KOPRIVNICA – After several months of postponing the public hearing about the IV Amendments to the Spatial Plan of the Koprivnica-Križevci County, it has officially begun on Monday, 25th March. Despite announcements that hydropower plants Molve 1 and 2 will be included in the new proposal of the Spatial Plan, a year-long campaign to save the Drava River from new hydropower plants organized by WWF was successful – the amendments explicitly state that there will be no new hydropower plants in the county due to a significant negative impact on nature.
“This news came at a perfect moment! We welcome the decision of the Koprivnica-Križevci County and competent institutions to exclude the possibility of new hydropower plant development on the Drava River. This decision will have far-reaching consequences and will significantly contribute to the protection of the Drava River, a riverine treasure of continental Croatia and Europe”, said Ivana Korn Varga from WWF.
The public hearing will last until 23rd April and the interested public is invited to participate. Furthermore, citizens will be able to express their opinion on 5th April at a public presentation in Koprivnica. That will also be an opportunity to find out more about the suggested amendments to the county’s Spatial Plan.
“After a successful campaign for preventing new hydropower plants on the Drava River, our next move is to prevent them from entering national documents and planned Spatial Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia. The removal of Molve 1 and 2 from these documents will ensure the long-term protection from new hydropower developments on the Drava River. It is a logical step in our endeavour to permanently protect the Drava River since the Drava in Croatia is already a part of the Mura-Drava Regional Park, ecological network Natura 2000, and UNESCO’s Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube”, concludes Korn Varga.
