Major upgrades at Walvis Bay's Independence Beach are expected to be completed by mid-November.

It's only a matter of days before Walvis Bay residents and visitors can enjoy the upgraded recreational facilities at Independence Beach.

This is according to the Public Relations Officer at the municipality, who said the project has been progressing with only minor hiccups since the site was handed over to the contractor in July.

PRO of the Walvis Bay Municipality, Anita Kaihiva, updated, "Hopefully we can meet that deadline. It's a bit of an ambitious target, seeing that we've had some delays in equipment delivery, but that remains our goal. At least by mid-November, the park should be ready for handover – with maybe just a few finishing touches here and there. We're really looking forward to it opening and to our community enjoying the space. We actually had a community consultation called the charrette in 2023, where residents and experts were invited to give their input on the project. We even had children participating and sharing what they wanted to see here."

Once complete, the project will give Walvis Bay a much-needed facelift.

"The most important thing really is the socio-economic benefit for the town. We also foresee kiosk facilities that can be rented out for small businesses. We expect many new recreational opportunities for our residents – including a stage for community events, which was a key request from residents. The stage will be a big attraction where people can perform or host activities. We'll also have musical stones that visitors can play, and arts and crafts were also among the things residents wanted. They asked for an improved facility – and that's exactly what we're delivering. There will also be a garden and a children's jungle gym. The garden is designed to teach visitors about marine life and show what kinds of plants can grow here in Walvis Bay," she remarked.

A twinning agreement with the Polish Municipality of Czerwonak paved the way for the project, which is funded by the European Union.

"We have big dreams for this area because it's seafront – it's sea-facing. We see this space not only for locals but also for international tourists, a place where they can mingle freely with the community."

The upgrade cost about N$23 million, with funding secured through a deal with the Polish city.