New suburb for Walvis Bay
The news that a new suburb is planned for Walvis Bay was greeted with loud applause by about 500 Kuisebmond residents that attend a council meeting on Monday,
The announcement was made by Walvis Bay Mayor Immanuel Wilfred.
“We are faced with many challenges and the availability of land and provision of affordable housing is dominating discussions. The new SADC Gateway port development and the dunes are blocking expansion opportunities. We have therefore identified and resolved to develop a new residential suburb on Farm 37, en route to Utuseb,” the Wilfred said.
The mayor also informed residents that the Urban and Rural Development Minister Sophia Shaningwa had visited Walvis Bay last Tuesday and discussed the allocation of 1 000 serviced erven, yielded as part of the Mass Urban Land Servicing Project.
“The serviced land was handed over to government, who refunded the municipality for the service we provided. Government also indicated that it would continue financing the next round of land servicing, to accommodate more residents. “Council is scrutinising and verifying its own and the National Housing Enterprise application lists, to identify beneficiaries and ensure that no duplication or regularities occur.
“We also want to cross-check and make sure that people on the final list don’t own other properties, and once this process is finalised, the minister will officially hand the erven over,” the mayor said.
Wilfred further explained that government had taken a decision to provide financial support to local authorities to fast-track the provision of serviced land.
He said the Walvis Bay Municipality already had land development programmes in place, and when President Geingob visited in 2015, he expressed satisfaction with the municipality’s approach, including funding land servicing from its own coffers.
During the question session, Affirmative Repositioning movement representative George Da Silva accused councillors of not answering questions truthfully, and demanded to know when, where and how many serviced erven would be allocated.
In response, Walvis Bay Municipality Chief Executive Officer Muronga Haingura reiterated that the allocation of serviced land would take place on a first-come, first-serve basis, and said the verification process was tedious.
He explained that the joint lists contain more than 30 000 applicants, and included those who applied for land under the AR banner.
Replying to a question about why houses constructed by the NHE, under the Mass Housing programme in Kuisebmond, were standing empty, and were allowed to be vandalised, Haingura said the minister had visited the site last Wednesday. Local contractors have been appointed to repair the damage and once this is done, the properties will be allocated.
Haingura also explained to community members that a survey is currently being conducted by council, to determine the number of people in Walvis Bay that need housing and what kinds of houses need to be constructed.
“The survey is a tool that will provide us with information about the population of Walvis Bay. We also need to determine the economic segments for future planning purposes, and the ministry depends on council to provide this information.”
Concerns raised by the community included around affordable housing and land, safety, exorbitant electricity fees and connection rates demanded by Erongo RED, estimates being made on water usage, while meters are covered by sand, a lack of running water and toilets for backyard tenants, and the ownership issue of Single Quarters’ houses.
In addition, residents also listed the lack of response on letters or issues communicated to council, deteriorating sanitation, dogs roaming the streets, the large number of trucks parked on along public roads and the lack of public toilets, as concerns.
Suggestions tabled included the implementation of a pre-allocation system for land and housing, the provision of a bus service for domestic workers working in Langstrand and Meersig, the construction of a truck port, and speed bumps to curb speeding and crashes at certain locations.
Residents also called on the council to ensure that people who provide backyard accommodation also provide adequate ablution facilities for tenants.
They are urged an extension of the survey being conducted by the municipality.
They also alleged that NHE properties were unaffordable and the company be asked to explain its pricing structures.
OTIS FINCK
The announcement was made by Walvis Bay Mayor Immanuel Wilfred.
“We are faced with many challenges and the availability of land and provision of affordable housing is dominating discussions. The new SADC Gateway port development and the dunes are blocking expansion opportunities. We have therefore identified and resolved to develop a new residential suburb on Farm 37, en route to Utuseb,” the Wilfred said.
The mayor also informed residents that the Urban and Rural Development Minister Sophia Shaningwa had visited Walvis Bay last Tuesday and discussed the allocation of 1 000 serviced erven, yielded as part of the Mass Urban Land Servicing Project.
“The serviced land was handed over to government, who refunded the municipality for the service we provided. Government also indicated that it would continue financing the next round of land servicing, to accommodate more residents. “Council is scrutinising and verifying its own and the National Housing Enterprise application lists, to identify beneficiaries and ensure that no duplication or regularities occur.
“We also want to cross-check and make sure that people on the final list don’t own other properties, and once this process is finalised, the minister will officially hand the erven over,” the mayor said.
Wilfred further explained that government had taken a decision to provide financial support to local authorities to fast-track the provision of serviced land.
He said the Walvis Bay Municipality already had land development programmes in place, and when President Geingob visited in 2015, he expressed satisfaction with the municipality’s approach, including funding land servicing from its own coffers.
During the question session, Affirmative Repositioning movement representative George Da Silva accused councillors of not answering questions truthfully, and demanded to know when, where and how many serviced erven would be allocated.
In response, Walvis Bay Municipality Chief Executive Officer Muronga Haingura reiterated that the allocation of serviced land would take place on a first-come, first-serve basis, and said the verification process was tedious.
He explained that the joint lists contain more than 30 000 applicants, and included those who applied for land under the AR banner.
Replying to a question about why houses constructed by the NHE, under the Mass Housing programme in Kuisebmond, were standing empty, and were allowed to be vandalised, Haingura said the minister had visited the site last Wednesday. Local contractors have been appointed to repair the damage and once this is done, the properties will be allocated.
Haingura also explained to community members that a survey is currently being conducted by council, to determine the number of people in Walvis Bay that need housing and what kinds of houses need to be constructed.
“The survey is a tool that will provide us with information about the population of Walvis Bay. We also need to determine the economic segments for future planning purposes, and the ministry depends on council to provide this information.”
Concerns raised by the community included around affordable housing and land, safety, exorbitant electricity fees and connection rates demanded by Erongo RED, estimates being made on water usage, while meters are covered by sand, a lack of running water and toilets for backyard tenants, and the ownership issue of Single Quarters’ houses.
In addition, residents also listed the lack of response on letters or issues communicated to council, deteriorating sanitation, dogs roaming the streets, the large number of trucks parked on along public roads and the lack of public toilets, as concerns.
Suggestions tabled included the implementation of a pre-allocation system for land and housing, the provision of a bus service for domestic workers working in Langstrand and Meersig, the construction of a truck port, and speed bumps to curb speeding and crashes at certain locations.
Residents also called on the council to ensure that people who provide backyard accommodation also provide adequate ablution facilities for tenants.
They are urged an extension of the survey being conducted by the municipality.
They also alleged that NHE properties were unaffordable and the company be asked to explain its pricing structures.
OTIS FINCK
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