Waterfront enthusiasts hold collective breath

THE multi-million-dollar waterfront development planned for Henties Bay appears to have stalled.

In July, the Town Council approved a recommendation for the N$87 million development in the valley. In October a development committee was going to be created to take charge of the project.Joan Dames, Mayor of Henties Bay, told The Namibian on Wednesday she had not yet received any feedback from Government”.Two proposals are with the Permanent Secretary of Finance,” she said.But Dames said it was probably too early in the year to expect answers, with many offices having just re-opened.She has written to President Sam Nujoma, asking for his support, and lobbied the Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab when he visited her Council last month.”People need to realise this project is going to be a lifeline for our town.It will take Henties Bay onto a completely new course and give us a new face,” Dames enthused.The project has received backing from the Minister of Finance, which committed itself to the enterprise in Parliament, according to Dames.Seed money of N$10 million was budgeted for it last year, but then N$8 million was cut from that amount because of the drought.”We have not yet received the remaining N$2 million,” said Dames.According to the Council resolution of July 2003, Government would provide almost half (N$36,8 million) of the total cost.The Municipality’s share would be N$5,3 million, to consist mainly of donated land and services, and the N$57,4 million balance would be raised by the Waterfront Company and through private funding.In terms of initial plans, the development would consist of six primary components.Topper Kuhn, Strategic Executive of the Henties Bay Municipality, said last year the community had been consulted on the amenities.These include a desert garden walk, market square, an activity node, a promenade, a recreation node and a development node.The activity node will comprise a jetty and slipway, waterfront square, living desert plaza, fresh fish outlet, museum, aquarium, fish restaurant, shops, hotel and parking area.Recreation activities catered for include a children’s play world, a ‘hydro slide’, swimming pool, outdoor restaurant and terrace accommodation.Dames said on Wednesday the building of a slipway and jetty was just as important for the Hanganeni Artisanal Fishing Association.The project, begun last April, provides an income to 40 members every month.At present the members can catch fish only by angling from the shore.They plan to expand the business by buying a ski boat for fishing in deeper water, but a slipway would be needed to launch the boat.In October a development committee was going to be created to take charge of the project. Joan Dames, Mayor of Henties Bay, told The Namibian on Wednesday she had not yet received any feedback from Government”.Two proposals are with the Permanent Secretary of Finance,” she said. But Dames said it was probably too early in the year to expect answers, with many offices having just re-opened. She has written to President Sam Nujoma, asking for his support, and lobbied the Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab when he visited her Council last month. “People need to realise this project is going to be a lifeline for our town. It will take Henties Bay onto a completely new course and give us a new face,” Dames enthused. The project has received backing from the Minister of Finance, which committed itself to the enterprise in Parliament, according to Dames. Seed money of N$10 million was budgeted for it last year, but then N$8 million was cut from that amount because of the drought. “We have not yet received the remaining N$2 million,” said Dames. According to the Council resolution of July 2003, Government would provide almost half (N$36,8 million) of the total cost. The Municipality’s share would be N$5,3 million, to consist mainly of donated land and services, and the N$57,4 million balance would be raised by the Waterfront Company and through private funding. In terms of initial plans, the development would consist of six primary components. Topper Kuhn, Strategic Executive of the Henties Bay Municipality, said last year the community had been consulted on the amenities. These include a desert garden walk, market square, an activity node, a promenade, a recreation node and a development node. The activity node will comprise a jetty and slipway, waterfront square, living desert plaza, fresh fish outlet, museum, aquarium, fish restaurant, shops, hotel and parking area. Recreation activities catered for include a children’s play world, a ‘hydro slide’, swimming pool, outdoor restaurant and terrace accommodation. Dames said on Wednesday the building of a slipway and jetty was just as important for the Hanganeni Artisanal Fishing Association. The project, begun last April, provides an income to 40 members every month. At present the members can catch fish only by angling from the shore. They plan to expand the business by buying a ski boat for fishing in deeper water, but a slipway would be needed to launch the boat.