The future Heritage Hill is touted to be an "ancient" village comprised of a refurbished Nonidas Castle on the banks of the Swakop River, a market square, a 350-room hotel, a media and communication training centre, a 2 000-seat conference centre, a wellness centre, a self-catering lodge, a 100-unit retirement village with frail care centre and an up-market residential area with 250 homes - all interwoven with alleys and cobblestone walkways and specked with olive and date groves.

The developers hope to complete it within the next five years - if the Swakopmund Town Council approves the idea.

The entire project is worth N$1,2 billion, one of the biggest development projects at the coast yet.

The intention of the local investors - Kobe Investors and Halle Investors -is to create a village that "nurtures a sense of community, away from the hustle and bustle of city life".

Besides being a residential development complementing Swakopmund's rapid expansion, it is also hoped that Heritage Village would become a lucrative tourist destination.

The current owners of Nonidas Castle, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), will still be operating from the new village, and be primarily responsible for the media and communication training centre.

"The vision made us excited," said Deputy Minister of Finance Tjekero Tweya, who launched the presentation.

"Infrastructure projects like this one lies close to the Namibian Government's heart."

He said the project addressed issues pertaining to tourism and related industries, and also helped in the country's need for housing and jobs.

It is said that about 1 000 people would be employed during the construction.

Tweya said the Erongo Region, and especially Swakopmund, were facing many challenges with regard to infrastructure and services, especially with the rapid expansion of mining activities.

He appealed to the Mayor of Swakopmund, Rosina //Hoabes, and Erongo Governor Samuel Nuuyoma to support the project for it to become a reality.

Hans Jochelson of Halle Investment said that - depending on the approval process - work on Heritage Hill would start by next year and be completed within four years.

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