A large area of forest land measuring 200,000 square meters near the center of Zagreb has been recently cleared, raising questions over who authorized the logging. The city of Zagreb claims it did not issue any permits for the deforestation, despite reports of active tree-cutting operations taking place on the slopes of Müller's hill, just a few hundred meters from the Črnomerec junction. Authorities have conducted multiple inspections, but no clear conclusions have yet emerged regarding the legality of the work being carried out. The state inspectorate has already visited the site four times following a complaint, but even after these inspections, they have not determined whether the activities are lawful. The Forestry Inspection has performed a total of four inspection checks so far. Evidence collection and fact-finding continue because not all parties involved in the process have been examined. Once the inspection is complete, appropriate measures will be taken according to the Forest Law, officials from the State Inspectorate stated. On the other hand, the City of Zagreb insists it did not grant any approval for the felling. It was neither received nor issued any permit for cutting down the trees in question. Neither location nor building permits have been issued for the area since the urban planning document for Müller’s hill has not yet been adopted, officials from the city explained. It is notable that although the city claims it did not issue a permit, it did not report the case to the State Inspectorate itself. Another legal entity, whose identity the Directorate for Information and Public Relations (DIRH) chose not to disclose, made the report instead. Nobilo is the owner of another highly valuable piece of land in Zagreb, and the owners of the adjacent parcel are also of interest. A key question surrounding this entire situation is why the land is being prepared when the project still lacks the basic spatial planning documents necessary for its realization. This valuable land on Müller’s hill was purchased in 2006 by companies Lorsedo, Margesto, and Miler Center with the intention of constructing a new luxury district in Zagreb. This involves nearly 200,000 square meters of land, linked to a project long associated with lawyer Ante Nobilo, entrepreneur Danko Končar, and Miler Center, which connects to Pripuz’s CIOS. Nobilo was a co-owner of the company Lorsedo, a member of the Supervisory Board of Miler Center, and publicly represented the project for years, explaining that it was initially halted due to economic crisis, followed by issues with obtaining access road permits. In the ownership structure of Lorsedo and Margesto, there are also the successors of Milan Miče Carić and RCS Trading Corporation Limited, a company registered in the Bahamas owned by Danko Končar. Both companies are registered at Nobilo's law firm address, and the director of Lorsedo is his wife, Vinka Nobilo. Miler Center, in which Nobilo is also a member of the Supervisory Board, has long been connected to Pripuz’s CIOS. The investors in this process are represented by the company Interkonzalting. Its director, Hari Vladović-Relja, states that no preparatory construction works are being carried out on the site, but rather cleaning and landscaping activities. "We are removing waste accumulated over the years and damaged, broken, and fallen trees, including those affected by bad weather, as part of preparing the project. The continuation of the project will depend on the outcome of spatial planning procedures and decisions by competent authorities," Vladović-Relja said. The Bačić package of laws is under scrutiny, with experts identifying five critical points, and opponents are outraged, claiming "this is privatization 2.0." The investors submitted a proposal for the preparation of an urban planning document for Müller’s hill to the City of Zagreb back in May 2024 and offered to finance its creation. However, the city has not yet decided on this initiative, and therefore the Urban Planning Procedure Unit (UPU) has not been initiated either. Without this document, it is impossible to issue building permits, and precisely this has opened speculation that the investors might attempt to exploit changes introduced into the Building Law at the end of 2025 within the framework of the so-called Bačić laws. These changes introduced the institution of "expression of interest in construction," allowing an investor, if the city or municipality does not adopt a detailed urban planning document or ensure the necessary infrastructure within the prescribed period, to finance the traffic under certain conditions.
1 reports
Jutarnji listIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 909 hr. ago This is footage from an expensive 200,000-square-foot piece of land in the middle of Zagreb, and the city says, "We didn't give permission".The article reports on illegal logging activities taking place on a large undeveloped plot of land in Zagreb, specifically on Müller Hill. Over the past few weeks, trees have been cut down and cleared, raising questions about who authorized the activity. The city of Zagreb claims it did not issue any permit for the felling, and the State Inspectorate has conducted four inspections but has not yet determined whether the work was legal. The area is considered one of the most valuable undeveloped sites in Zagreb, and there is confusion over why preparations are being made for development when the necessary spatial planning documents are still pending. The project has been linked to businessman Anton Nobilo and other investors, with some companies involved having connections to his law firm and other entities. While the investor representative denies construction work, the article highlights the ongoing controversy and lack of clarity regarding the legality of the actions.
Bias read (Center): While the article discusses a controversial environmental and legal issue involving local authorities and private interests, it presents information from both the city administration and the involved parties without overtly favoring one side. It does not take a clear ideological stance on the matter
Why factuality (85): The article provides specific details such as the location (Müllerova brijega), the size of the land (200,000 square meters), and mentions that the city of Zagreb has not issued any permits. It also references the involvement of the State Inspectorate and the ongoing investigation. These facts align
Why objectivity (90): The article presents the situation in a largely neutral manner, reporting statements from both the City of Zagreb and the State Inspectorate without overt bias. The language remains factual and avoids strong emotional or ideological framing, maintaining a balanced perspective.
★
Keep the news honest.
ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €5/month.
Become a Supporter