Historic Low Water Bridge that can be used to view the Barrage “Monument”.
The BCDF endeavours to uplift the community via the following envisioned developments
- To promote activities and developments that will further enhance the Barrage as a tourist destination, which will have a positive impact on employment creation, income generation and poverty alleviation in the Barrage Informal Settlement (BIS).
- To assist the Barrage Informal Settlement to obtain proper housing with access to clean water, electricity and reliable sanitation.
- To support the development of a hydroelectric plant at the Barrage that will provide an affordable and reliable supply of electricity that will support the development of the community and the Barrage as a tourism destination.
- An educational centre to demonstrate how hydro-electric power is generated, water purification, as well as exhibiting the history of the Vaal Barrage and its role in the development of the Witwatersrand (Gauteng) since 1923.
- To endeavour getting an electricity supply and infrastructure to:
- light up the Vaal Barrage dam-wall and sluices at night, to view the “monument” that was constructed 100 years ago;
- to supply electricity for streetlights in the community and on the Boundary Road bridge over the Vaal to make it safe for pedestrians and tourists.
- To get the necessary approvals that the historic 100 years old Barrage wall and sluices and historic motorway across the Vaal River can be viewed by tourists (for example by using the remaining section of the historic low-water bridge below the Barrage. See photo below).
- Encouraging the establishment of an arts and crafts centre as a tourist attraction at the Barrage, that will further enhance employment creation.
