Selnica ob Dravi Municipality

The Municipality of Selnica ob Drava (Selnica ob Dravi) is a green and development-oriented municipality. Its creation dates back to 1998, when three new municipalities were created from the former joint Municipality of Ruše.  

Selnica ob Dravi is building its future on the principles of sustainable development. In doing so, it ensures the activation of all available potential, taking into account the quality of life of people and the environment, as well as social responsibility towards current and future generations. The municipality’s strategy is therefore aimed at maintaining the balance of its ecosystems and energy independence. 

Mission 

The fundamental mission of Selnica ob Dravi is to provide services and conditions that contribute to the quality of life and work of citizens and organisations. The services provided by the municipality are efficient and fiscally responsible, which is why its citizens and organisations value them.  

The organisation of Selnica ob Dravi ensures the implementation of one of the fundamental democratic principles, namely the participation of citizens in the management of public and local affairs. The municipality is thus recognisable by the openness of its citizens, orientation towards energy-saving and environmentally friendly agriculture and other activities. 

Selnica ob Dravi operates according to the following goals: 

1. A municipality where people come first 

2. Space of opportunity and growth 

3. A healthy, safe and green municipality 

4. A municipality that spends wisely and invests strategically 

Projects  

Selnica ob Dravi contributes to the improvement of the living environment by implementing various projects in the area. Some of these include:  

• ALPGRIDS – Promoting the use of renewable energy sources and the creation of microgrids in the Alpine space. 

• OBČINSKA CELOSTNA PROMETNA STRATEGIJA – A central document that sets guidelines and measures for the development of sustainable and efficient transport infrastructure in the municipality. 

• MOUNTADAPT – Developing solutions that reduce the impacts of climate change on human health by focusing on mountain and hilly areas. 

• NATURALLY LOCAL – Applying the principles of the Nature-based solutions (NBS) in adaptation policy and disaster risk reduction policy. 

About the region  

Selnica ob Dravi lies in the Drava Valley, on the left bank of the Drava River and connects the regions of Styria and Carinthia. It is only 15 km away from the city of Maribor, which is the second largest city in Slovenia and at the same time the regional, administrative, educational, cultural and economic centre of northeastern Slovenia. 

There are 14 settlements in the municipality, the largest of which is Selnica ob Dravi, which has more than 900 years of history. In the past, the Drava River and the proximity of neighbouring Austria played an important role in the development of the area. It was the state border that halted development in the years after World War II and after independence.  

After the creation of an independent municipality, activities in the direction of development in all economic sectors began again. Selnica ob Dravi adopted the starting points of sustainable development to become a municipality whose development is based on protecting the environment and respecting people, as well as taking care of the economic well-being of the place and its inhabitants. 

 The municipality is also home to the oldest hydroelectric power plant on the Drava River and in this part of Europe – HPP Fala. It houses a museum of technical heritage, which has been declared a cultural monument of national importance.