By: Lea Kalc Furlanič
The Municipality of Kobarid, led by Mayor Marko Matajurc, is actively implementing numerous investments in both new infrastructure and its renovation. From the wastewater treatment plant in Breginj to the water supply system in the village of Krn, and more. They are especially focused on improving the navigational regime on the Soča River, for which they have prepared a new decree.
We spoke with Marko Matajurc, the head of the Kobarid municipality, which recently received recognition from the Tourist Association of Slovenia for being the most tourist-friendly place in Slovenia, surpassing even the renowned coastal gem of Piran. Despite this significant recognition, the Municipality of Kobarid remains committed to further development plans. As demonstrated in the past, they have been successful in securing funds through state grants.
You inform on the municipal website about a new investment, the wastewater treatment plant in Breginj. Why was it necessary, and was it challenging to obtain funding through the state grant?
The topic of the wastewater treatment plant in Breginj has been discussed for over a decade since, after the earthquake, they failed to establish appropriate sewage and wastewater treatment facilities in new construction. When I took office in the municipality, we took this matter seriously. We applied for cohesion funds and were successful. This investment was more than necessary because wastewater from Breginj flows into the Belca Creek, which then joins the Nadiža River, known for being attractive to swimmers during the summer. The new wastewater treatment plant in Breginj will have a capacity of 250 PE, allowing for the future development of additional residential units, for which the municipality offers land at a favourable price, primarily targeting young families. Once the wastewater treatment plant is completed, we will continue to improve the sewage system and connect it to the plant. The investment is valued at just under 630,000 euros, with almost 340,000 euros obtained from the grant. Last week, we signed a contract with the contractor, Zidgrad from Idrija.
Recently, you received recognition from the Tourist Association of Slovenia for Kobarid being chosen as the most tourist-friendly place. What does this mean for the municipality and what does it signify?
We are, of course, proud of this recognition, which holds great significance for both the municipality and its residents. The lion’s share of this recognition belongs to the residents who work in and with tourism, living and breathing it. In tourism, it is not just about accommodations, offerings, and attractions but also about the friendliness and smiles of the residents. Nevertheless, this recognition is not just a reward for past efforts and engagement in tourism but also an obligation for the future. At this moment, I believe that tourist visits to our municipality will further increase, and we will continue to upgrade and enhance tourism infrastructure. Among our priorities is a new central parking area for the town of Kobarid, from which visitors can easily walk, use electric scooters, bicycles, etc., to reach the centre via Gregorčič Street. We are also actively planning to close the town centre for traffic during the summer season and create a pedestrian zone between Napoleon’s Bridge and the town centre, among other initiatives. Although tourist visits have decreased due to the pandemic, there’s still enough demand, but we must continually improve the quality of offerings and services.
Let’s also discuss the navigational regime on the Soča River. Your municipality is introducing a new decree regarding this…
In recent years, there has been a need for a more comprehensive regulation of the navigation regime on the Soča River to enhance the safety and quality of the experience for users on and around the river. During the peak season, the entry and exit points along the river are overloaded, and there is a need to improve infrastructure and the quality of services provided on and around the Soča River. The Kobarid Municipality can only regulate the Soča River within its own area. At the same time, the decree provides a suitable foundation for the introduction of a unified permit for all three municipalities. It would make sense to implement a similar change in the municipalities of Bovec and Tolmin. Discussions and coordination have been ongoing with Tolmin, and it is realistic to expect that their councillors will approve a similar regulation as proposed in our municipality. The new decree has the support of the Fishing Association of Slovenia, local fishing clubs, and environmentalists.
What are its key highlights?
A new concept for fee payments is proposed, which is closely tied to individual users of the entry and exit points. The navigation time is standardised from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with provisions to temporarily restrict or prohibit navigation in the case of low river flow. The existing arrangement where the municipal administration is the custodian of the navigation area is retained, with the option for the administration to delegate specific tasks to a qualified contractor through a contract. Maintenance, cleaning, and ensuring safe embarkation and disembarkation conditions at the entry and exit points are entrusted to the public company Komunala Tolmin. The conditions and the usage protocol for the entry and exit points will continue to be determined by the municipal administration. Additionally, raft guides must hold a rafting guide certificate, and rafts must be appropriately equipped. Permits are tied to individual physical persons and introduce a system of named daily permits, one-time non-named permits, weekly permits, and annual permits. The new decree anticipates an increase in the level of service and the quality of the entry and exit points, as well as the safety of navigation. It also specifies the special navigation regime for various public events, competitions, and the regulation of navigation for the training needs of kayaking clubs. Penalties have been increased. The decree represents the first step towards changes in the navigation regime. Subsequent steps will involve modifying the regulations on the maintenance of the navigation area and the management of the entry and exit points on the Soča River, as well as operational changes in managing the navigation regime.
