News from council chambers
Severe water scarcity in the capital
During the most recent ordinary council meeting held on Wednesday, the Windhoek city council approved several items.Water
Council has declared a Category D drought for Windhoek due to the worsening water scarcity situation in the past year. According to the Water Management Plan's Water Demand Response Index, Category D (severe scarcity) requires mandatory water savings of at least 15%. To address the current water availability issues, council is implementing water restrictions to achieve this demand reduction.
The impact of this demand management category on residents includes the following measures:
• Gardens may only be watered once a week,
• Vehicles may only be washed by certified commercial car washes,
• Swimming pools must be covered and not filled or refilled from public supply,
• Water features such as fountains are not allowed, and residents are encouraged to reuse water.
•Additionally, water tariffs will be adjusted to include penalty rates for high water consumption levels, and residents are expected to perform daily water meter readings to identify leaks.
• There will be no rebates for water lost due to leaks.
Playground upgrade
Council approved Sport Turf Solution CC's application for a 10-year lease of Joseph Wood playground on Erf 1337, Klein Windhoek. The lease aims to upgrade the playground by installing artificial football pitches and managing the area as a pilot project.
The proposed redevelopment involves revamping the entire play park, which is currently underutilized, to attract families and corporate sports and recreational teams. While the play park will remain accessible and free to the general public, the new artificial play area will be managed on a business basis with associated user fees. This upgrade is expected to enhance the park’s appeal and add value for residents.
Recreational Facilities and Public Open Spaces Development Master Plan
Council has approved the Recreational Facilities and Public Open Spaces Development Master Plan that addresses the development of vacant erven zoned as 'public open spaces' that have been underutilised due to the lack of a comprehensive design or master plan, compounded by rapid urbanisation and evolving land use requirements. The master plan is essential for creating a guiding framework for the design, development, and financing of functional public open spaces. It will also provide a platform for engaging with and receiving proposals from prospective investors interested in developing these spaces by Council standards.
Thirty-five public open spaces have been identified for implementation under the master plan, along with six model designs for various categories of parks, including playgrounds and family parks. However, there is still a need to create additional recreational facilities to cater to the diverse interests of different demographic groups.