The SA Trails Network NPC, wholly owned by Hard Adventures Tourism Group and ARC of Franschhoek, wishes to provide a factual update on recent developments at the Berg River Dam (BRD) within the broader context of the ARC of Franschhoek regeneration initiative.
Community Matters and Transparency
Recent reports and social media speculation have created confusion around the ongoing regeneration and tourism development initiatives at Berg River Dam. The project team, led by Reghard Goussard, confirms that SA Trails Network NPC is currently operating at the Berg River Dam site under an agreement signed with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). A Community Participation Programme (CPP) was a key condition to lease signed.
Unfortunately, a small number of individuals have attempted to politicize community engagement around the project ahead of the upcoming local elections. This has included misinformation campaigns and unauthorized meetings held with departmental officials. The project team has formally notified DWS and DPW of these matters and requested a coordinated response to prevent further disruption and ensure accurate information reaches all stakeholders.
Current Site Activities and Investment
Despite recent distractions, progress continues across multiple fronts at the Berg River Dam site. Key activities include:
- Repair of existing fencing and access control infrastructure
- Restoration and repurposing of gates and security installations (with CCTV and access management)
- Removal of derelict and unsafe structures and signage
- Upgrading of access roads in consultation with the Cape Winelands District Municipality and other relevant authorities
- Preparation for refurbishment of Bells Lodge (pending vacancy)
- Site Development Plan (SDP) implementation – including environmental assessments, water use licensing, and approvals for a small-scale sewage treatment system, rock pools and upgraded slipway access
- Closure of unauthorized access routes and infrastructure repairs to the dam wall (pending DWS and DPW direction).
The project has already created employment for 12 local residents from Mooiwater, with the goal of soon expanding to twenty through the Community Participation Programme (CPP) outlined in the lease addendum.
In a milestone for community leadership, Mr. Marcel Davids, a Mooiwater resident, has been appointed as a Director of SA Trails Network NPC – a step Goussard describes as “proof that regeneration is not only about restoring land, but about empowering people.”
The ARC of Franschhoek: Reimagining Regeneration through Architecture
At the heart of the Berg River initiative lays the ARC of Franschhoek, a project redefining how architecture and tourism can drive ecological and social renewal.
ARC – short for “Architectural Regeneration Collective”, and a creative nod to Noah’s Ark – is built on the belief that preservation and renewal can coexist. Like the Ark that once safeguarded life, ARC of Franschhoek seeks to preserve what remains and redeploy it with purpose – working with existing ruins, landscapes, and local materials to design spaces that heal ecosystems, honour heritage, and engage community participation.
“Traditional sustainability focuses on maintaining what we have,” says Goussard. “But regeneration asks how we can give back more than we take. How we can rebuild with nature, not against it.”
ARC of Franschhoek aims to demonstrate how biophilic design, local craftsmanship, and land-based materials such as stone, clay, and timber can create architecture that blends ecology, economy, and memory. Rather than demolishing remnants of the past, ARC integrates them into living, functional, and educational spaces.
“We’re building a future where ruins are not erased but reinterpreted,” said Jean-Marie de Buck, Co-owner of BRDATC Pty Ltd. “Where design becomes a dialogue between heritage and progress.”
A Regenerative Vision for the Future
The Arc of Franschhoek and Berg River initiatives form part of a broader “Experiential Economy” strategy that positions conservation, recreation, and design innovation as complementary forces within South Africa’s green economy.
“Regeneration isn’t a marketing buzzword for us – it’s a business case,” Goussard concludes. “Our goal is to create enduring public value: restored ecosystems, meaningful employment, and experiences that remind people that nature and community are inseparable.”
Text: Supplied | Image: Tripadvisor
