Mulgaria and the Lake Torrens track to Andamooka since BHP purchase?

I understand that one of the specific problems at Mulgaria was the lack of a reliable water source, so that would not have been why BHP purchased it.
I will post a few track pics in a new post...
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

G'day Explorers

I actually don't know the region or the area being talked about, so I probably have no right to an opinion on what may or may not be going to happen regarding access or use of ' the track' in question.

But if a mining company buys any land holding anywhere especially in what is considered remote country and by all accounts land/country that is lacking in reliable water ~ the area has something in the ground worth digging up, much of the inland Pilbara was once vacant or unoccupied Crown Land, pastoral leases and Indigenous community reserves and a few National Parks.

Now days miners have tenure and Crown Land as such is being swallowed up under 'Exploration Lease' titles, I am not suggesting BHP or any of the others (miners) can't and don't run cattle or grow fodder crops on their land holdings, they all run big pastoral holdings.

Maybe I am totally wrong and maybe BHP will be going into the Truffle growing business seeing Truffles are in the ground and they have to be dug out of the ground, makes sense, sorry makes Money!

Safe travels : Joe

Hi Joe

The area of concern is in the Northern Pastoral area of South Australia.

Over the last few years, a number of pastoral properties in this area and further afield have been sold and purchased for one commodity only that lies underground, it’s not minerals but H2O……life giving water and critical for the running of the mine site.

Roxby Downs it the worlds largest Uranium mine, and the by products that are also mined there cover the full costs of running the site…..gold and copper.

The full body of the ore is still unknown, as every time the do new testing sites, they are still in the same motherload, and at this time stretches more then 80 kilometres south from Roxby Downs and past Woomera.

There were plans on the table to make this the largest open cut mine the world has seen, and so large that the overburden would have been that high, it would have been a man made mountain that would have changed the weather pattern for the north of South Australia.

I know of 3 such stations that have been swallowed up by BHP and all are still leased back to the previous owners on a peppercorn lease and still run cattle and normal station life.

Not sure if Roxby Downs ever gets much publicity outside of South Australia, but the work behind the scenes that is taking place is mind blowing and will never be completed in our lifetime.

Looks a great drive

I would expect to see some wash outs after the rain in January. The grader is working now between Mulgaria and Farina.
We used the southern track between Mulgaria and Lake Torrens. Not too much traffic goes that way.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Pies and cream buns at Farina !!!!!! Yum !!!

Cheers
Jim

I travelled this track over 30 years ago on my own (plus dog) and it was a great drive
After Mulgaria on the way to Farina I noticed strong signs of copper in the roadside rocks
Dunno whether means anything

I have sent a message to one of my contacts living in Andamooka on track conditions, but have not heard back from them yet, but when I do, will let you know Peter.

Appreciate that Stephen.
They had some more rain a few days ago, bit we don't plan on being there for about 3 weeks, so there is still time for things to change either way, as is always the case.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Still waiting for a reply Peter, sounds like they are out of phone range.

Hi Peter

There has been no local information from the last couple of months but was told there could be some wash always from the recent rain.

They said there could be an update within the next month or so when people start travelling again.