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Local News|
Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - Web posted at 7:30:16 GMT Pristine beaches under threat MAGGI BARNARDTHE last stretches of safe and clean beaches for Walvis Bay residents might be lost if three developers go ahead with projects which the Town Council has approved in principle. |
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Fears have also been raised that the area's tourism appeal will be damaged, and that globally important conservation areas will be destroyed. A petition has already been drawn up by concerned residents and surfers after a notice was published in a local paper on Friday for the sale of land at Farm 46, better known as Guns just south of Dolphin Beach. In terms of the Local Authorities Act, the developer has to advertise the sale by private transaction so that written objections can be submitted. The increasing rate of development proposals targeting prime beach-front land between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay has become a cause of great concern for environmental activists over the past three years. The area not only provides the most important breeding ground in the world for the Damara Tern, which is endemic to Namibia, but the shoreline is one of the richest feeding grounds in the world for shore birds. Between 35 to 44 species are found there in a density of up to 448 birds per kilometre. At present the 275 000 square metres of land, which forms part of Farm 46 at Guns, is zoned as conservation land. The area is the second most important birding spot on that stretch of coastline where Damara Tern and Black Oyster Catchers breed, says Rod Braby of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at Swakopmund. It is also an important recreational area for residents of the two coastal towns. The surfing community is also up in arms over the proposal by a Walvis Bay businessman SI Savva at Guns. According to his application he plans a multi-purpose facility. The surf break at Guns is an internationally known surfing spot and the closest spot for Walvis Bay surfers. Braby said it is a very special piece of coastline and should be kept as it is for the sake of tourism as well as recreation. "It is no longer going to be a prime tourist area when the coastline is all built up," he said. As for local communities, the open spaces form a very important recreation area. He said existing open areas and beaches are already crowded during the December holidays leading to problems of aggression. "If the beach areas are going to be further reduced, it would only lead to more problems". Braby also said the limited area of protected beach is unique because of Pelican Point. The beaches do not get direct swell and high energy breaks, and the sea does not get very rough, which makes it safe for swimming and other water activities. Braby said he cannot understand why, if the land is zoned for conservation, new developments are being considered for the area. "It makes a mockery of the concept of conservation. We have an international obligation to respect Namibia's biodiversity". Namibia is a signatory to the Convention on Bio-diversity and is obliged under international law to conserve its endemic species. Augustinus Victor, General Manager Community and Economic Development at the Walvis Bay Municipality, said while the sale was approved in principle by Council, the applicant has to submit an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before an agreement can be signed. He said if valid objections were received from the public, the development would not be considered. "We have due regard for the environment and will be guided by the objections and EIA," he maintained. Victor said developments on land zoned for conservation were considered because they could not disregard development all together. "It was easy to zone land as conservation in early years because there was not much interest in those areas. These days there is a lot more interest". URBAN SPRAWL According to a structure plan for Walvis Bay prepared by Stubenrauch Planning Consultants "urban sprawl northward along the coast from Walvis Bay should be prevented. It is important that the open stretch of beach that currently exists between Dolphin Beach and Long Beach should be retained". An environmentalist from Windhoek told The Namibian that if proper care was not taken in the development of this coastal area, it would soon lose its unique beauty and look like the Costa Del Sol (in Spain) or other built-up and commercial coastlines in the world. Two further proposals for developments - by Quadrant Engineering and Namib Development Company - have also been approved in principle. These are between Long Beach and Dolphin Beach and south of Dolphin Beach connecting with Savva's proposal. It has been established that an EIA is being undertaken for the Guns proposal, but it is not clear whether a public meeting will form part of the process. Braby said it is of vital importance to inform the community of this as they are the main users of the beaches and will be affected. The Environmental Assessment Policy, approved in August 1994 by Cabinet, stipulates that the EIA procedure should "strive for a high degree of public participation and involvement by all sectors of the Namibian community". Des Kaempffer has drawn up a petition on behalf of the surfing community. Surfers are worried that although the development might not affect the surf break, there could be potential problems reaching the spot and complaints by future residents. The general feeling is that such a development will only benefit a few people, while at the moment the beaches are there for the community as a whole. The Council has also set aside more than N$1 million for the development of Independence Beach, just north of the Walvis Bay harbour. The development has been criticised as the beach and water receive pollution from the harbour making it a potential health hazard for recreational activities. |
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