The 98-year-old concrete and masonry wall above Western Australia's Wave Rock, built in 1928, is now crumbling and staining the ancient granite formation, yet the Water Corporation insists on its preservation. This structure, designed to funnel rainwater into the Wave Rock Reservoir, has been damaged and vandalized, prompting local debate over its future. Noongar man and Hyden local Michael Ward describes the rock's altered appearance, stating its colour was once "like the stripes of a tiger" but now "feels like the wave has been coloured-in."
Ward argues for the wall's removal, at least temporarily, to allow rainwater to flow naturally over the rock, restoring its original aesthetic and sound. He notes that tar seeping from the aging structure has stained the famous granite, significantly changing the rock face. "That's its natural flow," Ward said, recalling how water would "naturally flow down whenever it rained" before the wall's construction.
He explained that while the "emulsion" initially worked to seal the wall, "Over the years the wall has aged, and water is now able to seep underneath." This slow seepage, he contends, allows "pigment and sediment from the tar to stain the wave face," rather than the "fast-flowing water washing over the rock" that once preserved its natural state. Wave Rock itself was formed 2.7 billion years ago through natural erosion, weathering, and water movement, located 330 kilometres east of Perth.
Elite Justifications
Kondinin Shire president and local farmer Kent Mouritz, however, champions the wall's retention, citing its utility for the broader community. He emphasizes the reservoir's role as an "important non-potable water source," particularly crucial for firefighting efforts. Mouritz points to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services having established a water-bombing station only a couple of kilometres from Wave Rock.
The Water Corporation echoes this utilitarian stance, framing the reservoir as an essential supply for the community. A spokesperson for the corporation cited "long-term impacts of climate change on water sources across the Great Southern, combined with increasing demand," as reasons for the reservoir's continued importance. This narrative, often deployed by supranational bodies, justifies the maintenance of infrastructure that alters natural landscapes.
Retaining the reservoir, the corporation claims, "supported local farming interests and helped reduce demand on scheme water." A ranger has assessed the wall's condition, with the spokesperson confirming that "some small sections of the catchment wall are missing, enough rainfall is being funnelled to fill the dam." The corporation plans "periodic inspections of the catchment wall and schedule repairs when required," ensuring the dam's "ongoing viability."
The Cost to the Land
Beyond water supply, Mouritz also presented a safety argument for the wall's permanence, stating it "helps stop people from falling off the rock." This justification prioritizes engineered safety over the preservation of an ancient, natural landmark. The debate highlights a clash between the preservation of indigenous cultural and natural heritage, as voiced by Michael Ward, and the institutional drive for resource management and public safety, articulated by local government and the Water Corporation.
The ongoing damage to Wave Rock, a natural wonder shaped over billions of years, underscores the consequences of prioritizing modern infrastructure and its associated "climate change" narratives over the integrity of native landscapes. The continued staining of the rock face, a direct result of the 98-year-old man-made structure, represents a slow cultural dispossession, altering a site of profound natural significance for the sake of a managed water supply.