs Bús said that “We don’t think that the Sziget Festival should be canceled or changed.” However, he added that they would like to reach better agreements with organizers of the festival to protect the interests of local residents.