PM pledges Govt support for Walvis beach developments

PRIME MINISTER Theo-Ben Gurirab has assured the Mayor of Walvis Bay of Government’s support for proposed developments on prime coastal land between the harbour town and Dolphin Beach.

The Premier held discussions with Mayor, King Mandume Muatunga and his Councillors at Walvis Bay on Tuesday. “The beach development project is your responsibility as a Municipality,” Gurirab said.”You are the best judge as Council to implement it, as long as you act within the laws”.Gurirab said Government fully backed the initiative as growth was essential for the country.”Go ahead, as long as you remain consistent with the Constitution,” he said.Gurirab said he was aware of criticism the proposed beach developments had attracted from certain quarters, “which is understandable.As long as you do not break the law and do not bribe other Namibians, the developments would provide a multiplying opportunity for the previously disadvantaged to become home owners”.Asked about the sensitive desert environment of the area and the effect the proposed development could have on tourism in this largely unspoilt area, Gurirab said it was very important to ensure that sensitive areas at the coast and inland were protected.”We should be careful not to give environmental impact assessments a bad name.They are very necessary,” he said.At the same time the Prime Minister expressed the view that “any development requires some degree of damage.Look at bridges being built over rivers”.Gurirab said he envisaged that in 20 years Swakopmund and Walvis Bay would be one big city.”I hope the leaders of the two towns will sit together and plan one extended development between the two towns to make it one city.That is my dream for the future.Development must go on.Places must be left where people can still go to the beach and go fishing”.Three different developments between Langstrand and Dolphin Beach and south of Dolphin Beach have been approved in principle by the Walvis Bay Council.They are designated for residential, hotel and recreational facilities.The main fears raised about the developments are that conservation areas, specifically Damara Tern breeding areas, will be destroyed; the area’s tourism appeal will be damaged; and the last stretches of safe and clean beaches for Walvis Bay might be lost.So far Council has maintained that the developments would not go ahead if the environmental assessment (EA) proved negative.No date has been announced yet for the public meetings, which form an integral part of the EA process.”The beach development project is your responsibility as a Municipality,” Gurirab said. “You are the best judge as Council to implement it, as long as you act within the laws”. Gurirab said Government fully backed the initiative as growth was essential for the country. “Go ahead, as long as you remain consistent with the Constitution,” he said. Gurirab said he was aware of criticism the proposed beach developments had attracted from certain quarters, “which is understandable. As long as you do not break the law and do not bribe other Namibians, the developments would provide a multiplying opportunity for the previously disadvantaged to become home owners”. Asked about the sensitive desert environment of the area and the effect the proposed development could have on tourism in this largely unspoilt area, Gurirab said it was very important to ensure that sensitive areas at the coast and inland were protected. “We should be careful not to give environmental impact assessments a bad name. They are very necessary,” he said. At the same time the Prime Minister expressed the view that “any development requires some degree of damage. Look at bridges being built over rivers”. Gurirab said he envisaged that in 20 years Swakopmund and Walvis Bay would be one big city. “I hope the leaders of the two towns will sit together and plan one extended development between the two towns to make it one city. That is my dream for the future. Development must go on. Places must be left where people can still go to the beach and go fishing”. Three different developments between Langstrand and Dolphin Beach and south of Dolphin Beach have been approved in principle by the Walvis Bay Council. They are designated for residential, hotel and recreational facilities. The main fears raised about the developments are that conservation areas, specifically Damara Tern breeding areas, will be destroyed; the area’s tourism appeal will be damaged; and the last stretches of safe and clean beaches for Walvis Bay might be lost. So far Council has maintained that the developments would not go ahead if the environmental assessment (EA) proved negative. No date has been announced yet for the public meetings, which form an integral part of the EA process.