Maria David
THE Ongwediva Town Council has begun the first phase of constructing a leisure park for the town, a project to be completed in stages. The work, budgeted at N$2.5 million, is set for the 2024/25 financial year.
Town Mayor Taarah Shalyefu said that the Leisure Park Project will transform the area into a lively activity hub. Shalyefu made these remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 of Ongwediva Leisure Park at Extension 11 in Ongwediva on Wednesday.
According to Shalyefu, the park will feature green spaces for family picnics, play areas for children, and walking trails winding through open spaces, inviting everyone to reconnect with nature. There will also be an amphitheatre for concerts and community events, providing a place for cultural celebrations.
“This project is about more than just physical changes; it’s about creating opportunities. The construction will bring jobs to our community, and the finished space will attract new businesses, boosting our local economy,” he said.
Shalyefu added that as the neighbourhood becomes more desirable, property values will rise, benefiting all residents.
Speaking at the same event, Town Senior Manager of Planning and Technical Services, David Mulokoshi, explained that the phase one construction will include the installation of a fence, vehicle access gate, and pedestrian gates. Additionally, they plan to construct a water line, install a water meter connected to the existing water line, and build a gravity sewer line with manholes that connect to the existing sewer network.
Mulokoshi said that the construction is expected to be completed by March 2025.
The work is being managed by Lithon Project Consultants, with Cilliers Steyn as Project Manager and Project Engineer and Israel Haimbili as Civil Engineer. Loubser Kotze Architects are the project architects, while Lanel Kotze, Richard Frankle and Partners are serving as Quantity Surveyors, represented by Lawrence Dumba and Webster Fira.
