Swakop waterfront going ahead despite gripes

THE Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for Swakopmund’s N$400 million ‘La Mer’ waterfront development has expired in terms of the Environmental Management Act (EMA).

Also, the land on which the development is taking place still needs to be transferred from Government to the Swakopmund municipality.Despite this, earthworks on the project started two weeks ago.Safari Investments says negotiations are underway with the town council and Government for the acquisition of a piece of land below the high-water mark where part of the proposed small harbour is to be constructed.’No development on this said piece will commence unless a satisfactory agreement has been entered into and ownership has been obtained,’ it says.Environmental clearance was issued by former Permanent Secretary of Environment and Tourism, Dr Malan Lindeque, in April 2006. The clearance was given in respect of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a development that included a small-craft harbour and a ‘quaint seafront promenade’ as stated in the marketing and concept proposal of the waterfront project of September 2001. According to the Environmental Management Act, which was gazetted in February 2012, an environmental clearance certificate remains valid for three years, subject to cancellation or suspension. The ‘La Mer’ design includes a 17 000-square-metre retail space, a 100-bed hotel and 29 luxury residential units. There will also be a breakwater and ski-boat launch.The original plan never came to fruition, but the EIA is still considered valid by the developer, Safari Investment Namibia, more than six years later.According to Francois Marais, CEO of Safari Investments South Africa, of which Safari Investments Namibia is a subsidiary, Safari Investment bought the original Waterfront Development Company 18 months ago, including all five erven to which ‘La Mer’ will be attached. The only change is the name, according to him.’When we bought the company, we were assured that all legislation work concerning its registration and planning processes are in place and are still completely valid,’ said Marais.And this includes the 2006 EIA and ECC, hence no new EIA is required, according to him.However, a source in the Department of Environmental Affairs says the EIA of 2006 first has to be evaluated to see whether it is valid for the ‘La Mer’ development.Swakopmund town CEO Eckart Demasius agrees with the developer that there was an EIA and that ‘this is an ongoing project, so one cannot now make new legislation apply retrospectively’.A breakwater is currently being built as part of the civil works.The final design of the development has not been approved yet, and the developer does not have permission to build. Demasius confirmed this, saying that the developer has received permission from the council to proceed with the earthworks only.’The aesthetics still need to be completed as well as feedback to the public as part of the public scoping exercise,’ he said.Marais said no construction work will be done before the municipality has given permission to build.Safari Investments says it is fully committed to offer the town of Swakopmund a development which will enhance the appearance of the town and bring financial benefits to the town council and inhabitants.