Fosen reindeer dispute and Hamar station talks

The latest news from Innlandet over the past 48 hours is dominated by the controversy over the relocation of reindeer from Fosen to Nord-Østerdalen, negotiations over funding for a new railway station in Hamar, and several rural housing initiatives. Innlandet county, its municipalities and its local elected representatives are at the heart of these matters, while miscellaneous news items are covered at the end of the article.

Innlandet news: Fosen, the county opposes the relocation of reindeer

Innlandet county mayor Thomas Breen (Ap) strongly criticizes his own party and the government over the plan to give reindeer herders in Fosen compensatory grazing land in Nord-Østerdalen (NRK Innlandet). The plan stems from the Fosen ruling, in which the Norwegian state was found to have violated the Sámi people's rights by building wind farms that displaced domesticated reindeer from their grazing areas (NRK Innlandet). Moving grazing land for around 2,000 reindeer to Østerdalen drew strong local opposition, with 1,262 consultation responses (NRK Innlandet).

Thomas Breen believes this solution would create a new injustice and worsen an already tense conflict between reindeer husbandry, agriculture, the local population and economic interests (NRK Innlandet). The Innlandet county committee has unanimously asked the state to abandon the plans (NRK Innlandet). The Minister of Agriculture and Climate said her ministry had noted the county committee's recommendation but announced no change of course (NRK Innlandet).

Hamar Station: Funding Still Under Negotiation

Hamar Station could become a central issue in negotiations over the State budget for 2027 (NRK Innlandet). MDG proposes allocating 400 million kroner to the construction of a new station in its alternative budget, while Senterpartiet and SV have each announced 250 million kroner (NRK Innlandet). The government’s budget proposal contains no money for Hamar Station, despite an earlier promise of 200 million kroner (NRK Innlandet).

Several politicians consider the station a bottleneck and an important factor in rail development and the double track through Hamar (NRK Innlandet). The five parties in the red-green coalition are meeting on Friday for budget negotiations, and the Hamar case is expected to be closely monitored (NRK Innlandet).

Housing and rural initiatives in Innlandet county

Among the recent Innlandet news stories, Stange municipality hopes to attract new residents by auctioning 18 building plots on 24 November in Åsbygda, Vallset and Espa (NRK Innlandet). Karen Sollihaug and Martin Osvold, who have lived in Åsbygda for 3 years with their 2 children and where Martin grew up in Bærum, describe a rural way of life half an hour’s drive from Hamar (NRK Innlandet). The municipality, which has 900 residents in the village, highlights the goal of attracting new residents and increasing tax revenue, according to Bjørn Lunstøeng, the housing manager (NRK Innlandet). Like many other municipalities, Stange has a strained economy, but the auction is not presented as a sign of economic weakness (NRK Innlandet).

In Vang, in Valdres, Tor-Evert Grøndal, known for the programme « Der ingen skulle tru at nokon kunne bu », wants to build modern cluster housing to make it easier for urban dwellers to settle in the area (NRK Innlandet). The Bygdeliv A/S project aims to combine housing, community and social networks, and works with Vang, Trysil and Austrheim; it has received nearly 1.3 million kroner in support from Husbanken (NRK Innlandet). Research shows that many urban dwellers dream of moving to the countryside, but few take the step, and those who move often do not stay long (NRK Innlandet). Architects must help interested groups design the homes and community life before construction begins, and Grøndal hopes construction will start in 2028, envisaging moving there himself if the project comes to fruition (NRK Innlandet).

📌 Local briefs

In Kongsvinger, 8 people are now implicated after the discovery of a cannabis plantation of approximately 100 plants during a police intervention related to an assault (NRK Innlandet). In Moelv, a 10-year-old girl found a needle in a Twix chocolate bar after Halloween, with a similar case reported in Ålesund (NRK Innlandet). Hamar Arbeiderblad reports a warning against fraudsters, the establishment of a new company in Hamar by Truls and Øystein, and an early-morning fire at the start of a dramatic story (Hamar Arbeiderblad). GD Gudbrandsdølen reports that an investment of 13 million kroner must be reviewed, that a bank is funding a lasting birthday gift in Lillehammer, and that several security officers had to subdue a man in his 20s (GD Gudbrandsdølen).

Sources: NRK Innlandet, Hamar Arbeiderblad, GD Gudbrandsdølen, The Local Norway — Period: 02 November 2026 and 03 November 2026