The grandfather’s forest has become a dusty, gray landscape:

The case in summary Landowner Dagny Karlander expresses concern about the expansion of a crushing plant in the Bærøyfjorden in Kragerø, which has transformed lush soil and forest into a dusty, gray landscape. The crushing plant, which started as a small quarry in 1947, has expanded into a massive crushing plant with large machines. Conservationists and landowners in Kragerø believe that the expansion will lead to valuable nature being lost, and limit the opportunities for people to enjoy nature. There is concern that noise and dust from the crushing plant will affect the city to an even greater extent if the expansion is realised. NCC, which operates the crushing plant, will not comment on the matter, but says that the expansion is being discussed within the area that is already regulated for mining operations. Karlander hopes that landowners can be included in the debate, and that frameworks are set for the subsequent use of the area. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s ​​journalists before publication. – Time goes by so fast. It wasn’t long ago that we had pasture over there. In the middle of the Bærøyfjord in Kragerø, landowner Dagny Karlander stands on a cliff. She looks beyond the horizon as she points towards the landscape and talks about areas that were once lush soil and forest. Today, over 50 years later, the view is dominated by various shades of gray and the air is dusty. – It is impossible to say what my grandfather would have said, but I think he would have been deeply shocked. The landowner feels helpless in the debate about expansion. She hopes that the municipality will include landowners when the extension is to be decided. Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / news Want to expand In 1947, Dagny Karlander’s grandfather sold parts of the forest on the Valberg Peninsula in Kragerø to a company that wanted to operate a crushing plant. What started as a small quarry, which was operated by people by hand, has over the years expanded into a massive crushing plant with large machines. The crushing plant in Kragerø seen from the Valberg Peninsula. Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / news It has become something completely different from what it was, says Karlander. – Things were much smaller. Now there are machines, so you get terrified just seeing them from 100 meters away. Now the crushing plant will have even more and close to double the operation. The entire area is 430 acres today. NCC will expand by 300 acres, so the area will be a total of 730 acres, if they get what they want. – Fewer opportunities for people in nature The expansion will lead to the loss of valuable nature, say conservationists and the landowners in Kragerø. – This means that there will be fewer opportunities for people out in nature, says Øyvind Skarelven, head of the welfare association in the area. Øyvind Skarelven leads Kilen Vel. He believes that too few of the local population are informed about what could possibly happen on the Valberg Peninsula. Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / news From the sea, the crushing plant is partially hidden by a cliff and vegetation, but it can both be heard and felt all the way to the restaurants in town when rocks are crushed and turned into rubble. Skarelven is concerned that noise and dust will affect the city to an even greater extent if the expansion is realised. In summer, over 50,000 tourists flock to the small coastal town. The number of inhabitants in Kragerø will increase fivefold. Locals fear the quarry’s expansion will destroy both tourists and permanent residents. – I am afraid that an expansion will make Kragerø less attractive as a tourist destination, says Skarelven. – It will affect the city, how people will experience being in Kragerø, he continues. Karlander agrees. She hopes that landowners can be included in the debate. – I want the politicians to come here and actually see if there are opportunities for conservation. You really have to set some limits for the after-use, says Karlander and adds: – So that you as a landowner can sleep at night. The money and jobs add up Despite opposition from landowners and conservationists, some politicians are positive about the expansion. One of them is Thorleif Fluer Vikre (Frp). – When you have 100 million in turnover, and 35-40 man-years, then there is significant value creation. Thorleif Fluer Vikre, FRP in Kragerø. Photo: Siw Borgen / news In February it became clear that Kragerø municipality ran a large deficit last year and thus ended up on the ROBEK list, a register of municipalities and county councils in financial imbalance. – Being able to sell gray stone abroad and get paid for it is well done in Norway, and we should continue with that, says Fluer Vikre. Will not comment The NCC management will not be interviewed about the matter now. – The expansion that is now being discussed is within the area that is already regulated for mining operations, writes Tonje Bjerve Lund, head of communications at NCC to news in an e-mail. NCC has operated the quarry at Valberg since 2001. – It is important for us to contribute to a good process and we will be able to comment further when the consultation process is ready, writes Bjerve Lund further. Published 21.06.2024, at 21.40



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