where wind-swept tides have ebbed and flowed through the narrows of twin lakes, where the endless cycles of sun and moon have trailed a shining wake upon the waters, where ancient signal fires have scented the air with the essence of eucalypt or tea-tree,
where the Ngarrindjeri know the creatures as ngartji, elders, brothers and sisters, healers, friends, messengers, and guides,
where purple swamphen has quietly foraged amongst the reeds,
where the willy wagtail that the Ngarrindjeri call ritharooki has sat and sang,
where native hen has found gems in the mudflats,
where stilt, duck and egret have waded to an unhurried rhythm,
where solitary has meant not being confined,
where a crowd has meant not being frenetic,
where a lighthouse stands as a baetyl to the modern gods of tourism and commerce, at Ruwekang's ancient crossing place, there has recently been a storm of activity.
In 2001, a report was prepared for the Murray Darling Basin Commission. It advocated the saving of water by reducing the surface area of Lakes Alexandrina and Albert by 4%, thereby reducing evaporation. Yet a report by hydrologist Dr Vincent Kotwicki, The Nature of Evaporation from Lake Alexandrina, warned of uncertainty and "difficulties in measurement."
In 2008, lack of flows and exposure of sulphate acidic soils were added to the "difficulties."
It was predicted that with a low water level at -0.6 Australian Height Datum, exposure of sulphur acidic soils would start to acidify Lake Albert.
In a press release 6th March 08, Minister Maywald said that this temporary solution would be in place by mid-April and about 400 megalitres would be pumped each day into Lake Albert.
On the 14th April 08, emergency work to save Lake Albert began at Ngoingko, the Ngarrindjeri ancient "going place," now known as the Narrows.
A $6 million dollar bund began to be built across the Narrows.
The old Narrung Ferry landing was removed.
Local inhabitants wondered why they had been evicted without notice.
At last people began to realize the disaster happening in a quiet backwater. The media came to see.
Earth was quarried from Raukkan Farm and Poltalloch Station.
A convoy of trucks transported their loads through the township of Narrung in a constant barrage of dust, speed and noise. The truck-drivers worked hard, from 7.30 to 4.30, including week ends.
Reedbeds were bulldozed to make way for mounds of Sacred earth.
A visitor was overheard commenting: "They're only reeds." A thought for the living creatures whose homes had just been demolished might have been more appropriate.
Earth was dumped at either side of the Narrows.
The two embankments gradually extended:
Passage joining Lake Alexandrina to Lake Albert was blocked.
In two short weeks, the two embankments closed the Narrows.
On 2nd May 08, a dozen temporary pumps began pumping from Lake Alexandrina into Lake Albert. The temporary bund and pumps are expected to stay in place at least until October 08, when the impact of winter rains and water flows will be reexamined.
On 2 May 08, locals gathered on Narrung jetty to watch the bund completion. "Bet this will be here for 5 years," a local was overheard saying ruefully.
The local Ngarrindjeri folk had no idea that the bund was near completion, but they felt drawn to come and see what was going on. They arrived just as the last scoops of earth were being put in place. It was a sight too hard, too painful to watch.
Channel 10's News team flew in.
Ngarrindjeri elder Rita Lindsay, supported by her family, expressed her anguish that the greed of upstream water-users has lead to this disastrous lack of water flows to her nation's Country.
Local landholder Lorraine Leese spoke of her fear that these living lands and waters will die if greater water flows don't come downstream soon.
"Pumping will have a minor effect on water levels in Lake Alexandrina," the Government's press release assured. But the drone of the pumps can be heard from homes 2 kilometres away. We need to save Lake Albert from collapse, but what impact will this continual pumping have on the local creatures? Why was this environment, sacred to the Ngarrindjeri, part of the Ramsar Treaty to protect the migratory routes of birds allowed to get in such a disastrous state?
The Narrows 20th April 08:
The Narrows 2nd May 08:
The Ngarrindjeri have always made strong statements about the need to protect Life in the Body of their sacred lands and waters, conducting sacred ceremony, walking the Land, taking their message to the highest court in Australia. The following images were recorded from 1997-2000.
The Ngarrindjeri were labelled "fabricators" and "liars."
So in the 1990s and into the 21st century, this region was further opened to inappropriate activity that drained the life out of the land and waters.
In 2002, Ngarrindjeri elder Tom Trevorrow said:
"The land and waters is a living body. We the Ngarrindjeri people are a part of its existence. The land and waters must be healthy for the Ngarrindjeri people to be healthy. We are hurting for our Country.
"The Land is dying, the River is dying, the Kuarangk (Coorong) is dying and the Murray mouth is closing.What does the future hold for us?"
[Ngarrindjeri Nation Yarluwar-Ruwe Plan, Caring for Ngarrindjeri Sea, Country and Culture, Kungun Ngarrindjeri Yunnan (Listen to Ngarrindjeri People Talking) p5]
Ngarrindjeri elder Matt Rigney said:
"Peace is a healthy country, healthy water, healthy environment."
"Peace is what I get when I'm looking after my country. I want to pass onto my grandchildren the peace that is within me, in my connection with my country."" said Matt.
The Ngarringjeri Nation Yarluwar-Ruwe Plan said:
"Our great Grandmothers, Grandmothers and mothers fought to protect our Spiritual waters ... Our old people taught us to share with others. We invite all who respect us to join with us in our responsibility and duty to Care for Country. let us walk together to build a healthy future for our children, ourgrandchildren and all generatons to come." [pp 8, 16]
On 5th may 08, pelicans, gulls, egret, heron were seen taking advantage of the bund's fishtrap.
No comments:
Post a Comment