Plans For Luderitz; Phase Two Begins

On Monday the 16th of November, the Luderitz Waterfront Development Committee held an important high-level business meeting in order to discuss the plans for Phase Two of their development scheme for Luderitz.
The meeting began at 8.30am sharp, with numerous speakers such as Her Worship the Mayor, Professor Katjavivi and representatives from Namport, Namdeb, and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
The meeting was an opportunity for local and regional businesses to find out what exactly Phase Two entailed and to raise any queries about the infrastructures planned.
Mr. Fluksman Samuehl and Mr. Bob Mould held a presentation that explained clearly what is being planned for the town. After a very long bout of negotiations with the municipality, the LWDC finally owns the old power station on Diaz St. and desires to transform it into a centre with an indoor heated swimming pool, art and crafts centre and Bed and Breakfast. They also want to incorporate a Museum of the Sea for locals and tourists to enjoy. Outside of the facility they want to create another tidal pool at the front of the building and an area for water sports. The Ministry for Tourism also suggested building a small but well-run cinema in the centre.
The second part of Phase Two involves developing the existing Waterfront, but only if the demand for such infrastructures is there. The Waterfront Committee hopes to build another hotel, terraced housing and the South’s first modern shopping mall. The LWDC is currently awaiting an intensive survey to be done in four weeks time and the results from the survey will trigger whether or not a hotel will be built on the Waterfront. Mr. Fluksman stated that the difference between Phase One and Phase Two of the Development Scheme is that Phase Two will not commence unless they have viable tenants for the infrastructure planned.
The architect for the scheme, Mr. Mould, said that when taking on a project like this it’s not just about planning a building. You have to take the whole town into account and also think about the effect it will have on the whole of southern Namibia. Mr. Angel Torsedillas, the Chairman of the LWDC agreed and said that the developments put in place must, “harmonise with the character of Luderitz”.
A lot of people have criticised the LWDC for going ahead with these plans, but they believe that now is the time for such investments. They believe that by the time the buildings are complete, the recession will be over, (or at least the worst of it will) and that if they waited until the economic climate was a little hotter, then they would have to pay double or even triple for the same infrastructure. Mr. Torsedillas thanked the community for its feedback and said that there were many useful remarks made, but that, “We must be firm in pursuing development – no matter the cost”. He also stated that there were naysayers during Phase One when they were developing the waterfront, and he believes that after the success of The Crayfish Festival and events like it the LWDC has proven these sceptics wrong. Mr. Torsedillas is adamant of Phase Two’s worth and disagrees totally with the “White Elephant” label that has been given to it. The second and most ambitious phase will cost the Waterfront Committee N$400,000,000.
Many people present at the meeting raised issues with certain aspects of the scheme and the Committee recorded these in order to gain more ideas about what the developments need. These issues centred on how Luderitz had plenty of accommodation already and that during most of the year these were booked to 38% occupancy. Another popular idea was the opening of the Sperrgebiet National Park in order to encourage tourists to visit Luderitz but the representative from Namdeb explained that even though it was a National Park, it didn’t mean that it was open to the public, “Just like many other National Parks”.
Many would like the road from Luderitz to Oranjemund opened so Luderitz would be less of an, “island”, and people could do circular routes rather than arriving and leaving on the same road. The Travel and Tourism representative said she would bring this up with the board. Another issue raised was the increased crime rate that could come with an increase in development and the safety of the families that would live in the terraced houses and become patrons of the shopping mall. Mr. Fluksman assured the audience that the police could handle such events if they arose.
The Honourable Professor Katjavivi, from the President’s Cabinet, supported the LWDC’s initiative in going after the developments. He said that he thinks Luderitz will play a very important part in the country’s economy and that, “the Government has put in place sound economic policies, but it is the people on the ground who can make a difference”. He encouraged the businessmen and women present, “Not to wait for people to come forward to assist you – create your own opportunities”. •