Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay allocated N$219.7 million for the servicing of land in the 2014/2015 financial year, which would result in about 1 350 plots available for occupancy.

In light of growing demand by residents agitating for residential land, the Walvis Bay Municipality has assured that the 1 350 plots will be available for occupancy to residents soon.     

This was revealed by the chairperson of the management committee of the Walvis Bay Council, Wilfred Immanuel during a  community meeting held at Kuisebmond last week.

The purpose of the meeting was to update the community on projects being carried out during the 2014/2015 financial year tabled in 2014.

The series of meetings are held by council to  discuss previous projects as well as to get input from residents  in view of the upcoming budget that will be tabled in due course.

The  plots are expected to be availed to residents within the next three months, as  finishing touches are currently being carried out by contractors that were awarded the tenders to service  the land.

Immanuel said some 749 residential plots will be available in Kuisebmond at three newly established extensions. He added that of the N$77.7 million that was allocated to service the plots, only N$43 million was used.

He further said 355 plots will be serviced in Meersig.  According to him, N$110 million was allocated but only N$91.1 million has been spent.

“As for Narraville, 246 plots will be available and council so far has spent N$23.8 million of the N$31.6 million that was allocated from the budget,” he said.

Immanuel  said in total N$219.7 million was allocated to  land development during the  2014/2015 budget of which N$158 million has been sent.

Also addressing residents, the deputy mayor of Walvis Bay Councillor Benson Uakumba said council is aware about the need for land and is doing all in its power to address it.   

He urged residents to be patient while council is  working on the issue. The 2011 census report indicated that 32 percent of residents  in the Erongo live in shacks.

In Walvis Bay, 43 percent of residents have decent housing while 31.5 percent live in shacks.

Meanwhile, Walvis Bay plans to avail land for at least 40 000 new houses by 2030, the same year Namibia aims to have become prosperous and industrialised.

The town will need at least 2 000 hectares of land that will see the development of about 90 townships.

This also translates into the establishment of at least 33 primary schools, eight secondary schools, four police stations, 20 day-care centres and 10 clinics by 2030.

This is according to the newly approved Walvis Bay Integrated Urban Spatial Development Framework that will be key in the transformation of the town to an industrial city.