Some Wlotzkasbaken residents are concerned about how the development of their settlement into a town would impact its unique character, as well as the practicality of the implementation and motivation of the development.
Geo Pollution Technologies (GPT) has been appointed by the Erongo Regional Council to conduct an environmental assessment for the proposed Wlotzkasbaken township development extension 1 and 2, aimed at boosting the local economy and creating much-needed employment opportunities in the construction sector.
The proposed township layout includes approximately 522 erven for residential, institutional and public open space use.
GPT says it would positively contribute to Namibia’s gross domestic product and tax revenue.
However, potential adverse impacts, such as changes to the geology, soil, land use, and settlement character, have been identified.
The dolerite ridge area, known as ‘Black Rocks’, has been zoned for conservation, ensuring that no development takes place on the designated erven.
“This is all proposed, it is not set in stone. Various specialist studies have been commissioned as part of the environmental assessment to be considered during further planning,” says GPT’s Pierre Botha.
A member of the area’s homeowners association, however, says: “We’re concerned about the government’s motives behind this project, and whether it is a political statement rather than a genuine effort to improve the area.”
Other members say previous property auctions allegedly favoured certain buyers.
They question the government’s intention to introduce more diversity to the village.
Residents say many people may not want to live at Wlotzkasbaken due to its current lack of amenities, such as running water, sewerage systems and electricity.
They suggest the government should focus on improving existing facilities instead of investing in an extensive new development.
They mention a water tower collapse and the construction of an administration building which has not been used.
Members also feel the unique character of Wlotzkasbaken should be preserved.
Wlotzkabaken homeowners have, however, indicated they do not have a problem with “new neighbours”, if these residents were to build on existing plots and keep Wlotzkabaken as it is.
Founded as a holiday angling spot in the 1930s, Wlotzkasbaken developed into a settlement of unusual design and administration.
Without any fences or boundary walls, privacy is achieved only by the distance between the houses.
Titles in the village were held by the regional council, and only leased to the residents.
Legal disputes that followed a few years ago about how to expand the resort without disadvantaging lessees who built houses on land they do not own resulted in the regional council selling leasing homeowners’ properties to them at market-related land value – making them owners and not lessees.
Chairperson of the Erongo Regional Councilr Benitha Imbamba this week confirmed the development plans for Wlotzkasbaken, and that the first phase of development is focused on bringing water to the area.
Imbamba acknowledges that some residents are against large-scale development, and are concerned about maintaining the town’s aesthetics.
She says the regional council will work in consultation with residents.
“We are not going to just bulldoze over them, we’re working together,” she said.
Imbamba said the council’s approach to development should prioritise the needs of all Namibians.
“We need to develop for the sake of the Namibian people. People must stop thinking of colour. We are all Namibians, and whatever we are doing concerning the development, we must think the Namibian way,” she said.
Botha says GPT aims to provide interested and affected parties with information about the proposed project and related environmental assessment.
“Parties are invited to provide concerns for consideration in the environmental assessment. The aim of the public participation process is to provide an open channel of communication sharing of information and concerns,” he says.
A scoping environmental assessment report and draft environmental management plan will be submitted alongside the environmental clearance certificate application to determine the impacts of the development on the environment.
The Namibian has contacted the Wlotzkasbaken Homeowners Association, which declined to comment.
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