The Parramatta fishways project aims to unlock native fish migration routes that have been blocked by the weir system. By restoring natural breeding cycles, native fish populations and biodiversity will increase, and the river be rehabilitated.
The vertical fish-way enables fish to climb or descend where a weir exists. The lower gate periodically opens, allowing fish to enter or exit. The upper gate then opens and fills the lock with water, allowing fish to ascend or descend.
These artworks, located around Circular Quay and at The Rocks, were part of the Vivid Sydney festival. “Light Wave Action” (top)was designed by Haron Robson’s lightmatters team in Australia in collaboration with Bow Jaruwangsanti from Thailand, Kristy Philp from Fiji, Christa Van Zoeren from the Netherlands. Visitors could wander through this wave-like sculpture for a multi-sensory experience, inspired by nature, reflecting the subtle colour of twilight skies and paying homage to the sea – representing nature’s power in the movement and formation of waves. “School” (bottom) designed by Jon Voss of Australia was a large group of fish seemingly swimming in a continuous circle of variable light through the limbs of a tree. Each fish gives off a soft glow intensified by the rough-cut edges of its skeletal form. Individually, they emit a low light but together as a school, the light is intensified. It imitates the shimmering light and movement of schooling fish but floating here in an urban environment.
These light balloons representing giant jelly fish floating above Sydney Harbour were located on the foreshore of Circular Quay West, as part of the Vivid Sydney festival. “Jellight” was created by Simon Lee, Aamer Taher and Pascal Petitjean from Australia, Singapore and France. The jellyfish are departing the polluted oceans to escape into the universe like UFOs.