Dubrovnik Golf Park To Go To Referendum

Locals in the Srdj neighbourhood of the Croatian resort city of Dubrovnik have gathered 8,200 signatures, which is enough, to call a city referendum on a project to build an elite golf park.

Petition organiser Igor Miosic says the speed with which they gathered the signatures, in only about ten days, showed that people felt strongly about the proposed development.

They needed to gather 20 per cent of the city’s registered voters to call the referendum.

Protesters say they want to preserve the city's existing natural environment, and some suspect that a major retail business stands behind the whole business.

The project involves constructing golf courses, a sports centre, a hotel, tennis courts, a riding club, restaurants, galleries, cycling and running tracks, and bars and parks, on Srd hill.

Promoters of the project say that "Golf Park Dubrovnik Project will be an example of environmental sensitivity, sustainability, and advanced design, inspired by the unique beauty of this natural environment".