Operation “For a more active tomorrow” follows the thematic areas of the CLLD instrument, namely Development of basic services and Environmental protection and nature conservation. It will be implemented in the entire LAS area of the Upper Savinja and Šaleška Valleys. The investments envisaged will contribute to a more balanced development of the area.

The main objective of the operation is to improve the quality of life of the local population, expand the tourist offer and preserve or improve the environment and nature. This objective will be achieved through infrastructure and environmental investments, and the purchase of equipment or the renovation of the exhibition. In the municipality of Solčava, the Rinka Centre will renovate an exhibition that will show the natural and cultural environment of the Upper Savinja Valley and direct tourists to its small corners. At the same time, a new tourist programme will be created to expand the tourist offer. In the municipality of Luče, the purchase of the chairs will expand cultural activities and give the possibility of organising larger cultural events. The municipalities of Ljubno, Šmartno ob Paki and Šoštanj will create new recreational areas, namely an outdoor exercise park, an outdoor climbing wall and a children’s playground. The municipalities of Gornji Grad, Nazarje and Rečica ob Savinji will renovate or modernise existing infrastructure through the resurfacing of sports fields and the installation of a wastewater treatment plant. The municipality of Mozirje will build toilets in the former Lepa Njiva branch school for the purpose of association activities, which will enrich the events in the local community.

In terms of environmental protection, as well as the expansion of the tourist offer, the Municipality of Velenje will install two ecoremediation islands that will solve the problem of excessive nutrients in Lake Velenje and at the same time create conditions for the development of a new habitat. As a partner, the Šaleška dolina Tourism Institute will raise awareness among the population by organising green promotional days. A presentation film of the ecoremediation islands will also contribute to raising awareness. The activities implemented will consequently contribute to improving the quality of life through better accessibility of recreational areas for all generations and improving the quality of the natural environment. The joint operation of all the municipalities of the LAS Upper Savinja and Šaleška dolina area will contribute to the steady development of the area, taking into account the problems and needs of the area, as reflected in the SLR LAS WSSD.

Main activities to achieve the objectives:

• the renovation of the exhibition ˝Solčavsko – a walk in the lap of the Alps˝ in the municipality of Solčava with the aim of closer integration of the wider natural and cultural environment, which will be coordinated with the creation of a new tourism programme linking the offer of all project partners
• purchase of chairs in the Municipality of Luče to enrich the cultural offer of the municipality
• the installation of two ecoremediation islands on Lake Velenje to clean the water and revitalise the water body in the rural part of the Municipality of Velenje
• Preparation of a presentation film on eco-remediation islands to raise awareness.
• four green promotion days to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection and nature conservation
• the installation of sanitary facilities in the premises intended for associations carrying out cultural and sporting activities in the former Lepa Njiva primary school in the municipality of Mozirje, with a view to expanding the association’s activities
• Improvement of the children’s playground in Lajša, Municipality of Šoštanj, with a view to expanding recreational areas for all generations
• Erection of an outdoor climbing wall on the trestle at the Šmartno ob Paki Youth Centre in the municipality of Šmartno ob Paki, with the aim of expanding recreational areas for young people and visitors
• Installation of a sewage treatment plant at a sports ground in the municipality of Rečica ob Savinji to protect the environment
• Renovation of asphalt surfaces on sports fields in the municipality of Nazarje, for safe use of recreational areas
• Development of an outdoor exercise park in the Municipality of Ljubno, to increase accessibility to recreational areas
• Repaving of the football and basketball pitches in the Municipality of Gornji Grad, for safe use of recreational areas
• Operation management and coordination

The project is funded by the European Union the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Republic of Slovenia from Rural Development Programme