Land ownership possible January 2017

Land ownership possible January 2017Oranjemund is shaking the image of a privately-owned and diamond-mining controlled town with major transformation on the cards. Oranjemund transformation gains traction By all appearances, 2017 will be a year of many firsts for Oranjemund. Private land ownership will become a reality for the first time while the Oryx-rich town is preparing to welcome an industrial park, community markets, a public health centre and a government school.

Oranjemund Town Council public relations officer, Glennadette Scholtz in conversation with Namibian Sun said: “In terms of the property ownership for the current improvements, an agreement to this effect shall be signed off between the council and the Namibia Diamond Corporation to allow residents to buy their current residential and commercial properties. This process will commence January 2017.”

“The town of Oranjemund has already made land available for commercial, industrial and residential development as part of town transformation and diversification of the local economy beyond a diamond-mining town only. Many of the land offers are for commercial, residential, general residential, heavy and light industries, agriculture, tourism, hospitality industries and the market appetite for the development is very positive so far. In fact, the first-ever Oranjemund Shopping Mall is already on the cards and an offer to that effect has already been made,” she added.

In addition to the shopping centre, discussions for an industrial park are also at an advanced stage. “Other developments for the town include the public health centre, the development of the government school, the industrial park, community markets, housing and land development, as well as hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation. Plans are also at an advanced stage for the planning and development of the Oranjemund industrial hub for heavy industries in support of the diversification plan of the local economy, which has been depending on mining for almost 100 year,” she added.

On the provision of water and electricity, Scholtz explained that Oranjemund would continue procuring electricity from the Namdeb through a NamPower-Eskom arrangement, viewing the non-availability of a direct link to the national grid as a risk.

“The town views the non-availability of the direct link to the national electricity grid as a major risk in terms of electricity supply to the town of Oranjemund and its surroundings. The council has brought it to the attention of NamPower, and we hope this will be addressed soonest. Nevertheless, the town is being provided with electricity from the mine, through Nampower-Eskom arrangement,” said Scholtz.

Regarding water supply, Oranjemund would in the meantime follow a process similar to what is used at Namdeb''s mines.

Explained Scholtz: “The supply of water to the town of Oranjemund is being run in-house through a contract with a private contractor. Our intention from the council is to equally do the abstraction, water production and distribution to town on our own or through the same principle as Namdeb does it, whichever way is cost effective to council. The Oranjemund Town Council has already engaged NamWater in this matter and we are busy with the final assessments on the way forward between ourselves and NamWater. Once the assessment is done, a final decision will be made, but for now council intents do the supply, production and distribution of water to the town itself.

OGONE TLHAGE