Water for a Forgotten Future: Exposing the Torrens

An interesting event occurred on February 2^nd 2009 (Noonan: 2009). The Sluice Gate on the Gorge Weir, which controls the level of water in the Torrens Lake, malfunctioned. Subsequently millions of litres of water were flushed out to sea and the two metre deep lake was reduced into a mud flat overnight.

The Torrens holds an interesting place within Adelaidean society; for many years the precinct has sat idly by - almost neglected given its ‘colourful history’. Given its proximity to the city it has always raised sparked, passionate debate as to the possibilities the space could, or should provide the people of Adelaide. Interestingly when the river emptied during that summer, its condition was thrust into public focus. With ‘Mad March’ fast approaching the inability to refill the lake, due to water restrictions across the state at the time, compounded the city’s neglect of their ‘Jewel’.

With its contents emptied, the lakebed revealed numerous objects including bikes, car bodies, shopping trolleys and tyres (Noonan: 2009). Ironically during the time the lake was emptied, the Riverbank Precinct (as it is now known) saw an increase of curious visitors. Given the looming future water management challenges facing South Australia - could the exposure of the Torrens Lake be considered as a premonition? If anything, this event highlights the importance of the River Torrens as a delicate and integral component of the fabric of Adelaide. Even if the current condition of the River is in fact a controlled, artificial and far removed from its natural existence, what is revealed through events such as this is the responsibility the people of Adelaide have to the ecological condition of this place.