Although independent councilor Renata Kelam requested a postponement of the vote due to a newly discovered pit and safety concerns, the County Assembly adopted the document with 26 votes in favor.
The County Assembly of Split-Dalmatia County adopted the Waste Management Plan for the period from 2024 to 2029 on Monday. The Plan received 26 votes in favor and 13 abstentions, according to HRT. The document envisages the completion of the Regional Waste Management Center in Lećevica and the establishment of six transfer stations on the islands and inland areas.
According to the Plan, a landfill for non-hazardous waste will be arranged on 10.3 hectares in Lećevica, capable of handling 33,000 tons of construction waste annually, while the mechanical-biological treatment plant will have a capacity of 110,000 tons of municipal waste. Six transfer stations are also planned, on Hvar, Vis, Brač, and in Split, Sinj, and Zagvozd. Anđela Dželalija from the company Alfa Atest, which drafted the Plan, told HRT that 108 illegal dumpsites have been recorded in the county, of which 21 have been remediated so far. "The Waste Management Plan defines that the current waste management system in Split-Dalmatia County does not meet needs, and measures are necessary to improve the system," said Dželalija.
During the debate, opposition councilors criticized the HDZ-led government for years of delays in building the center. SDP councilor Arsen Bauk remarked that the center could be called "Mećevica" or "Nećevica" (a play on words suggesting "will not happen" in Croatian), alluding to constant postponements. Councilor Bojan Ivošević from the Centar party warned for HRT: "When Karepovac closes, our garbage will be transported hundreds of kilometers to Šibenik and the Zadar hinterland. Citizens will pay for every kilometer."
Independent councilor of the Lećevica Municipal Council, Renata Kelam, sent an extensive letter to the President of the County Assembly, Mate Šimundić, the morning before the session, requesting that the vote on the Plan be postponed until new circumstances arising after the public consultation are clarified, reports Cronika.hr. "Councilors cannot be expected to make decisions as if nothing new has happened on the ground since the public consultation," said Kelam. In her letter, she listed several events: during works on the Kladnjice-Lećevica-Korušce road, a speleological feature was discovered, a pit approximately 30 meters deep with bone remains; the County Roads Administration cites archaeological findings, the pit, and changes to the main project as reasons for slowdowns; and on December 11, 2025, a serious traffic accident occurred at the new intersection at the entrance to Lećevica, injuring four people, one of whom was airlifted to the hospital by helicopter.
Kelam emphasized: "I do not claim in advance that any irregularity, fraud, or criminal offense has been committed, and I do not assign responsibility to any person or institution without evidence. I am requesting documents, expert answers, clear deadlines, and transparent management of a project that will have long-term consequences for the entire County."
Part of the concern relates to the impact of the future center on water supply. The Lećevica area is located in Zone IV of sanitary protection of the Jadro and Žrnovnica springs. In 2006, a tracer test at the pit site on the Center's location showed that the tracer was detected at the Jadro spring after 67 days, while in a repeated test in 2017, the tracer was not detected during 92 days of observation. The Croatian Geological Institute provided an expert opinion, and Croatian Waters also responded to a request regarding this issue, reports Cronika.hr.
The contract for the 6.1-kilometer Kladnjice-Lećevica-Korušce section was signed on September 2, 2025, with the construction value amounting to €3.69 million excluding VAT (€4.62 million including VAT). The contractor is Gradina-Mont d.o.o., and supervision is carried out by Geoprojekt d.d. The ten-month deadline has already been exceeded. According to data from the County Roads Administration as of July 21, 2026, earthworks have reached 95 percent of the route down to the subgrade level, 40 percent of DTK installations have been laid, 90 percent of the trench for the water supply has been excavated, 30 percent of the water supply route, and 50 percent of electrical power cables have been installed. However, Kelam warns that 95 percent of earthworks is not the same as 95 percent of the entire project and demands complete documentation on progress and costs. Completion by the end of 2026 is conditional on regular dynamics and the absence of new delays.
Following the accident on December 11, 2025, Kelam additionally calls in the media for an independent review of visibility, geometry, signage, and lighting at the intersection, especially in light of future heavy traffic related to the Center. Audio recordings of Lećevica Municipal Council sessions exist in which warnings about the danger were raised even before the accident, adds Cronika.hr.
For the second phase of the Center and three transfer stations, €61.2 million in European funds have been secured, and together with the previously received €8.9 million, total European funding for the project amounts to €70 million. Despite the request for postponement, the Assembly adopted the Plan, and further steps will proceed according to the planned deadlines.
