Golden Valley Casino

Project Team
Client: Golden Valley Casino
Developer: Sun International
Project Managers: Proman Project Management Services
Landscape Design and Construction: The Green Perspective
Environmental Planning: Chand Environmental Consultants

The Golden Valley Casino is situated just outside the town of Worcester, in the Breede River Valley region of the Western Cape. The community-based Breede River Valley Community Trust owns 4% of the investment, with the specific aim of empowering local people in the area.
The site lies on a sloping terrain, adjacent to the Worcester Golf Club and is positioned at the foot of the Brandwag mountains. Low surrounding groundcovers make the complex easily visible. Its exteriors reflect elements of a typical Cape Dutch homestead, in keeping with the character of this area. The landscaping, designed by Shane Shewan of The Green Perspective, also follows the Cape Dutch theme.
The client’s brief for the landscaping encompassed the notion of the “wild wilderness meeting the controlled, cultivated landscape” and the completed mature landscaping product was to reflect this expectation. In addition, it was to be a landscape showing a combination of typical Karoo veld and Karoo farmstead planting.

Soft landscaping

The palette of plants reflects both the indigenous character of the “wild landscape” and the formalised, controlled landscape of the typical werf-walled farmstead garden. The “wild landscape” bleeds into the controlled farmstead landscape.
The bulk of the site was rehabilitated using indigenous plant material; the built footprint, including the approach road, parking zone and area around the building has more detailed planting. On either side of the approach road, the planting creates the feeling of moving towards a grove of trees with under-planting. Acacia karoos of various sizes define and follow the approach road and are interspersed amongst the re-vegetated planting areas. Cuttings and six packs were used to re-vegetate disturbed areas with sample plantings of four kilogram shrubs.

View from the front of the building to the entrance Planting in the entrance parking area

The key planting emphasis was on the selection of trees of the correct size and appropriate quality. Indigenous trees were planted along the outer edges of the built footprint, presenting a more “wild” look. Trees traditionally used in typical farmstead landscapes have been used around the main building façade, presenting a more controlled, manicured look.
There are minimal grassed areas so as to cut down on maintenance. They provide functional, level space for a marquee and outdoor relaxation opportunities. A ‘mini’ olive orchard completed the formal planting.

The trees of choice were Acacia karoo and A. xanthophloea because of their successful growth rate in the Worcester area. They were also chosen to replicate the entrance road to the town of Worcester, which is planted with an avenue of A. xanthophloea. Olea africana, Liquidamber styraciflua and Combretum erythrophyllum were planted at the client’s request.

Shrub and groundcover choices mirror the fynbos surrounding the construction site and include Barleria repens, Chondropetalum tectorum, Coleonema alba, Euryops pectinatus, Pelargonium cucculatum, Tecomaria capensis, Salvia chamelaegnea, Strelitzia reginae, Bulbine fruticosa (orange and yellow), Statice perezzi, Felicia filifolia, Gazania uniflora, Lampranthus (white and yellow), Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’ and Tulbaghia violaceae. More formal planting around the buildings include Platanus acerifolia trees, Lavendula stoechas and white Iceberg roses.