The 2020 budget was adopted at the Ston Municipal Council session. As a result, many projects are being prepared for the new programming period, financed from European Union funds, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.
One is the funicular, or cable car, to Podzvizd hill. The project would give Ston one of Dubrovnik’s most popular tourist attractions, which earns a lot of money every year.
Local mayor Vedran Antunica (HDZ) spoke about the state of the cable car project.
“When the Podzvizd Fortress is being renovated, which has a breathtaking view, it would be good to bring it closer to our guests. However, if you have something beautiful, and it is not available to a larger number of people, then there is nothing of it,” said the mayor and added:
“Recording a report on the ascent to the walls of Ston, our famous alpinist Stipe Božić once said that he had not experienced such an unforgettable view from Podzvizd, except for Ston, to the south and north side of Pelješac. His statement gave rise to the idea of our funicular.
The first condition for this project is to amend the municipal spatial plan, which should be harmonized with the county. A public debate is underway.
It is a process, from idea to realization. It takes a little more time because it is necessary to make an environmental impact study and conceptual design in addition to economic analysis.
For the reconstruction of the Podzvizd fortress, which is being done by the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, an archeological study and part of the project documentation have been prepared,” Antunica emphasizes.
“In the spatial plan, we have defined the area, and whether it will be a cable car or a funicular on rails similar to Zagreb, we will see. The experts will decide that.
And the conservatives approved the idea in principle. One of the ideas is that the starting station should be towards Hodilj, and the descent above Mali Ston, so as not to disturb the views of Ston,” said the Municipality leader.
Antunica replied that it is difficult to predict when this will come to fruition.
“We will try to apply for European funds for the project because it is a huge amount of money,” the mayor said and added that other councilors have accepted this idea as good:
“This project will improve the whole area, not only to the Municipality of Ston. Who could be against that? It will also bring new jobs. If it is half as successful as Dubrovnik, it will be great.”
Local councilor Slobodan Pavlović (Homeland Movement) states that “the location of the funicular towards Hodilj was missed and that it would be a waste of money because there is no view there.”
“The wrong location would be a complete failure of such a project. So what is most important when building something? Location!
Why is the Dubrovnik cable car attractive? Because, when you board the cabin, you experience a beautiful view of the City while driving towards Srđ,” pointed out the councilor, and concluded:
“That is the reason why tourists rush to the cable car, and not just to the top. This should happen in Ston, where on one side we would have a view of Ston, the saltworks, and Mljet, and on the other side Mali Ston, Mali Ston Bay, islands, and all the beauty in that part of our municipality.”
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