So it's the 23 February....2015, The local council is in full swing to plan the future of our once unique township..... Certain areas around the original town of Oranjemund have been designated new Townlands and earmarked for new residential suburbs ...
One in particular caught my attention..... As depicted below on my Google Earth image...... the area between the Namib Gun Club and the Town garage will be turned into a suburb of the new Oranjemund.
From what I can gather, the area nearest to the Town garage is going to be earmarked as industrial area and then the area to the east around the Gun Club, an UPMARKET suburb....
Now, before you old Oranjemunders chuckle at this, I need to let you know that I still walk over this ground frequently with my dog, knowing full well of what use to be littered over this vast area.....
This is what happens when you decide to bring in "outsiders" to plan the town's future..... any person who knew the history of this piece of land, would most definitely not plan to reside on it...
From as early as 1945 until the early 1990's this was the dumping ground for all kinds scrap and chemicals from the town and the mine side (Before the town became "open").... I played as a kid here, I know what was/is there.
I say WAS, because the powers that be will tell you that the scrap was removed, the area rehabilitated ...... yes, indeed every visible piece of metal scrap that was a machine or vehicle was taken away, the rest, the smaller stuff, bulldozed into the ground....
I know that the pink asbestos fibers from the old power station chimmney's used to blow all over these dumps back in the day.
I know that I played between dirty, leaking oil and diesel drums, there putrid contents leeching into the surrounding ground....
point being, there is still plenty of dangerous unknowns on this particular ground......just ask any old timer what toxic crap was dumped here in the 50's,60's and 70's before we started becoming green tree huggers......
Another point that the planners and current custodians of this town need to understand..... that particular spot has to be the most terrible place for wind in our town, the prevailing wind roars up from the Atlantic and hits the now non existent tree line that was the first ave bushes...... so unless the council plans to build a massive green windbreak, I doubt that this will become the new "upmarket" suburb of Oranjemund,
Like I mention before on this forum, those now poorly maintained tree belts were planted for a reason by the old timers, unfortunately, the new comers can't see this......
good luck with your new suburb, when that fine sand blows up off the pans....
/Not being negative about it, but rather realistic......
I played there as a kid, a ton of fun, but yes, you are indeed correct, think the mine got away with murder back in those days, some of the stuff we played with must cause serious health issues these days!
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Yes indeed Mike...where else did we learn to drive cars ...we could'nt even see over the dashboard ..they can build their upmarket homes there ,but they will need to plant a hell of a lot of new trees there and with all that salt nearby .......any way the tree belt should have been planted allready...don't you think..
This story about a new upmarket suburb is fascinating, but I must admit I am now completely confused about the economic status of Oranjemund. Have I missed something? I understood from the posts that Oranjemund was in decay with empty houses all over the place, 1st avenues trees and parks not maintained etc etc.
Not buying a plot near the gun club going to dodgem bullets
Mike T ,there is no more 1st ave trees,in its place is houses,and yes the town has been going through phases,but it sounds more drastically as it looks,,anyway the town is slowly picking up, but it takes time to replace trees but the parks is there,allthough the current contractor should need a kick in the backside..At the moment all the houses fencing are being replaced,as the pold fencing are really a sight for sore eyes..
There is a lot of planning going on at the moment to secure the future of the town ,so we all hope for the best...
Thanks for the explanation. Hope the planning goes well.
Wouldn't it be wise to upgrade existing houses first? I just can't think of a "new suburb"...
And yes, those 3-5 rows of trees around town were excellent wind breakers and stopped many a sand storm, not to mention the great play ground they provided where we played "Tarzan", "cowboys & Crooks", and where we staged many a civil war as youngsters...
To be quite honest, when (not if) I do eventually get to buy a house in Oranjemund, it would not be in a "new suburb"... it would have to be close to where I grew up, preferably the house on E10/11. Just saying. But I'm sure Mike would let me know the second it's available! pls
Heard from a source that the above plan has been placed on hold, pending further investigations!
For those doing the investigation, it's no point asking folk from the 90's about the area...... you have to consult with folk from the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's.......
I can assure you that anyone that lived here during those decades and knew what was actually dumped here, will not be building here......
for what it's worth, rather look into making the rise to the north of the township your upmarket area ( I know it's a massive dune, but the Germans built houses on the dunes in Kolmanskop that are still standing today, unlike the Chinese houses on Industrial road) , as this area has a view over the town and on clear days, you can see all the way to the river and sea...... I was thinking that we should call the suburb Oranjemund Heights....... I was gonna suggest Alexanderview (ahem! cough!Cough! not because of my name, but because there is a nice view across to Alexander Bay) ... image071
You just want your name in high places Mike A....................... :buffo9:
Well A is at the beginning of the Alphabet, Now let me see where they placed the V!
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I actually think Alexanderview is very fitting, Mr V!
Oceanview? Orangeview? or (ehemmm) Diamond City (if anyone remembers that fiasco)
Paul...fiasco..hehe you mean comedy show as i recall the one idiot ...telling some of the nation that they must make more children bacause he will need lots of workers for the new diamond city offices which was going to be built right on top of the salt pans on the left hand side of the road leading to the golf club ,and as for the area between the gunclub and towngarage ,sorry mate you guys must really go do your homework ....
Adriaan, for once and only once, I agree with you...................
Reaaly Mike.you must admit ,you like me ..hehehe but i am indeed flattered....hehehe....