11. Graham Chalcroft

Flood Marker 2008

The sculptural flood markers map past and predicted future flood levels of Parramatta area. Flooding of Parramatta River has at times had a devastating effect and created an indelible mark on the consciousness of the Parramatta community.

This has drastically influenced perceptions and action for planning with numerous flood mitigation control projects having been implemented.

The flood markers will consist of several ‘beams’ or ‘blades’ (red blades former floods, green blades future flood predications) that are each constructed of several layers of timber. The timber references recorded descriptions of the former Church Street Bridge (now Lennox Bridge) timbers floating down the Parramatta River as the bridge was destroyed through the full force of the floods.

The flood markers can be integrated into public spaces along the river, on the underside of Wilde Bridge and throughout the city. Markers may be vertically attached to lamp posts that map the hidden tributaries that lead to Parramatta River.

The markers can include printed text with mathematical and engineering math equations of the nature of floods and river. Other text will include quotes regarding the Rivers heritage and uses as a resource. At night time the void between the two blades can be illuminated with LED’s. This will create a magical, theatrical and ephemeral mapping of the rivers floods.

Solar Stills

The Flood Marker sculptures will integrate solar stills that purify Parramatta River water through an evaporative and condensation process. The distilled water can be used to supplement the irrigation of native plants planted within the sculptural form. This mimics the earths hydrological cycle of evaporation and precipitation (e.g. rain). Solars stills are a proven technology used globally to distil water. The potable water is so pure that some North American universities house stills on their building roofs and use the distilled water for lab experiments and testing.

Solar stills can be used can be used as an opportunity to explore sustainability in the home, business and industry. Stills have many applications for making waste water a reusable and water potable commodity.

The artwork and a support community workshop may function as platform form to promote sustainability and water reuse / conservation in the home.