The municipality is constructing a Centre for Protection and Rescue (CZR). When we spoke about it two years ago, the plan was only in its conceptual stages, and now the centre is already under construction…
Indeed. I am pleased to say that the centre, with a usable area of approximately 1,800 square meters, is under construction. We plan to have the building completed by the end of November. It will provide a home for firefighters, civil protection, mountain rescue, the Red Cross, and amateur radio operators. We anticipate that the state, or the Ministry of the Environment based on the post-earthquake reconstruction law, will co-finance this investment with 1.3 million euros. Intensive discussions are ongoing with them. We have also submitted an application for co-financing to the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Ministry of Defence, and we expect 450,000 euros from them. This will be the first centre in Slovenia to carry such a designation, uniting all operational services in one place. All work is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Among your series of successes is the new or upgraded multipurpose Sports Court Kobarid, for which you successfully applied for a grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs…
The investment in the multipurpose Sports Court Kobarid, to be implemented at the location with artificial turf, includes laying an acrylic sports floor, installing a new panel fence, basketball hoops, and volleyball equipment.
The planned value is 85,700 euros. We were successful in a call for investments in sports infrastructure and secured co-financing of 43,220 euros. The work is set to be completed by the end of November 2023. Additionally, we plan to fully develop the sports park in the vicinity of the school and gymnasium.
In the development project plan, it can be seen that you want to revive the fish farm in Kobarid. Why?
The fish farm is of great value to our municipality because it breeds the native Soča trout. The fish farm is operated by the Fisheries Institute, which has a clear vision of how to enhance it, while the municipality aims to complement and revitalise the area in collaboration with the institute. The municipality intends to acquire the land through land exchange, and the building has already been purchased. The upper floor of the building will house the joint municipal warden’s office, while the ground floor will be used for showcasing the Soča trout. We were also successful in securing funding for this project through a call for proposals from the Local Action Group (LAS), and they approved 98,000 euros for the renovation of the fish farm.
Have you ever counted how many successful projects you have applied for and received during your time as mayor?
Well, I will put it this way: in everything we have applied for so far, we have been successful. In terms of accessing funding through the Recovery and Resilience Plan, we were the second municipality in the country in terms of funding acquisition. At this point, I would like to extend special thanks to the employees in the municipal administration who expertly and meticulously prepare the projects that we then use to compete for co-financing. We prepare projects in advance so that everything is ready when they announce the calls.
Krn Water Supply. A significant multi-year investment. Has it required, and will it require, a lot of work? Is this investment your idea, or was it already planned by your predecessors?
The Krn Water Supply is a substantial and important investment that we are implementing in stages. The municipality receives some funds from the Triglav National Park (TNP) based on the area within TNP, the number of residents, and other factors. From this source, our municipality is entitled to 356,000 euros, and the municipality itself will contribute an additional 56,000 euros this year for the Krn Water Supply. The village of Krn will receive its own water supply for the first time in its history. Even the pastures under Krn will have running water. If we want to develop tourism in this area, a continuous and clean drinking water supply is a primary requirement. This also opens up possibilities for planning additional tourist accommodations in the region.
You allocate more funds for road and sidewalk renovations, for example, Kobarid–Drežnica, etc. Are they in a state of disrepair? Have these investments been waiting for a long time or not?
Yes, some roads are in a state of disrepair, and renovation is indeed necessary. Additionally, we had a landslip on the road to Drežnica last year, but we received some funding from the state for the repairs. In the past year, the municipality invested around 180,000 euros in road renovations. We have improved sections of roads, such as those leading to Breginj, Logje, Livške Ravne, and Livko, among others. Currently, we are working on Sergej Mašera Street in the town and more.
You are in your second term as mayor. What would you still like to accomplish? What are the possibilities for realising your ideas?
There are many plans. If you ask me about the possibilities for their realisation, I can simply say that if a person works, there are possibilities, but if he does not, there are not. In addition to the mentioned investments that we are currently executing – many of which we have pulled out of the drawer during my term – we aim to properly develop a 12-kilometer road to Kobariški Stol, so that we can host both the national cycling Race Around Slovenia and the Italian Giro. We have already had discussions with the organisers and are optimistic about it. We have also initiated a project for the municipal development of Drežnica, and we are working on a project for 30 serviced building plots in Svino. We are waiting for approval from the Directorate for Water Management. I mentioned the central parking lot in Kobarid near the cemetery, the development of the sports park in the vicinity of the school, a bridge over the Soča River, several cycling paths, and a village building in Borjana as well.