New rescue plan for jetty

SIX years after the closure of Swakopmund’s jetty, the Town Council has finally decided to pay for the renovation of the first half of this famous landmark.

Council approved the recommendation at its last monthly meeting and decided to allocate funds for the project in the next budget. The decision was welcomed by Alderman Hans-Dieter Goethje (DTA), who said: “I am more than pleased with this recommendation.There is no doubt in my mind that the public will welcome it as well.”He expressed the hope that Council would eventually be in a position to renovate the whole jetty.”I still think this would be possible with the help of one or other local or international corporate body, if we were to advertise the project in an attractive way on the Internet.”Since the closure of the jetty in 1998 for safety reasons, there have been many suggestions, initiatives and plans to restore the 90-year-old iron structure which can no longer withstand the battering of the sea.In August, Council gave a developer six months to submit a detailed rehabilitation and development proposal.According to the Council agenda, the subsequent suggestion by T & C Properties gave Council “no guarantee that the jetty would be rehabilitated to the extent and within the shortest possible time frame to meet the expectations of the public and Council”.The Mayor, Rosina //Hoabes, said at the management meeting that Council had promised the public the jetty would be renovated, and that it had become a long outstanding issue reflecting negatively on Council.She proposed that Council take it upon itself to renovate the jetty.This was supported by the Chairman of the Management Committee, Willem van Rooyen, who said the initial objective of the project was to renovate the jetty, but that “this had become secondary to the developers”.According to an earlier submission by Thomas Raith of T & C Properties, the development of commercial enterprises linked to the jetty was the only possible way to save it.His N$3,6 million proposal included an oyster bar halfway along the jetty, a day cafe-bistro restaurant and ice cream parlour at the current Sea Rescue Institute of Namibia (SRIN) site as well as a 10-room pension.Council decided to turn down the T & C Properties application.An investigation carried out by Cape Diving & Salvage last year found that more than N$3 million would be needed to carry out rehabilitation work on the inshore portion of the jetty – that is the first 17 pairs of concrete-encased columns and the superstructure.This would involve the replacement of the steel superstructure and walkway as well as the repair and strengthening of the concrete columns.No new figures were mentioned at the Council meeting.The decision was welcomed by Alderman Hans-Dieter Goethje (DTA), who said: “I am more than pleased with this recommendation.There is no doubt in my mind that the public will welcome it as well.”He expressed the hope that Council would eventually be in a position to renovate the whole jetty.”I still think this would be possible with the help of one or other local or international corporate body, if we were to advertise the project in an attractive way on the Internet.”Since the closure of the jetty in 1998 for safety reasons, there have been many suggestions, initiatives and plans to restore the 90-year-old iron structure which can no longer withstand the battering of the sea. In August, Council gave a developer six months to submit a detailed rehabilitation and development proposal. According to the Council agenda, the subsequent suggestion by T & C Properties gave Council “no guarantee that the jetty would be rehabilitated to the extent and within the shortest possible time frame to meet the expectations of the public and Council”.The Mayor, Rosina //Hoabes, said at the management meeting that Council had promised the public the jetty would be renovated, and that it had become a long outstanding issue reflecting negatively on Council.She proposed that Council take it upon itself to renovate the jetty.This was supported by the Chairman of the Management Committee, Willem van Rooyen, who said the initial objective of the project was to renovate the jetty, but that “this had become secondary to the developers”.According to an earlier submission by Thomas Raith of T & C Properties, the development of commercial enterprises linked to the jetty was the only possible way to save it. His N$3,6 million proposal included an oyster bar halfway along the jetty, a day cafe-bistro restaurant and ice cream parlour at the current Sea Rescue Institute of Namibia (SRIN) site as well as a 10-room pension.Council decided to turn down the T & C Properties application.An investigation carried out by Cape Diving & Salvage last year found that more than N$3 million would be needed to carry out rehabilitation work on the inshore portion of the jetty – that is the first 17 pairs of concrete-encased columns and the superstructure. This would involve the replacement of the steel superstructure and walkway as well as the repair and strengthening of the concrete columns. No new figures were mentioned at the Council meeting.