Niël Terblanché
The Walvis Bay Municipality has made a sudden pivot on its decision to close Independence Beach entirely during the upcoming festive season.
A public notice circulated on Wednesday originally informed residents and holidaymakers that the beach would be closed due to planned upgrades of public facilities.
This announcement, however, triggered an uproar across social media platforms, with many accusing the municipality of poor planning and creating chaos for those who had already booked holiday accommodation at the coast.
The planned upgrade, which is part of the municipality’s long-awaited initiative to improve public spaces, includes the development of a promenade at Independence Beach.
The project is partially funded through partnerships, including support from the European Union as part of broader sustainable urban development efforts in the Erongo region.
Criticism from the public was swift, with some residents and commentators blaming the Public Procurement Act for the inconvenience caused by the sudden closure announcement.
“This could have been planned better,” remarked one social media user.
In response to the backlash, the municipality issued an amended notice clarifying that only a portion of the beach would be affected by the closure.
The revised announcement assured the public that only the existing areas designated for braai and picnicking, as well as the immediate surroundings, would be temporarily closed, while the rest of the beach would remain open for public enjoyment.
“Concerns about the ‘closure of Independence Beach’ are duly noted. Kindly note that only a portion of the beach will be closed and beach lovers will still be able to enjoy other areas of the beach,” the amended notice reads.
The municipality apologised for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
This clarification eased tensions, but for many who planned to spend their holidays with family and friends at the beach, the initial notice was unsettling.
Local businesses relying on the influx of holidaymakers over the festive season also expressed concern, given the importance of holiday trade for the coastal economy.
The municipality explained that the beach upgrades are aimed at improving the experience for both residents and visitors.
The municipality reassured the public that the beach will remain accessible, albeit with some restrictions, and committed to providing updates on the project’s progress.
While the revised notice has calmed some frustrations, many still call for improved planning and transparency in managing public infrastructure projects directly impacting residents and visitors alike.
