Engaging the stakeholders in a renovation and repurposing process of a mining area
Published on 26 June 2020
Slovenia
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About this good practice
In this practice a prevailing issue being addressed is transforming a region with a long and rich industrial history and heritage into one that is intriguing for visitors with different requirements. Since coal mining industry has ceased completely a decade ago, the region is trying to recover by cherishing the existing industrial heritage, and its people, and transforming it into a wholesome attraction for locals and visitors.
A good practice that we would like to expose is the community working together to better and promote their tangible and intangible heritage. The local associations, public institutions and local authorities (project stakeholders) are jointly working on renovating the former mining residential building, as well as former mine infrastructure. The municipality has taken a huge step forward by negotiating the purchase of the latter into the hands of local community and the associations have done a lot to collect memoirs and objects that could be exhibited later.
This practice has been initiated recently, so the stakeholders are taking a step-by-step approach, starting by ensuring the local ownership of the properties and are now in the stages of renovation. A significant contribution to the stakeholders’ network was the RAMSAT project stakeholder meeting where the associations, institutions and local authorities, interested in the subject could meet and start sharing ideas and plans.
A good practice that we would like to expose is the community working together to better and promote their tangible and intangible heritage. The local associations, public institutions and local authorities (project stakeholders) are jointly working on renovating the former mining residential building, as well as former mine infrastructure. The municipality has taken a huge step forward by negotiating the purchase of the latter into the hands of local community and the associations have done a lot to collect memoirs and objects that could be exhibited later.
This practice has been initiated recently, so the stakeholders are taking a step-by-step approach, starting by ensuring the local ownership of the properties and are now in the stages of renovation. A significant contribution to the stakeholders’ network was the RAMSAT project stakeholder meeting where the associations, institutions and local authorities, interested in the subject could meet and start sharing ideas and plans.
Resources needed
By now the municipality has spent roughly 30.000 EUR to purchase the heritage important properties. They will apply the project of renovating one of the buildings to be financed through Local Action Group (LAS Zasavje). The human resources are included through their own employment or voluntarily.
Evidence of success
A significant evidence of success is uniting associations from different areas, the municipality and regional authority to work together on a really important feature of the town’s and region’s heritage – the mine that is getting closed and selling its tangible heritage. For now we can identify a measurable indicator of industrial heritage now owned by the local community – 8 mine buildings, and 2 pieces of land.
*Communication strategy will run in parallel with the project's progress.
*Communication strategy will run in parallel with the project's progress.
Potential for learning or transfer
This example of a good practice enables learning about repurposing completely industrial heritage into tourism by the motivation and work of local community. Coal mining is a strong historical feature of the whole region so this project is significant for all three “mining” towns. In this sense it is potentially interesting for those who are trying to connect local communities in the region that has mutual historical features and is trying to revitalize its heritage to aim for a different type of economy (e.g. tourism). It can be a learning experience for those who work on it as well as follow it, because it has only just begun and the interested public can monitor its development to a transformed industrial heritage touristic offer for domestic as well as foreign tourists with the strong support of local community.
Further information
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Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Municipality of Hrastnik
Slovenia
Vzhodna Slovenija