Swakop Council moves to restore jetty

THE process of renovating the Swakopmund jetty was set in motion last week when Council resolved to call for tenders for the repair of the first half of this famous landmark.

The ageing jetty has been closed for six years for safety reasons. During this time many different suggestions, initiatives and development plans were considered to restore the 90-year-old iron structure that could no longer withstand the battering of the sea.In April Council finally decided to take the responsibility upon itself and pay for the renovations.An amount of N$1,6 million was allocated in the 2004/2005 budget for the work, while a further N$360 000 is available from the Save-the-Jetty Fund.In the Council agenda at last week’s monthly meeting, the CEO, Eckart Demasius, indicated that he was still being contacted with proposals and requests on the renovation of the jetty.”Council only wants to have the first part of the jetty renovated as a matter of urgency,” the agenda states.As no further proposals would therefore be considered, Council repealed all previous resolutions regarding the renovation and upgrading of the jetty, and called for tenders to renovate the first half of the structure.The renovation work will include a new steel beam structure to be placed on the existing jetty, timber flooring and handrails on both sides.The concrete pillars also need to be repaired.Demasius told The Namibian earlier he had no idea what the renovation work would cost.”We would have to see how much the successful tender could do with the N$2 million that is available.”According to an investigation carried out by Cape Diving & Salvage last year more more than N$3 million would be needed to carry out rehabilitation work on the in-shore portion of the jetty – that is the first 17 pairs of concrete encased columns and the superstructure.During this time many different suggestions, initiatives and development plans were considered to restore the 90-year-old iron structure that could no longer withstand the battering of the sea.In April Council finally decided to take the responsibility upon itself and pay for the renovations.An amount of N$1,6 million was allocated in the 2004/2005 budget for the work, while a further N$360 000 is available from the Save-the-Jetty Fund.In the Council agenda at last week’s monthly meeting, the CEO, Eckart Demasius, indicated that he was still being contacted with proposals and requests on the renovation of the jetty.”Council only wants to have the first part of the jetty renovated as a matter of urgency,” the agenda states.As no further proposals would therefore be considered, Council repealed all previous resolutions regarding the renovation and upgrading of the jetty, and called for tenders to renovate the first half of the structure.The renovation work will include a new steel beam structure to be placed on the existing jetty, timber flooring and handrails on both sides.The concrete pillars also need to be repaired.Demasius told The Namibian earlier he had no idea what the renovation work would cost.”We would have to see how much the successful tender could do with the N$2 million that is available.”According to an investigation carried out by Cape Diving & Salvage last year more more than N$3 million would be needed to carry out rehabilitation work on the in-shore portion of the jetty – that is the first 17 pairs of concrete encased columns and the superstructure.