Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Just read this on the planetski website. Not as much of an expansion as I had hoped for and doesn't say if there will be a second gondola from town. Nonetheless good news for skiers and property owners.

Steve



The Bulgarian government is to allow new resort development on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The World Wide Fund for Nature has criticised the news.

The WWF in Bulgaria has criticised the decision of the outgoing Bulgarian government to allow amendments to the Management Plan of Pirin National Park.

It will open up the protected area to further construction.

The WWF say this is a green light for current plans, which envisage another 20-30 km of ski runs and at least two new ski lifts in the Bansko ski area in the heart of Pirin National Park.

This month the Supreme Expert Environmental Council at the Ministry of Environment, convened by Environment Minister Nona Karadzhova, allowed amendments to the management plan of Pirin National Park.

It legitimises all breaches of legislation in the park so far and allows further construction.

Here on PlanetSKI we have reported in the past on the expansion row.

"In breach of three EU directives - on habitats, birds and strategic environment assessment, the decision was taken without the obligatory strategic environmental assessment and without appropriate assessment of the effects on the Natural 2000 habitats and species," according to a WWF statement.

The decision came just hours before Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told the Bulgarian Parliament that he was stepping down and that the government would resign.

His resignation follows mass protests over the price of electricity.

One of only three national parks in Bulgaria, Pirin National Park was declared UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, and in 2007 it became part of the EU's environmental network Natura 2000.

"The decision thoroughly alters the concept of managing protected areas in Bulgaria and aims to remove all relevant restrictions from the Protected Areas Act and the Management Plans of Protected Areas, such as Rila National Park, Central Balkan National Park and Vitosha Nature Park", said Vesselina Kavrakova, Head of WWF in Bulgaria.

Been around for ages this info , and they als o say a new airport too

I personally wouldnt hold ones breath


We dont need another gondola, we need to replace cable with heavier duty and add 12 man bubbles . And get the Bulgarians to fill the cars fully and add extra snowboard carriers on outside so snowboarders dont need to take board in bubbles etc

It doesnt waarrnaty two gondolas , as its not flat chat busy every day all season , just st certain hoildyas and times of good snow at weekends etc

2 gondolas will just mean more ppl waiitng at lifts up the hill , unless they do actually open another 25 plus km of runs up

In principle a good idea, just not as easy as one would think... The enlarging of the present installation would require new pylons, uprated drive, and the possibility of replacement stations to accomadate 12 seater cars....
But... still the best idea !
The installation of another uplift would only make sense if directed to Shilligarnika, and from the opposite side of Bansko, serving outlying complexes. The plan of providing a base at the old military camp, just based on the need for car parking, is lunacy.. the existing car park being underused.
If better mountain road management was initiated, banning parking on this road, car parking attendants rather than the existing barrier, that hold up traffic, and numbers monitored until 95% capacity.. then the free buses would be a lot more effective with extra buses drafted in for busy periods. This could have been adopted this season, and prempt the installation of another/upgrade uplift. There is of course the obvious things like opening earlier, ticket machines and better lift management.. but hey ! what do i know ?
O, and a new airport ???? hahahahahahaha