Tourist dollars dry up as roads flood in Outback SA

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 09:51
ThreadID: 77893 Views:4314 Replies:6 FollowUps:11
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A roadhouse operator says Lake Eyre's tourism potential will not be realised because rain has flooded roads in the outback.

Floodwaters are pouring onto the lake's salt bed for the second consecutive year because of recent downpours in Queensland.

But Adam Plate from the Pink Roadhouse at Oodnadatta says many potential visitors will not be able to see the spectacle because of flood-damaged roads, some of them not repaired since heavy rain in late summer.

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Reply By: Member -Signman - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 11:09

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 11:09
I reckon a lot of the 'touristy' operators would still be counting the money from the 'killing' they made last year !!!

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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 11:47

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 11:47
Signman,

"I reckon a lot of the 'touristy' operators would still be counting the money from the 'killing' they made last year !!! "

You may have a different opinion if you had to pay wages, fuel for generators, repairs for wear & tear on equipment, damage to vehicles etc, etc, etc... over the summer months when no one travels out here, & there is no income.

Then add to that the loss of revenue due to flooded/damaged roads that SA roads will not repair.

The odd good year doesn't always make up for all of this!

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 13:50

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 13:50
Hi Signman
I have been looking out for you for some time. Could you please email, as I wish to ask you a few questions, but do not want it widely know at the moment.


Cheers


Stephen
Smile like a Crocodile

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Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 14:22

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 14:22
Stephen

op(dot)support(at)tsn(dot)cc

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Follow Up By: Peter Horne [Krakka] - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 16:32

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 16:32
MM? What you pay for.
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Reply By: D200Dug- Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 12:48

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 12:48
and the reason they cannot hire a grader and do some repairs so they can make another killing is ........................... ?
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Follow Up By: Pete Jackman (SA) - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 13:25

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 13:25
because the tracks are in National Parks?
Any mug can be uncomfortable out bush

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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 17:33

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 17:33
Yes we do get the grader out to tidy up the roads out front when we can, in fact we will be grading the road from here to the border next week so we can get the fuel tanker in! At our cost!

Do you go and hire a bobcat when there is a pothole in the road out the front of your place? No the council will fix that up, she'll be right!

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Follow Up By: Pete Jackman (SA) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 08:34

Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 08:34
Nicely put Jeff.

Regards

Pete
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Reply By: Member - GREENDOG - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 15:44

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 15:44
The Government just does not want to spend money in places like Delhousie tracks and surrounding areas,they think it's a waste of money only because they don't have to drive on these roads .cheers GD
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Follow Up By: Member - shane (SA) - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 21:08

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 21:08
Leave the roads as they are I say, and bring back the real outback as it was twenty years ago. I was lucky to drive the last 500ks before Alice to Darwin was stuffed with tar.

shane.
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Reply By: Crackles - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 21:12

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 21:12
Ironic isn't it the tourism opperator complaining about the very thing the tourists are coming to see............the Floods ;-)
Cheers Craig........
AnswerID: 413834

Reply By: 2000 Red Rodeo - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 22:33

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 22:33
We are currently 4 weeks into our 6 we outback trip. We started with a plan of where we would like to go but quickly came to realize that due to road closures in both NT and SA that we would just go have to go with the flow.

We were at Mt Dare Hotel a couple of days ago. Roads ok in general other than 2km either side of the hotel. These roads are supposed to be maintained by National Parks.

Overall the best tracks are those that are privately owned. They care, Parks don't.

We went from Mt Dare to Dalhousie and then onto Oodnadatta. Roads ok - great spots.

Today we travelled to William Creek where we took a flight over Lake Eyre and have now come out to Coober Pedy.

We had been hoping to do the whole of the Oodnadatta Track, however from WC to Marree is closed (doesn't appear to be reopening soon) and with more rain expected we decided to head out before we got stuck.

Now it's time for another re-planning session. Anyone know some good spots to check out in the Flinders Ranges?

PS Jeff@Mt Dare; Thanks for the tow out of the bog hole.

Regards

Geoff
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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 08:37

Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 08:37
RR,

Good to hear that you made it through Ok, hope you've still got your shovel!!

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Follow Up By: Member - Rob & Mrs Joy S (NSW) - Friday, Apr 23, 2010 at 02:36

Friday, Apr 23, 2010 at 02:36
Blinman is a favourite for us - the drive in from Parachilna (don't forget to visit the hotel there) provides wonderful examples of the scenery of the Finders. If you are interested in mining a look at Leigh Creek is also well worthwhile. Great meals at North Blinman pub if interested. RJ
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Reply By: Member - Rob & Mrs Joy S (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 08:56

Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 08:56
Does that mean that it will be difficult to get into North Lake Eyre from near William Creek? We plan to be there about May 26 2010. Also does Adam Plate from Pink Roadhouse or anyone else have detail of road from Oodnadatta to Eringa then on to Finke. We travelled south from Finke in 2008 but missed the turn to Eringa and ended up at Dalhousie instead (the long way around)?
AnswerID: 413877

Follow Up By: Ozrover - Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 12:17

Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 12:17
The PAR out to Lake Eyre north is currently closed due to rain damage, hopefully this will change by the time that you get there!

The PAR out to Dalhousie Springs via Pedirka is currently closed due to rain damage as well, but they (the land owners) are grading it at the moment.

All other roads from Oodnadatta to Finke are currently open.

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