The project includes a port basin and an adjacent logistics park with warehouses and infrastructure.
Bratislava, September 23 (TASR) – On Monday, Win-Port Invest presented the project for the trimodal Harbour Park port at Vlčie Hrdlo in the Ružinov district of Bratislava. The project combines water, rail, and road transportation. In the near future, the company plans to enter the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and submit a request for a binding opinion from the city. The total investment, if the entire project is realized, is estimated at one billion euros.
“In the coming days, we will initiate two specific steps: launching the EIA and obtaining a binding opinion from the city. These are two key permits or statements that are required before applying for zoning approval,” explained Ľuboš Čema from the company.
The project will include a port basin and an adjacent logistics park with warehouses and infrastructure, meaning technical support for port operations, as well as road and rail connections. The project is divided into phases, with the first phase focusing on the core of the project, based on discussions with the Ružinov district. The first phase will involve approving the port basin along with opening the port’s flood protection, logistics, and infrastructure, including a connection to the R7 expressway. The second phase would involve completing the northern part of the project.
The proposed port is designed for the transshipment, temporary storage, and transportation of regular shipping containers, and will not handle bulk materials. In addition to logistics and infrastructure, the project also includes public amenities and accommodations. However, it will not provide standard housing; the request for accommodation was made by logistics companies for their employees. “It’s an industrial project with a housing function,” noted Čema, adding that the city’s zoning plan does not allow for regular housing in the area.
The company assures that the site is not directly adjacent to a protected area; there is a “buffer zone” between them. The company also aims to minimize environmental impact and is consulting with the Bratislava Regional Conservation Association (BROZ) on mitigation measures, both within the site and surrounding areas, though these details are still being finalized.
When asked whether the new port is intended to supplement or replace the existing Bratislava port, the company stated that replacing it is not their ambition. The goal is to help restore the economic status the capital had in the past. It was noted that cities like London and Hamburg have also relocated their ports further from their historic centers. While having a port is beneficial, it needs to be in the right location, so as not to inconvenience residents.
“We’re not presenting our project as something that must replace the Winter Port. It has its own owner, tenant, and manages its own affairs,” Čema commented. However, he mentioned that if the Vlčie Hrdlo port is realized, the city may begin to reconsider the urban planning of the Winter Port, with one possibility being its transformation into a marina. The Ružinov district, according to Mayor Martin Chren, is required to respect the current and valid city zoning plan for the Vlčie Hrdlo area, which allows for the development of a new port and associated logistics center. Several state institutions have opposed changes to the zoning plan for other functions in this location due to the national significance of expanding the port. However, the municipality had several demands during discussions.
Due to the amount of green space (forest) that will be replaced by the investment, the district insisted on strict protection of areas with varying degrees of environmental protection. “We also clearly stated that the main function (the port) must be built in the first phases of the investment, so that it doesn’t happen that instead of a forest, we only get more warehouses and logistics, and the most important part of the investment (the port basin) is not realized,” Chren told TASR. Emphasis is also being placed on ensuring sufficient transport connections to prevent future traffic congestion on city roads.
Translated from the source: teraz.sk