WALVIS BAY – The Walvis Bay Municipality has invested N$115 million in servicing 1 014 erven at the town.
The initiative forms part of Walvis Bay’s five-year strategic plan that will map the future of the town for the next five years in terms of economic and industrial development of which the provision of serviced land is a vital part.
The council is also optimistic about providing at least 2 000 serviced erven before the end of the current financial year. A total of N$120 million was allocated for land development during the 2013/2014 budget that was tabled in July this year.
Four tenders were awarded to two construction companies off which JJD Earth Moving and Construction received three tenders and Rino Construction and Development secured only one tender.
According to the Mayor of Walvis Bay, 220 plots will be available at Narraville Extension 7 that will cost no less than N$ 15 million to service.
A total of 430 plots will be serviced in Kuisebmond Extension 5 and Extension 6 for not less than N$26 million while 250 plots will be serviced at a cost of N$19 million.
Fourteen prime plots will also be serviced at a cost of N$52 million in the Walvis Bay area.
Addressing contractors at the handing over ceremony of the undeveloped land the mayor of Walvis Bay, Uilika Nambahu, said the occasion signals the start of a range of exciting projects as far as land development initiatives at the coastal town is concerned.
“We made a commitment to our residents and investors that we will address the huge backlog in terms of serviced erven. Various construction projects are currently taking shape in terms of housing and industrial development. The latest land development project we are about to embark upon is a clear indication that we are delivering on those promises despite the fact that our town’s conditions are extremely challenging to make erven available,” she said.
She went on to say that all such challenges must be addressed for the sake of development and positive growth in terms of land development.
She then referred to the town’s five-year strategic plan which focuses on physical infrastructure development which specifically deals with the issue of land development, planning, appropriately serviced erven for all land uses, increased formalised housing and addressing back yard shacks.
Upon further enquiry, the public relations manager of the municipality, Kevin Adams, told New Era that there are currently close to 27 000 shack dwellers at the town who are all hoping to secure proper housing in the near future.
He however said that the criteria surrounding the sale of the plots including the cost would be communicated once all plots have been serviced and once council decides how it will be done.
By Eveline de Klerk