Long Beach access chaos
Rowdiness and general noise at Long Beach are causing consternation for residents, who have been implored not to control the way of life of beachgoers.
Long Beach residents are urging authorities to take a firm stance against the unruly partying and the unbecoming behaviour of some beachgoers.
It emerged that non-residents are the cause of several challenges experienced by a group of unhappy Long Beach homeowners. Disturbances and other challenges intensify over holiday periods and according to a Walvis Bay resident, the property owners are placing the blame wrongly on locals. “People are going crazy. They speed, disturb the peace by playing loud music from vehicles, have parties, shine spotlights into our homes in the middle of the night and simply make it extremely difficult for us to enjoy a decent night's sleep,” a resident said.
“We have nothing against people on the beaches but are against vehicles on it. Some misbehave while intoxicated drivers drive along the beach to avoid the roadblock in the vicinity of Afrodite Beach,” added another. “We do not want parking areas, toilets and crowds between our houses. Closing off the beach is not the answer since it was always open to the public,” he said.
These details emerged in a discussion facilitated by the Walvis Bay municipality on the possible closure, or not, of the beach at Long Beach where holidaymakers apparently show no respect for existing municipal bylaws.
Holidaymakers figured
The discussion at the Narraville Community Hall on Wednesday provided an opportunity for stakeholders to register concerns and suggestions on how to deal with the issues. According to a resident, holidaymakers are the main culprits and are guilty of speeding, generating noise pollution and causing disturbances at the expense of residents.
However, Long Beach residents concur that a lack of control, the absence of law enforcers and bylaws not being enforced further aggravates the situation. Tension erupted when residents put up signs preventing quad bikes and off-roading by erected a barrier fence with concrete railway sleepers without municipal consent last year. They also roped in the services of a lawyer to present their case to the municipality.
The municipality subsequently established a task team headed by general manager Andre Burger to address the issue and find a solution. “It is a challenge to keep beaches open for the enjoyment of all without a detriment to others.
The public was promised during the sale of land that the municipality will not compromise the quality of life. Speeding on the hard road in the area is problematic and something must be done about it. We should also revise the regulations to rather prevent people from driving close to the houses,” Burger said. He also suggested that access from the south of Long Beach be restricted and that people should enter from the direction of Dolphin Park.
“The quad bike issue has been resolved with new bylaws. Closing off some areas actually contributed to the problems we are experiencing today and we should focus on areas where access is possible and safe.”
Control is key
The manager for community development at the municipality Piet van Niekerk said the municipality was trying its best and acknowledged it was not doing a satisfactory job. “Exercising control is very difficult and makes it almost impossible to handle the problem. It is clear that a bigger force is needed to police the area.”
A representative from the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management project (Nacoma) was adamant that developers should not be allowed to control the way of life of coastal residents and suggested that an environmental audit be conducted.
Driving the only way
“There are no parking facilities at Long Beach and the only way of accessing the beach is by driving. Closing the Long Beach area will set a very bad precedent. If this happens, residents of Dolphin Beach and the Afrodite development will follow suit and demand the same be done for them,” he cautioned.
David Uushona from the municipality explained that an increase in notice boards regulating and prohibiting driving of quad bikes and 4x4 vehicles were seen at the beach area and this led to concerns.
A petition was submitted against these restrictions and it gathered more than 500 signatures. The signatories also called on the municipality not to personalise the pools commonly used for crayfish diving in the area.
Other recommendations tabled included the removal of barrier fences preventing access, the possible revision of existing bylaws in the long term and increased policing of the area.
Homeowners called for the deployment of additional law enforcers to ensure adherence to bylaws and suggested the establishment of a body corporate and the possible introduction of a levy to enhance policing. A suggestion was also tabled calling on the municipality to look at constructing car parks, ablution facilities and a walk way to facilitate proper access. The task team will meet and evaluate suggestions and a second meeting is set to be held.
OTIS FINCK
It emerged that non-residents are the cause of several challenges experienced by a group of unhappy Long Beach homeowners. Disturbances and other challenges intensify over holiday periods and according to a Walvis Bay resident, the property owners are placing the blame wrongly on locals. “People are going crazy. They speed, disturb the peace by playing loud music from vehicles, have parties, shine spotlights into our homes in the middle of the night and simply make it extremely difficult for us to enjoy a decent night's sleep,” a resident said.
“We have nothing against people on the beaches but are against vehicles on it. Some misbehave while intoxicated drivers drive along the beach to avoid the roadblock in the vicinity of Afrodite Beach,” added another. “We do not want parking areas, toilets and crowds between our houses. Closing off the beach is not the answer since it was always open to the public,” he said.
These details emerged in a discussion facilitated by the Walvis Bay municipality on the possible closure, or not, of the beach at Long Beach where holidaymakers apparently show no respect for existing municipal bylaws.
Holidaymakers figured
The discussion at the Narraville Community Hall on Wednesday provided an opportunity for stakeholders to register concerns and suggestions on how to deal with the issues. According to a resident, holidaymakers are the main culprits and are guilty of speeding, generating noise pollution and causing disturbances at the expense of residents.
However, Long Beach residents concur that a lack of control, the absence of law enforcers and bylaws not being enforced further aggravates the situation. Tension erupted when residents put up signs preventing quad bikes and off-roading by erected a barrier fence with concrete railway sleepers without municipal consent last year. They also roped in the services of a lawyer to present their case to the municipality.
The municipality subsequently established a task team headed by general manager Andre Burger to address the issue and find a solution. “It is a challenge to keep beaches open for the enjoyment of all without a detriment to others.
The public was promised during the sale of land that the municipality will not compromise the quality of life. Speeding on the hard road in the area is problematic and something must be done about it. We should also revise the regulations to rather prevent people from driving close to the houses,” Burger said. He also suggested that access from the south of Long Beach be restricted and that people should enter from the direction of Dolphin Park.
“The quad bike issue has been resolved with new bylaws. Closing off some areas actually contributed to the problems we are experiencing today and we should focus on areas where access is possible and safe.”
Control is key
The manager for community development at the municipality Piet van Niekerk said the municipality was trying its best and acknowledged it was not doing a satisfactory job. “Exercising control is very difficult and makes it almost impossible to handle the problem. It is clear that a bigger force is needed to police the area.”
A representative from the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management project (Nacoma) was adamant that developers should not be allowed to control the way of life of coastal residents and suggested that an environmental audit be conducted.
Driving the only way
“There are no parking facilities at Long Beach and the only way of accessing the beach is by driving. Closing the Long Beach area will set a very bad precedent. If this happens, residents of Dolphin Beach and the Afrodite development will follow suit and demand the same be done for them,” he cautioned.
David Uushona from the municipality explained that an increase in notice boards regulating and prohibiting driving of quad bikes and 4x4 vehicles were seen at the beach area and this led to concerns.
A petition was submitted against these restrictions and it gathered more than 500 signatures. The signatories also called on the municipality not to personalise the pools commonly used for crayfish diving in the area.
Other recommendations tabled included the removal of barrier fences preventing access, the possible revision of existing bylaws in the long term and increased policing of the area.
Homeowners called for the deployment of additional law enforcers to ensure adherence to bylaws and suggested the establishment of a body corporate and the possible introduction of a levy to enhance policing. A suggestion was also tabled calling on the municipality to look at constructing car parks, ablution facilities and a walk way to facilitate proper access. The task team will meet and evaluate suggestions and a second meeting is set to be held.
OTIS FINCK
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