Population explosion a nightmare for Swakop

The Municipality of Swakopmund is faced with a potential logistical nightmare if planned developments materialise.

The town is expected to face a potential influx of 20 000 people over the next five years. This, in addition to proposed developments, will put tremendous pressure on available infrastructure and services for housing, schooling and transport.Estimated figures stemming from the last population census and the consequent growth in Erongo region and Swakopmund suggest that the town currently has a population figure of around 45 000.The Erongo Region has a total population of about 150 000.Within the next five years, Swakopmund’s population could grow to about 60 000 and Erongo to 200 000.The reason for the boom is the surge in Australian, Canadian and Russian uranium mining prospects and operations, with additional downstream industries involving desalination and power plants, as well as port and airport expansions.The rapid growth in the tourism industry also plays a contributory factor.While these developments could boost the economy, the municipality of Swakopund could be faced with major logistical problems.Land, housing and relevant services, as well as healthcare facilities would be some of the areas that would need to be addressed urgently.”This would a major problem,” exclaimed Swakopmund’s CEO, Eckhard Demasius.He told The Namibian that the statutory process to make land available could take up to two years, and once that is done, the implementation of services and the building of infrastructure could take another one and a half years before being usable.The Municipality’s General Manager of Engineering Services, Frikkie Holtzhauzen, said the “concern is real” and that the figures were “not unrealistic”.”Our major problem is that we have unserviced land, and although it would not take too long to get the infrastructure in place, the statutory process with the Ministry of Lands can take valuable time,” he said.Wotan Swiegers of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia told this newspaper that a high-level meeting is scheduled between the mines, municipalities (especially Swakopmund and Arandis) and other stakeholders within the next three weeks to discuss this “serious matter”.”We understand that we’re working with estimates here, but the chances are likely that this could be the scenario.It would be better for us to be pro-active in the matter,” Swiegers said.He explained that the Erongo Region’s recent estimated growth rate due to births and migration was about 6,65 per cent, but that a sudden influx could take place within the next five years.Swiegers explained that there appears to be an impasse currently between the municipality (as provider) and the mines (as the client).The municipality is careful to invest in infrastructure, as there are risks that it would not reap dividends, while the mines on their part are not too keen on guaranteeing developments due to the current economic climate.This, in addition to proposed developments, will put tremendous pressure on available infrastructure and services for housing, schooling and transport.Estimated figures stemming from the last population census and the consequent growth in Erongo region and Swakopmund suggest that the town currently has a population figure of around 45 000.The Erongo Region has a total population of about 150 000.Within the next five years, Swakopmund’s population could grow to about 60 000 and Erongo to 200 000.The reason for the boom is the surge in Australian, Canadian and Russian uranium mining prospects and operations, with additional downstream industries involving desalination and power plants, as well as port and airport expansions.The rapid growth in the tourism industry also plays a contributory factor.While these developments could boost the economy, the municipality of Swakopund could be faced with major logistical problems.Land, housing and relevant services, as well as healthcare facilities would be some of the areas that would need to be addressed urgently.”This would a major problem,” exclaimed Swakopmund’s CEO, Eckhard Demasius.He told The Namibian that the statutory process to make land available could take up to two years, and once that is done, the implementation of services and the building of infrastructure could take another one and a half years before being usable.The Municipality’s General Manager of Engineering Services, Frikkie Holtzhauzen, said the “concern is real” and that the figures were “not unrealistic”.”Our major problem is that we have unserviced land, and although it would not take too long to get the infrastructure in place, the statutory process with the Ministry of Lands can take valuable time,” he said.Wotan Swiegers of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia told this newspaper that a high-level meeting is scheduled between the mines, municipalities (especially Swakopmund and Arandis) and other stakeholders within the next three weeks to discuss this “serious matter”.”We understand that we’re working with estimates here, but the chances are likely that this could be the scenario.It would be better for us to be pro-active in the matter,” Swiegers said.He explained that the Erongo Region’s recent estimated growth rate due to births and migration was about 6,65 per cent, but that a sudden influx could take place within the next five years.Swiegers explained that there appears to be an impasse currently between the municipality (as provider) and the mines (as the client).The municipality is careful to invest in infrastructure, as there are risks that it would not reap dividends, while the mines on their part are not too keen on guaranteeing developments due to the current economic climate.