RESIDENTS of the Acacia housing development in Windhoek are still waiting for decisions on precautionary measures to prevent repeat flooding of the area.
The findings of specialist investigations into the flooding of the housing development were presented to the committee of its home owners’ association last week. They confirmed most of the preliminary assessments of the causes of the flooding of January 16.Engineers’ reports commissioned by the developer, Dannic Construction, indicated that the floods exceeded the 100-year flood line – the limit beyond which the worst flood in a century was not expected to go.The illegal dumping of waste in the stretch of the Arrebusch River opposite the development was confirmed as the greatest ‘avoidable culprit’ behind the flooding a month ago.But the residents’ committee says it is looking beyond these reports and wants to know what precautions are going to be taken to prevent a repetition.”The majority of us don’t care what reports say. We don’t want to blame anybody. We just want to know that something is going to be done to prevent this in future,” said committee member Natasha Rabe.But preventative steps will only be taken once the flood levels are redrawn.There are suggestions that an embankment could be built along the banks of the river.Repairs to damaged property is nearing completion and Rabe says the committee is pleased with the progress.”They [Dannic Construction] are really going out of their way. We are happy with what they are doing. Generally, there are no serious complaints. We are just waiting for the final proposal of what is going to be done. No one can guarantee that it won’t happen again,” she told The Namibian.They confirmed most of the preliminary assessments of the causes of the flooding of January 16. Engineers’ reports commissioned by the developer, Dannic Construction, indicated that the floods exceeded the 100-year flood line – the limit beyond which the worst flood in a century was not expected to go. The illegal dumping of waste in the stretch of the Arrebusch River opposite the development was confirmed as the greatest ‘avoidable culprit’ behind the flooding a month ago. But the residents’ committee says it is looking beyond these reports and wants to know what precautions are going to be taken to prevent a repetition. “The majority of us don’t care what reports say. We don’t want to blame anybody. We just want to know that something is going to be done to prevent this in future,” said committee member Natasha Rabe. But preventative steps will only be taken once the flood levels are redrawn. There are suggestions that an embankment could be built along the banks of the river. Repairs to damaged property is nearing completion and Rabe says the committee is pleased with the progress. “They [Dannic Construction] are really going out of their way. We are happy with what they are doing. Generally, there are no serious complaints. We are just waiting for the final proposal of what is going to be done. No one can guarantee that it won’t happen again,” she told The Namibian.
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