The basis of this ambitious project is the construction of a dam near Zagreb's western section of Precko and a new canal, which would ensure a peaceful flow and stable water levels of the Sava in Zagreb. Areas on either side of the river would be turned into attractive urban spaces with business, recreational, cultural and residential facilities, government offices, a convention centre and supporting facilities, Cacic said while presenting the project at a conference on the Croatian real estate market.
Cacic said that the project would bring many benefits, for example, the Precko dam and other dams would produce nearly a quarter of electricity used by Zagreb.
The government and its institutions would move to new buildings that would be built by a private-public partnership. According to Cacic, government agencies are scattered at 188 locations in the city, and the government pays 5.3 million euros for rent annually.
The entire project and investment of 1.2 billion euros would bring an average annual benefit of 84.8 million euros, the minister said, adding that the project would be presented to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in mid-May.
"If we decided to start this project now, the Precko dam and the Sava-Sava canal would be finished by 2015, all other parts of the project by 2014 and paperwork even sooner," Cacic said.