The Varaždin County Assembly unanimously approved the project to protect the prehistoric Vindija Cave on Wednesday, valued at 455,000 euros. At the same session, the recipients of this year’s County public awards were elected, reported the portal Varaždinski.net.hr.
The project, titled "Protection of the entrance and development of part of the interior of Vindija Cave", aims to permanently preserve the site of world value, while also opening it for controlled scientific, educational and tourist use. In addition to extra protection for the entrance, glass barriers and platforms will be installed inside, and the cave will be able to accommodate up to 20 visitors at a time. Conservation of valuable internal sediment profiles is also planned. The works are expected to last two years, until the end of December 2028.
The Councilors unanimously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to the writer, linguist and long-serving educator Barica Pahić-Grobenski, and posthumously to university professor and volunteer in the Homeland War Marijan Cingula.
The Award for Outstanding Achievements in the past year was given to Hrvatske Vode, Slobodan Drožđek and Mate Zrinski. For their contribution to the reputation and promotion of the county in the country and abroad, the musical group Kavaliri and Slavko Meister were honoured. The awards will be presented at a ceremonial session of the Assembly on the occasion of Varaždin County Day and the Feast of the Assumption in September.
Councilors also accepted reports on the work of five health institutions for which the County is the founder, where a total of 1,191 employees work, including 823 health professionals. A new regulation on simple procurement, aligned with the new Public Procurement Act, was also adopted, which enters into force on 1 September 2026.
