We feel your pain, says council

A NEW bridge over the Arebbusch River in Khomasdal cannot be built this year, the Windhoek City Council said on Wednesday night.

At their monthly meeting, Congress of Democrats councillor Herbert Schultz once again appealed to the council to consider building a permanent bridge as soon as possible. Children lost their belongings in a dangerous attempt to cross the river when it rained last week, he reminded the councillors.”Let money not preclude us from carrying out our sacred duty,” he pleaded.But Chairman of the Management Committee Bjorn von Finckenstein said the matter involved more than just financial implications and that it was not possible to build a bridge during the rainy season.Besides, he said, even if this were to be considered, it would never be completed in time for the height of the rainy season.”If we do something it must be proper and properly investigated.We must take an informed decision,” he said.Deputy Mayor Elaine Trepper assured Khomasdal residents that the council sympathised with them that the temporary bridge does not provide a dry crossing when the river is in flood.The Gammams bridge washed away in January.Trepper said the City had to first obtain a design and put out to tender the construction of a new bridge.The municipality has said this could cost as much as half a million dollars.Mayor Matthew Shikongo said building a new bridge involved much more than just money, saying that if it were purely a financial problem, finances would definitely be sought from items on which there have been savings.Children lost their belongings in a dangerous attempt to cross the river when it rained last week, he reminded the councillors.”Let money not preclude us from carrying out our sacred duty,” he pleaded.But Chairman of the Management Committee Bjorn von Finckenstein said the matter involved more than just financial implications and that it was not possible to build a bridge during the rainy season.Besides, he said, even if this were to be considered, it would never be completed in time for the height of the rainy season.”If we do something it must be proper and properly investigated.We must take an informed decision,” he said.Deputy Mayor Elaine Trepper assured Khomasdal residents that the council sympathised with them that the temporary bridge does not provide a dry crossing when the river is in flood.The Gammams bridge washed away in January.Trepper said the City had to first obtain a design and put out to tender the construction of a new bridge.The municipality has said this could cost as much as half a million dollars.Mayor Matthew Shikongo said building a new bridge involved much more than just money, saying that if it were purely a financial problem, finances would definitely be sought from items on which there have been savings.