Divers unable to take out Adelaide Riverbank pontoon before deadline

The demolition of the Riverbank Palais pontoon has failed to meet its April 30 deadline, with divers “cutting blind” and unable to remove the last pylon.

The pontoon on the River Torrens. Picture: Tom Huntley

The controversial River Torrens pontoon remains dead in the water after divers found themselves “cutting blind” to remove the last pylon before its April 30 deadline.

An email from Adelaide City Council’s acting community director Vanessa Godden to councillors and other staff members, sighted by The City said the corporation could were unable to fully remove the Riverbank Palais.

“I have been advised by the Festival Corporation that the divers who are required to remove the pylons ran into significant challenges with visibility in cutting the pylons at riverbed level,” Ms Godden wrote in her email.

“The visibility was as bad as they have ever experienced and they were basically cutting blind.

“They took six hours to remove the first pylon and effectively ran out of time and daylight to remove the second one.

“The divers will be returning on Friday to remove the final pylon.”

Farewell to Palais. Picture: AAP/Roy VanDerVegt

Riverbank Palais on the river. Picture: Dean Martin

Adelaide Festival executive director Rob Brookman said “very murky water” had caused the issue.

The council sunk any chance of keeping the pontoon afloat in February, when it knocked back a bid by the corporation to keep it going for another two years.

This was despite the organisation claiming the pontoon was “a vital part” of their vision for the 2020 and 2021 Festivals.

Since being installed in 2017 as the Riverbank Palais, the pontoon — most recently used for the pop-up Archie’s Clubhouse, Adelaide Festival events and concerts — has been labelled as an eyesore, especially when it is not in use.

But Adelaide Festival artistic directors Neil Armfield and Rachel Healy had previously pushed to keep the structure, saying it was “a vital part” of their vision for the festival to serve as a hub of the Festival, hosting events such as the popular Breakfast with Papers, long lunches and being a centre for contemporary music and artists.

Festival Directors, Rachael Healy and Neil Armfield on the pontoon. Picture: AAP/Roy VanDerVegt

The Adelaide City Council have been contacted for comment.