Since the beginning of the first term, one of the main goals of the current city government has been clear. Along with caring for young people and building communal infrastructure, arranging the coastal part of Kaštela is the main priority, evidenced by millions of investments in the already unrecognizable, more than 20 kilometers long coast, located along the unique Kaštela Bay.
Kaštela is unique in many ways. It comprises seven villages, without a classic center, and is the only city in Croatia with six postcodes. It is probably the only one in the world directly bordering two UNESCO cities with the oldest, more than 1,500-year-old olive tree. It is a town with three football clubs, three fire brigades, three carnivals, and it will soon become the Croatian “Monte Carlo,” a destination with nearly 20 kilometers of coastline as a prerequisite for the development of tourism and the economy.
On City Day, which is celebrated on March 4, Slobodna Dalmacija spoke with Denis Ivanović, the mayor of the second-largest city in Split-Dalmatia County, about the implemented projects but also those that will follow on the coastal part of Kaštela.
“Even before I became mayor, i.e., in the election campaign, I promised that the focus of my work would be landscaping. So naturally, this is a priority for city authorities and those at higher levels, from county to state. That we are going in the right direction is evidenced by the fact that an active project to build a new port and coast in Kaštel Stari is currently in the final stages despite the health crisis surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
This is the most financially expensive project of the County Port Authority since its existence, in which almost 15 million kuna was invested from our budget. At the same time, the rest of the funds were provided from the Split-Dalmatia County Port Authority and other sources. With this project, a breakwater almost 200 meters long was built. In addition, a total of 9,500 square meters of the coastal belt was arranged, including stonework, horticultural landscaping, and nautical electricity and water connections.
Through this project, the people of Kaštela will get 150 communal berths for the domicile population, i.e., for those who use boats for entertainment and sports, but also completely change the look of the Kaštel Stari old town,” says Ivanović.
The investment is worth almost 50 million kuna. In addition to the 15 million from the city, the County Port Authority has allocated about 30 million kuna. The rest of the money was provided by Split-Dalmatia County, the state, and the Ministry of the Sea.
“This is truly the largest investment in the coastal part of Kaštela, and our goal is for residents to get a modern utility project that will serve them in the first place, as well as tourists from whom we live for a good part of the year.
“The project in Kaštel Stari will certainly affect economic development, and we are glad that all the work took place without any interruptions and delays. The arrangement of this communal port is one of the major projects in the past decade in the area of Kaštela,” adds the mayor.
When asked what the next projects are for the coast, the mayor announced an investment boom with one goal: Kaštela will be the Croatian Monte Carlo.
“After we soon complete the new port and coast in Kaštel Stari, and it is a matter of days when that will happen, we will start with a new investment, which is the complete arrangement of the Kaštel Novi coast, from Kaštel Stari to the Ćipiko tower, worth about 50 million kuna, and the Ministry of the Sea and the Split-Dalmatia County are ready to help with financing.
This project will completely change the look of Donji Kaštela, which is why it is called the “New Face of Kaštela,” emphasized Ivanović.
Namely, the planned project will significantly expand the existing waterfront into the sea, arrange the entire promenade and the city’s coastal part, roads, various facilities, and horticulture.
“So, that part of Kaštela will take on a completely new look as Kaštel Lukšić did after we arranged and built the most beautiful and most expensive in our county – Glavica beach. We are in the process of doing the main project,” says Ivanović and adds that the citizens enthusiastically accepted the newly renovated part of the Lukšić coast.
But that’s not all. The town of Kaštela is preparing and arranging the coast in Kaštel Sućurac, Štafilić, and Gomilica.
“We have prepared a preliminary design for Kaštel Sućurac, for the area from Gojača to Sokolana, followed by preparing the main design, obtaining approval, and the start of work. In the fall, work should begin on the complete arrangement of the coast in Kaštel Štafilić, where part of the promenade has already been arranged.
With the completion of works in Kaštel Stari, then on the stretch to the Ćipiko and Štafilić towers, Donja Kaštela will undergo a complete coastal transformation, which, believe me, many will envy us,” announces Ivanović and adds that a conceptual solution has been made for Kaštilca and Marina Kaštela.
“All this is proof that Kaštela is almost the most active area in terms of construction throughout the year, thanks to which the unique, almost 20 km long coast will be the most beautiful in this part of Dalmatia,” concludes Mayor Denis Ivanović, congratulating all citizens on Kaštela Day.
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