The town of Lipik has officially commenced negotiations to purchase the Kursalon and Wandelbahn, Mayor Vinko Kasana (HDZ) confirmed at the tenth session of the Town Council. The current owner is willing to sell the historic complex, which includes these two buildings along with the swimming pool complex and part of the adjoining park.
The town has already contacted the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Hrvatska banka za obnovu i razvitak) to explore financing models, and the process also involves an official assessment by court-appointed experts. The final deadline for completing the negotiations has been set for 30 June 2027. Kasana stated that a successful purchase of the complex would open exceptional opportunities for the town’s future development.
At the session, chaired by Slobodan Katunar (HDZ) with nine of thirteen councillors present, the mayor also confirmed that representatives from an Austrian food sector company had visited Lipik. Preliminary estimates suggest the potential investment would bring around 300 new jobs, and a reciprocal visit by the Lipik delegation to the Austrian company is scheduled for Thursday.
Councillors also approved a short-term loan of 300,000 euros from Erste Bank, with a repayment period of up to one year. The credit is being arranged because the Tax Administration paid income tax refunds totalling 446,524.72 euros to residents in May and June at the expense of the town budget, which the town must repay to the state in three instalments starting on 3 August. Kasana explained that inflows of around 580,000 euros from the sale of land for solar power plants are expected in the meantime, meaning the loan might not need to be used at all. The decision was passed with eight votes in favour and one abstention.
Co-financing for public bus transport in Požega-Slavonia County was approved unanimously for a seven-year period, with active routes to Požega, Novska, and Okučani. The most favourable bid of 14.48 million euros was submitted by a consortium of Autotrans and Slavonija bus. Costs are shared by the state (75 per cent), the county (12.5 per cent), and towns and municipalities (12.5 per cent).
During the current question time, councillor Mihaela Žili Petrović (SDP) highlighted the condition of unsealed roads in surrounding villages. The mayor responded that the disputed section had been damaged by a private contractor while extracting timber, and that the removal of displaced earth has been officially requested from them. It was also announced that the sewage network in Poljana awaits a technical inspection before household connections begin, while the third phase of works at the state stud farm is nearing completion. The mayor’s report on activities for the first half of the year was adopted by majority vote.
