Birdsville Track/Cooper Creek Flood Progress Update

Submitted: Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 22:22

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Birdsville Track

The Birdsville Track runs south from Birdsville to Maree and passes through the Sturt Stony Desert. It is an extremely remote region but is strikingly beautiful in its harshness.

Birdsville Track

Section: Treks

The Birdsville Track runs south from Birdsville to Maree and passes through the Sturt Stony Desert. It is an extremely remote region but is strikingly beautiful in its harshness.

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)

Hi All
I hope everyone has had a great week since my last update. I was speaking with Jason from Etadunna Station on Thursday morning for the latest first hand information on the Cooper Creek progress. Lake Hope is full and water has made a very big impact into Lake Pandruannie. For a few days, the rate of progress picked up quite well, with the full body of water progressing more than 7 kilometres in 3 days.

Jason is making regular flights to monitor the situation first hand and on his last flight on Wednesday 19th May, Jason said that the main body is less than 12 kilometres from where the old ferry is sitting. The rate of progress will slow a little while Lake Pandruannie fills but Jason reckons that it will reach the ferry site within the next 7 to 10 days.

Once it has reached the ferry site, the wait will be nearly over and Jason still has 20th June when the Birdsville Track will be cut.

Transport SA is still keeping very quite on what will happen when the Track is closed. Jason told me that there were 2 Transport SA workers out at the old ferry on Wednesday. Their progresses for the day, 1 very small wire from the old ferry stretching across to the other side of the now dry Cooper Creek bed. The wire will be used to drag the large cables across to the other side, used to operate the very old and out of date ferry. For full details on the ferry, you can read my other post.

Have a great weekend and until any updates.

Regards to All

Stephen

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Reply By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 23:32

Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 23:32

Thanks Stephen, at least the SA Transport workers are out there, but they had better get a riggle on.

Hoping all sorted by the time we head up to the races, I really do want to see the difference from our last trip a couple of years ago.

Cheers

Deanna

Simba, our much missed baby.

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:19

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:19

Hi Deanna
The difference from a couple of years ago will be unreal and worth the drive just to see the water over the Track.

It is going to be all eyes on the area over the next few weeks and watch the Cooper Cross the Birdsville Track for the first time in the 21st Century.

I will keep you informed of any updates.

Cheers

Stephen

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Reply By: Matt(WA) - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 07:44

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 07:44

Thanks Stephen,

Were leaving Ulladulla today, heading to birdsville. Will be there on wednesday. Will put up any info I get along the track when we get to coober pedy.

Matt

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:24

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:24

Hi Matt
Have a great trip and if driving past Etadunna, drop in and say 'G'Day to Patsy and Jason and have a drive out to see what is happening at the old ferry site.

What I can tell you is that Jason said the country is looking unreal.

Take care and have a safe drive.

Cheers

Stephen

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Reply By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:00

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:00

Stephen, really good report - thanks for keeping everyone including the "knockers" updated.

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:35

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:35

Hi Ruth
From the way that the Knocker keeps responding, I would put my money on that person being a Government worker and trying to make my reports look false. The only problem with that is the more they reply, it makes them look silly.

As they say, facts are facts and I am only passing on what Jason is telling me first hand.

Cheers and Regards to Ian.

Stephen

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Reply By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:23

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:23

Stephen.
Good reporting. I appreciate your posts as ,I'm sure most EO members do.
When the water crosses on June 20,how long do you estimate the punt will be running?.Weeks or months?.
Jeff.O

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:30

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 08:30

Hi Jeff
That is the sore point with the locals along the track, they are not being kept updated by Transport SA. From what Jason said yesterday, they are going to have to take it serious and lets hope that I can report better news when I next speak to Jason. It would be great to be camped on the now dry banks of the Cooper and see all that water coming down, and I would bet that some of the major TV Channels will be keeping a close eye on it.

Cheers

Stephen

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Reply By: Fab72 - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 08:58

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 08:58

Stephen... IMHO your first hand info is what I am taking as Gospel. You can NEVER discount years of experience and first hand contacts as you have.

I'm hanging on every word you say at the moment as our intended trip up the Birdsville Track in Sept/Oct is something I have waited all my life (37 years) to do and could be the start of ruralizing my very urbanized wife.

Just so happens that this year should be spectacular. Although, I must be honest, I'm a touch disappointed that we don't get to see the area in its true arid form. Oh well, I'm sure there will be at least another 19 years before the next wet down to get back up there.

Thanks HUGELY for the updates.

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 09:22

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 09:22

Hi Fab 72
If you get the chance and you are passing Etadunna, drop in and have a chat with Patsy and Jason, they are top people. As it happened yesterday, Patsy was down here and I caught up with her in the shop.

My first questions to her was of course the coming down of the Cooper. They are keeping a very close watch on the advancing waters and Patsy said that the other day they could not believe who quick the water was coming down.

What did make me laugh was what see said about here 3 children, they are getting sick of heading out with mum and dad to see the progress. The comments from her youngest is so classical, "Are we there Yet".

Jason still has him money on the 20th for a complete Crossing of the Track. Patsy is heading home early next week and she said that she will not be surprised if the flood head is well past the ferry site, with the way that it has been coming down lately.

I will get more details in about another weeks time. As for seeing the desert in its true form, the way that it is unreal, but it will not last long before returning to its usual look.

Cheers

Stephen

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Reply By: JeffEvP - Friday, Jun 04, 2010 at 11:23

Friday, Jun 04, 2010 at 11:23

This question has probably been asked before but how big is the ferry/punt. i.e. what can it carry vehicle wise each trip? 1 4x4, 4x4 & trailer? I understand it can only make 25 trips per day in each direction as well, fairly limiting as one would expect of something only used once every 50 blue moons

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Jun 04, 2010 at 14:05

Friday, Jun 04, 2010 at 14:05

Hi Jeff
Here are some of the latest details from the Transport SA website.

Cheers

Stephen

COOPER CREEK FERRY INFORMATION
Signs displaying condition of use of the ferry will be installed at Marree, Birdsville, Mungeranie and at the ferry crossing. It is anticipated that the ferry will commence operating on 8 June 2010.
Conditions of use of the ferry:
Maximum load for vehicles - 10t gross
Maximum load for cattle on hoof - 8t gross
Maximum length of vehicles is 7.8m - CARAVANS ARE NOT PERMITTED)
Persons use the ferry at own risk
No more than 6 persons permitted on ferry at the one time
No persons permitted in vehicles during crossing
Lifejackets must be worn
Use of ferry prohibited between sunset and sunrise
All persons must follow instructions and conditions in loading as directed by the ferry operator.
Further ferry information is available at www.sa.gov.au/ferryservices

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