A new ski resort on Bjelasica, including a ski hall, and eco-hotels and healthy food production on Sinjavina - these are two projects that the Municipality of Kolašin offered to Muhamed Alabar, an investor from the United Arab Emirates.
"Vijesti" had insight into the ideas for projects on both mountains, which relate to ambitious and, according to what was written from the local government, multi-directional development.
Alabar visited Kolašin last Saturday and left with positive impressions, says the Vice President of the Municipality Vasilije Ivanović (PES) for "Vijesti", so his quick return is allegedly expected, and later investments.
DON'T MISS IT
Ivanović emphasizes that he is convinced that what they offered the investor for investment is worth their attention and money.
Alabaru was proposed, first "on paper" and then in the field, to invest in ideas for projects under the working title "Bjelasica 365" and the development of the "natural pearl and untouched potential" of Sinjavina.
"Specifically, this vision for Bjelasica relies on the development of a mountain center, which will have a year-round offer with all the capacities that are possible according to the planning documents. On the other hand, Sinjavina, as a natural pearl and untouched potential, is planned for organic food production and preservation of the natural environment, with maximum use of the benefits that such areas can offer. Alabar left Kolašin with positive impressions. He compared the potential of Kolašin with the most exclusive European destinations that offer similar content. We believe that we will talk again in the future and come to the realization of investments," Ivanović told "Vijesti".
In an interview with TV Vijesti last week, the Mayor of the Municipality, Petko Bakić, was somewhat more moderate in his promises, but announced that he would discuss all potential projects with his fellow citizens and that they would decide on them.
Ivanovic promised "Vijesti" that "everything will be as transparent as possible."
However, little is known in Kolašin about the details of the ideas and projects presented to Alabaru.
Tourist facilities around the gondola
"Vijesti" had insight into the ideas for projects on both mountains. Everything planned on Bjelasica is "based" on the existing private and state ski center, as well as the gondola that the state intends to build from Kolašin to the ski resort. The spatial planning and urban rehabilitation programs of the Municipality of Kolašin for this year include works, among other things, for the construction of the Breza - Railway Station - Smrčje - Ćirilovac - Kolašin 1450 - Kolašin 1600 gondola, worth 60 million euros. The money is provided from the capital budget through the Capital Projects Administration, and it is planned that the gondola will be built over several years...
Under the idea called “Bjelasica 365”, a new ski resort “Bjelasica ESCAPE” is planned. Development tourist zones are planned at the intermediate stations of the gondola.
"The new project would integrate the realized and planned ski capacities, it is possible to plan them at hubs, i.e. gondola stations. As suitable locations for expanding tourist development, zones along the gondola stations are identified, which are connected to the starting station on the banks of the Tara, where the implementation of the project of a promenade and bicycle path with a length of about 2,5 km is underway. The gondola route in question, on the slopes of Bjelasica, represents undeveloped potential for continuous urban development, enrichment of the tourist offer, but also the creation of conditions for sustainable economic development," it is written in the idea for the "Bjelasica 365" project.
The size of the "Bjelasica ESCAPE" location is 16.000 hectares, and the gross construction area, as stated in the project, is 215.000 square meters, which would imply 2.800 beds in future facilities.
Types of uses complementary to tourist and recreational facilities in this area include: the center of a tourist settlement with tourist, commercial and public activities, accompanying accommodation units, villas, katuns for tourist accommodation, sports and recreation facilities...
The accompanying facilities of the new center, as written in "Bjelasica 365", include an indoor ski resort (indoor) on Bjelasica, a bobsleigh on rails (alpine coaster) starting at Ključ (1.860 m above sea level, arrival by gondola) to Smrčje or Ćirilovac (around 1.400 m above sea level), then an ice rink in Kolašin, as well as the creation of conditions for Nordic skiing.
“An indoor ski resort on Bjelasica, near Kolašin, could bring Montenegro a strong boost in the development of winter, sports and year-round tourism. It would enable skiing 365 days a year, regardless of weather conditions, which would significantly extend and enrich the tourist season in a region known for its short but high-quality winter offer, while the planned dimensions of the facility would be 500m×100m. Such a facility would position Kolašin as a unique destination in Southeast Europe - a place where tourists could enjoy both mountain skiing and the Mediterranean coastal ambience on the same day. In addition, the facility would serve as a training center for professional athletes and ski schools throughout the year, which would further develop sports culture and youth programs.”
Eco Sinjavina: Livestock farming, hotels, biathlon center
The valorization of Sinjavina, in the Kolašin local government, is seen as “a combination of rural tourism, ecological food production and sports tourism”. Nordic skiing is also planned on that mountain, as well as a biathlon center, gastro tourism, and accommodation capacities through the development of ethno-villages, eco-settlements and eco-lodge hotels. These hotels are described as “small and luxurious, in a mountain style, for tourists who want peace, wellness and natural beauty, with wooden and stone elements, using solar energy and ecological materials”.
Alabar was offered to invest in the development of livestock and dairy production, as well as in the branding of local food. This investment would include support for farmers, organic livestock production, local slaughterhouses and meat processing, and specialized farms.
The local government, in the idea submitted to the investor, concludes that "Sinjavina has enormous potential to become a center of sustainable tourism, agriculture and livestock farming."
"With the planned development of eco-hotels, ethno-villages, rural tourism, Nordic skiing and organic food production, the area can bring economic prosperity not only to the population of Kolašin, but also to the residents of all municipalities that share Sinjavina, and attract tourists from all over the world."
Green Kolašin: Urgently stop processes that exclude citizens
The Green Kolašin Initiative announced that "the visit of investors from the UAE to Kolašin would not have been big news if it had not happened in the context in which it happened." They say that, after the outcry raised by citizens "against non-transparent and hasty decision-making about the future of Montenegrin space" and plans for Velika Plaza, Alabar came north, including to Kolašin, "so that local decision-makers could show him what non-transparent and hasty decisions they could offer him."
"So, in essence, this episode has once again exposed the deep crisis in which the local management of our city and natural resources finds itself. Instead of strategically planning development based on preserving the natural environment, strengthening the local economy and involving citizens, the administration continues to operate on the 'give what you get' principle, with phantom projects that are hidden from the public, while, as we have seen, they are presented to foreign investors as a done deal," the Green Kolašin Initiative says.
They claim that they have not seen the details of the offer from Kolašin, and that these ideas “have never been publicly analyzed, nor exhibited or in any other way made available to citizens”. They hoped, they explain, that the post presenting the closed ski resort, which someone from the municipality posted on Facebook, was just a bad dream.
"It seems not! It is unacceptable that citizens are offered explanations only when everything has already been agreed behind closed doors. At the same time, while Kolašin is being sold as a destination for 'sustainable development', we are witnessing the devastation of rivers, pressure on local communities and the encouragement of megalomaniac construction projects in sensitive locations, without basic infrastructure: water, electricity, sewage," the Initiative wrote.
Claims that "huge condo hotels on Bjelasica languish cut off from the world and empty, because the infrastructure simply does not exist," are also a reminder that "a few years ago they warned that this would happen, because infrastructure does not fall from the sky, but must be planned and implemented responsibly, with dedication, over years...".
They call for an “urgent halt to processes that exclude citizens and destroy nature under the pretext of development.” They warn that a “clear, jointly agreed upon and democratically adopted vision of development is needed, which begins with the protection of resources, respect for local communities, and respect for the law and the principles of transparency and fairness.” Anything less than that, the Green Kolašin Initiative claims, represents active work to undermine the future of Kolašin.
Bonus video:
