The Dolomites Sport Valley
The Dolomites site is located in the Silesia Region (voivodship) that is situated in south part o f Poland and consists o f 19 cities, 17 districts and 166 comm unities.
The Silesia Region takes 12,294 square kilometres o f area (that is about 3.9 % o f the total Poland area), where live 4,882,400 inhabitants (that is 12.6 % o f the total Poland inhabitants). The density o f population in this region is equal to 397 persons per square kilometres and it is 3.2 times greater then the average in Poland.
Silesia region is the most degraded environm entally area in Poland as can be noted by the following basic indicators (1998):
- 21,5 % o f dust emission from m ines to air in Poland
low quality o f surface water because o f lack o f sewerage, low efficiency o f waste w ater treatment plants, industrial contam ination - particularly salt waters from mines
- a large area endangered by ground subsidence because o f mining
55,600,000 ton per year o f solid waste (i.e. 42 % waste in Poland)
The regeneration and redevelopment o f sites in cities and urban environm ent in Silesia region is the biggest environmental, economic and social problem particularly in consequence o f negative impact on environment o f mining industry. The Dolomite Sport Valley is situated within the city o f Bytom and was previously used as an area for heavy industry. The site, o f the size o f 37.64 hectares, in fact was formerly occupied by the Bytom Dolomite Mining Works. The soil contained heavy metal contamination, but due to the low concentrations this was not considered to represent a significant constraint to the redevelopment o f the site (see Figure 6.11). All the original buildings and infrastructure were dismantled and no longer exist.
Fig. 6.11 - Ski slope at Sport Valley
(SOURCE: RESCUE (2004) - Regions and Case Studies. A vailable from:
http://w w w .rescue-europe.com /htm l/regions.htm l)
The Dolom ite Sport Valley project has transform ed the previously derelict dolom ite mine into an all year round leisure and recreation centre, situated betw een the adjacent Segiet N ature Reserve, and neighbouring housing estates. A range o f disciplines participated in the project - site owner, planners, engineers and local authorities. This integrated approach was aim ed at satisfying:
the social needs: by improving the quality o f life;
the com panies interests: by providing profits for the ow ner/developer and for small and m edium cooperating;
the enterprises;
the local authority’s interests: by providing income for the local budget and im provem ent o f the urban environment.
During the planning and the decision making process, a participatory approach has been used, consistent w ith the Polish law. Different stakeholders’ interests have been accom modated in the developm ent o f this site to ensure that the project w as a response to local and regional comm unity needs.
In addition, the project has improved the ecological state o f the area through the adoption o f protection measures to preserve the neighbouring natural environm ent.
Sosnowiec Coal Mine
The Sosnowiec Coal M ine is located in the Silesia region. T he m ine is com prised o f two separate areas, both o f which play key roles for the developm ent o f the city:
the other is located 5 km from the city centre but in a strategic location due to its convenient road network and railway proximity.
The Local Authority was keen to regenerate, redevelop and integrate these areas into the functional and spatial structure o f their surroundings with the aim o f contributing to the local economy and sustainable development o f the city. The m ain goal was to create conditions whereby public services, economic activities, residential facilities and recreational amenities can coexist.
The former “SOSNOW IEC” Coal Mine in figure 6.12, that is the one used as case study, has a total surface o f 31.5 hectares and it is located in the central part o f the city. This location, directly adjacent to one o f the m ain com m unication artery intersection o f the city is very advantageous in terms o f accessibility. The site is close and well connected with the commercial centre and also the railw ay station, w hich serves the W arsaw-Katowice railroad. It is also accessible by car or by public transport.
(SOURCE:
Fig. 6.12 - Sosnowiec Coal Mine
RESCUE (2004) - Regions and Case Studies. Available from:
On the N orthern side o f the site, a new m ultifunctional com m ercial and service centre was opened in 2001. The Eastern side is delineated by an area featuring small gardens and single fam ily housing units. Garment factories ZPO “B Y TO M ”, still in operation, and ZPD “W A N D A ”, already closed, are located in the South-East com er. The W estern boundary features apartment houses com pleted in the 1970’s, near a park area along the C zam a Przemsza river banks. A t the N orth-East com er, the RO D U LA Park is located, w here construction o f an artificial ski slope has started.
Alm ost all industrial facilities located on the mine area have been dem olished w ith the exception o f one 3-floor administration and social building and two w orkshop and storage facilities. In the South-East part o f the area, a new m anufacturing plant is under constm ction.
According to the Local Spatial M anagement Plan approved by the City Council in February 2001, the form er SOSNOW IEC Coal M ine area shall be divided in three areas and used for the location o f service centres and back-up facilities for the autom otive industry, for single fam ily housing, and for m anufacturing and service provider units.
In addition, the N orth-W est part o f the area is to be transform ed into park facilities w ith the possible inclusion o f supplem entary service centres. To the South, m ultilevel parking facilities shall be provided for the use o f citizens living in the neighbouring housing district.
The plan assum es local access roads shall be com pleted to provide easy links from this area to the m ain two streets. Also w alking & cycling paths shall be provided, free
from traffic, linking this area w ith the Commercial & Service C entre and the residential district.
The Spatial M anagem ent Plan o f the former coal mine area also assum es one existing pit shaft hoist tow er should be kept as an example o f m ining excavation history. M oreover, an historic building originating from the early years o f the last century, located at N arutow icz Street, within which electrical equipm ent o f the coal m ine has been installed, should be included in the national m onum ent preservation policy.
On the Eastern side o f the mine area, along Kom bajnistow Street, a spoil bank has been reclaim ed in order to reinstate the environmental conditions as they w ere before m ining excavation started.
All industrial facilities o f the mine, including the rail tracks, have b een dism antled, and the reclaim ed area has been levelled. The office buildings and the storage yard have rem ained and m ay be reused.