Municipality of Pakostane, Croatia

IMPROVING TOURISM BY CLEANER ENVIROMENT

Introduction

The commune of Pakoštane is situated in the very centre of Croatian Adriatic coast. Regionally it is a part of Zadar County. It`s position on the map is very specific because Pakoštane has two coasts. One on the sea, and the other on the biggest Croatian lake-Vransko lake. The Vransko field with beautiful landscape, dominates the inner part of the commune. On the other hand, seashore can be described but it would take to much time and space because every beach, islet, penninsula or bay has it`s own story. In short, try to imagine the archipelago of National Park of Kornati Islands but still being on the shore. The picture gets clearer. Sightseeing landmarks built on hill tops by our commune gives you breathtaking view on Kornati National Park and Vransko Lake nature park resorts. National Park Krka is only 35 km away and National Park Paklenica some 70 km Northly. So, within it`s borders the Commune of Pakoštane homes one Nature Park (Vransko Lake) and it is surrounded by three National Parks. Many call it «Croatia – the small version».

Inhabitants and the area

The Commune of Pakoštane consists of four villages and many smaller settlements. Main villages are: Pakoštane, Drage, Vrana and Vrgada which has the same name as the island where it has been developed. Total number of inhabitants is 3.884, based on the last count from 2001.The area covers 143,03 square kilometers of which 84,29 represent land territory and 58,74 sea area. Seashore is 10,8 kilometers long. By air we are only 31 kilometers distanced from our County centre, the City of Zadar.

Economy

Basic economic activity is tourism followed by agriculture, fishery and other activities mainly of service sector, although, agriculture has been the most important resource in the past. Presently, the bond between tourism and agriculture represents the great advantage of our Commune when compared with others. Total number of employees is 1.093, and the number of companies registered is 87. Average nett income per capita is 4.134 kn monthly which is 11% lower when compared with national average monthly wage. Therefore, our aim is to use our advantages which have been mentioned before for the higher benefit of all. Our activities regarding development and obtaining our aim can be seen in a separate study called «Economy and protection of Nature».

IMPROVING TOURISM BY CLEANER ENVIRONMENT

Disposal of waste within the area of the Pakoštane municipality has been performed in an «contrary of regulations» way. The very location is only 1,5 km away from Nature Park of Vransko Lake, and it represents an ecological problem of great magnitude. Therefore, sanitation of this locality really is the project of great importance for the commune of Pakoštane.

• Afore mentioned location has also been used in the same way by other local self government entities: Municipality of St. Filip i Jakov, Municipality of Pašman, and The City of Biograd at sea. Commune of Pakoštane counts 1.250 households permanently inhabited, 500 houses for rest (seasonaly used) and 8000 beds registered as seasonal touristic capacity.

• The conditions for the begining of sanitation programme have already been met in the way that The Fund for energy effectiveness will contribute by 50% of the total cost and local self government entities by 50% of the cost too. At the same time it has been planned to build a plant for separation of waste where it will be transformed into secondary industry material.

• During the month of August, this year (2008) the invitation for tender will be announced in order to find the best bidder for sanitation of waste disposal locality before mentioned. Deadline for executing this job lies between two to maximum four years, which depends on the cost and investment possibilities of local government entities.

• In order to get able to announce the tender, local entities already payed for the following documents that are neccessary: Idea study, Environment influence Study, Location Permit, The Main Study of Performance and The Building Permit.The evaluation of costs has also been made based on project documentation, which amounted to the sum of 66.000.000.kn.

Central County waste disposal centre Biljane starts operating within two years time. So all local entities will dispose theire waste there, which will produce more cost for all of them (transport costs). To reduce the costs and in the same time enlarge environment protection, we want to turn dump into raw material and bring it back to industrial production.

To achive this aim we would be free to use an good example. Last spring we went to visit the town of Krk where we could see how to reduce the cost and turn garbage into raw material.

The equipment needed is of a very simple kind:

- Waste separation bins

- Containers

- Means of transportation

As planned, the approximate value of this project is 2.500.000,00 kn (cca 300.000 EUR) for the equipment items as follows:

• 1.Waste separation bins................................................................700.000,00kn

• 2.Large containers for massive waste and building site waste.......50.000,00kn

• 3.Means of transportation..........................................................1.400.000,00kn

• 4.Arrangement of waste bin disposal sites....................................150.000,00kn

• 5.Promotion costs..........................................................................200.000,00kn

Possible sources of investing in this project are:

• Pakoštane commune budget

• The Fund for energy effectiveness

• EU Funds

• Promotion of this programme and education of all that will contribute in bringing it to life, are of atmost importance. So, our partners in this endevaour will be:

• Tourist association of Pakoštane

• Nature Park – Vransko Lake

• Concessionaires

• Primary school Pakoštane

• Kindergarten Pakoštane

• Eccology associations

This project, «Improving tourism by cleaner environment» will certainly give excellent results. Therefore we plan to:

1. Stop turning valuable waste into plane garbage which causes grave problems to our

Environment

2. Stop spoiling environment and human health by throwing garbage around

3. Show to all involved that this the only way to resolve this problem taking in consideration

ecological standards of today

4. Make everybody understand that by separating and transporting waste we avoid «dumping

it to our neighbourgh`s yard»

5. Save money and make our waste disposal policy more functional in order to preserve our children`s health as well as our own.

When this project becomes complete, our good practise experiences will be transfered to neighbourghing cities and communes.