January 21, 2020 - The Municipality of Vižinada in Istria has decided to temporarily prohibit construction in 2020. A closer look.

Namely, HRTurizam reports that it is temporarily forbidden to perform earthworks, that is, excavations, using pneumatic hammers and compressors. Works may not be completed at all from 1 July to 31 August. Other works, as well as interior construction, can be performed between 9 am and 6 pm in settlements with registered accommodation facilities.

"In 2019, we had a ban on almost all work for three months, but we had trouble enforcing the decision in the field. In the end, because of citizens' comments, we made one, let's say "lighter" version, where we only banned drilling. We have also shortened the prohibition period to two months from 1 July to 31 August. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, we cannot prohibit anyone from working. We believe that everyone should work and make a living from their work, so this season we will try to see the impact of the new decision,” said Municipality chief Marko Ferenac.

He asked and called for a compromise, considering that the tourist season is crucial for the Municipality of Vižinada. Namely, every year, more and more people make money from tourism, there are more and more renters, and because of that, there are more construction works.

"Everybody has to work and live off their work, be it tourism or construction. Drilling is the loudest, so I urge those who plan to build to have understanding and respect for their neighbors and to do this kind of work before the tourist season. All other work that does not make a lot of noise can be performed, but only from 9 am to 6 pm. Before and after is not allowed,” Ferenac said.

However, the municipal tourist board did not support the decision. Council members requested that the work ban lasts for a period of three months and that a particular group of works is banned, which the municipal council did not accept. "So we remained at the proposal of the decision, which was put to public consultation, during which no objection was received from citizens," Ferenac concluded.

The decision states that from 1 July to 31 August, works can be carried out in exceptional cases such as emergency interventions on repairing facilities and arranging communal and other infrastructures that prevent the consequences of danger to human health and life, as well as major damage to real estate, then necessary works on repairing buildings when there is a danger to human health and life, and works performed in the public interest, whose investor is the municipality of Vižinada, institution or company wholly or partially owned by the municipality.

For those who do not comply with these provisions, fines between HRK 5,000 and 10,000 are provided for legal entities, and between HRK 1,000 and 5,000 for natural persons and craftspeople. A fine of HRK 500 to 2,000 will be imposed on the natural person as a contractor.

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