Limited land for development in Walvis
Approximately 90% of the area within Walvis Bay's municipal boundaries is occupied, town planner Otniel Karero said.
According to him, there will be no land for urban development in less than five years. The growth of the town is constrained on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, the south by the Dorob National Park and the north by the proposed north port.
"The alternative is to the east, but the eastern side is largely state land," he added.
Walvis Bay's estimated population of 122 396 people reside in 40 429 households. The town's population is projected to grow to 168 000 by 2031, with a household growth of 5.65% - which will, in turn, put a great deal of pressure on the municipality with regard to land provision for housing, Karero said.
Expansion
The town planner said there is a need to extend municipal boundaries.
"This will help with land needed for low-income housing and land for industrial and light industrial [areas], which is also required. The eastern area is relatively flat and easily developable," he said.
Karero was speaking at a stakeholder engagement on local economy development strategy implementation. The event was aimed at crafting initiatives that will address identified challenges, opportunities and aspirations - ultimately turning them into realistic achievable futures.
Meanwhile, the municipality projects that the number of households in the harbour town will continue to grow faster than the population, given the trend of declining household sizes. Since the provision of land for growth is directly related to the number of households to be accommodated, this is an important consideration for the plan formulation process, Karero said.
The municipality projects that the number of households will grow to about 98 000 by 2041.
Farm 37
The municipality's housing and properties manager Jack Manale called on the private sector to come on board and invest in Green Valley (Farm 37), a new township located east of Walvis Bay.
"Private companies should apply to buy land for their employees at Farm 37. This will also help the municipality in terms of servicing the land, ultimately aiding in the provision of land for housing."
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According to him, there will be no land for urban development in less than five years. The growth of the town is constrained on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, the south by the Dorob National Park and the north by the proposed north port.
"The alternative is to the east, but the eastern side is largely state land," he added.
Walvis Bay's estimated population of 122 396 people reside in 40 429 households. The town's population is projected to grow to 168 000 by 2031, with a household growth of 5.65% - which will, in turn, put a great deal of pressure on the municipality with regard to land provision for housing, Karero said.
Expansion
The town planner said there is a need to extend municipal boundaries.
"This will help with land needed for low-income housing and land for industrial and light industrial [areas], which is also required. The eastern area is relatively flat and easily developable," he said.
Karero was speaking at a stakeholder engagement on local economy development strategy implementation. The event was aimed at crafting initiatives that will address identified challenges, opportunities and aspirations - ultimately turning them into realistic achievable futures.
Meanwhile, the municipality projects that the number of households in the harbour town will continue to grow faster than the population, given the trend of declining household sizes. Since the provision of land for growth is directly related to the number of households to be accommodated, this is an important consideration for the plan formulation process, Karero said.
The municipality projects that the number of households will grow to about 98 000 by 2041.
Farm 37
The municipality's housing and properties manager Jack Manale called on the private sector to come on board and invest in Green Valley (Farm 37), a new township located east of Walvis Bay.
"Private companies should apply to buy land for their employees at Farm 37. This will also help the municipality in terms of servicing the land, ultimately aiding in the provision of land for housing."
[email protected]
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