Cooper Creek Ferry Update - It's Now Official

Stephen
Good news,good work.
Thanks
Jeff.O

Thanks for the update Steve.

R

I hope they give the locals priority over us tourists, but that would also raise a few hackles.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Have I not been saying for months if needed the ferry will be up and running.
Like thousands of others I too will be coming up for a ride.
Reg

I suspect hundreds of extra people are going to head up the Birdsville track solely to say they've ridden accross the ferry, the only problem being the queue at times this will cause could be huge. Going by the turn around time when last it ran, just one convoy of 10 cars may take 1/2 a day to get accross. If you do the right thing & let the locals cut in you could be camped there for a couple of days.
Up on the Cape there was some queue jumping going on at the Jardine ferry which caused a bit of road rage & that was just with 20 cars waiting while the fella had lunch:-)

Cheers Craig..............

Thanks for the info Stephen L, hope everyone has been and taken their pics before we get there late August LOL.

Cheers

Deanna

Stephen....

Firstly, thanks for all the updates, as this is what this site is all about.....

Your hope that the Punt is replaced with a larger one potentially raises a couple of broader questions/issues that would need to be answered.

And I preface the following by saying I don’t have any great insight to the workings of the SA Roads & Transport Authority, but work on the basis that most Government Authorities, and many Private Enterprises for that matter, are most unlikely to commit to long-term capital expenditure for something that might be used once in every 20 years. Too much could change in the interim period that might cause a different decision to be made. Better to wait until closer to the time before committing to anything. Of course with that comes the stress of people not knowing how the flooding will be dealt with when the occasion arises as it has been the case this year.

A critical question is do we want to see a bridge built over the Cooper Creek on the Birdsville Track?

This would be a huge expense for something that might be required once in every 10/20 years, the alternative is if they don’t go to this expense, reliance will remain on a Punt, whether the current one is replaced with a new one or not, that will never be suitable for purpose in terms of moving lots of people in a short period of time.

Now I’m not suggesting that the money should not be spent for the benefit of the local community, if that is what the local community want. But could that money be best spent elsewhere within that community, given the flooding of the Cooper Creek along the Birdsville Track is a rare occurrence.

The other question is do we actually want a bridge over the Cooper Creek on the Birdsville Track, and will that change the ‘Outback’ experience that many look for when travelling this region?

Sometimes I suspect there are more questions than answers.....

And as we approach beer o’clock, a good weekend to all....!

Cheers, The Landy

Was on a Wrights Air Lake Eyre 2 days ago and it was said that the track could be cut within 5 days,
Cheers ,
Mary

I have this vision in my head of a ONE vehicle ferry plying a river where there are a few locals that rely on the service for the continuance of their livelihood competing against an absolute horde of tourists that want to cross the ferry purely because THEY CAN!

Ha - this is going to be a dogs breakfast! Camped beside the river for a week in the queue to get across so you can say that you did it!

Don't get me wrong - would love to do so myself and it would be a great experience but it would be pretty bad if the tourist trade did indeed flood the ferry, particularly at the expense of those that really need to cross.

How many people would make the trip up the track purely to do the ferry crossing?

Cheers
Muddy

Hi Stephen
Thanks again for the info.
I hope to get there about 6-7 June.
Might camp handy for a few days and await the water arrival
If I remember right the crossing is wide and flat and no distinct channels, so the track will be still passable for a day or two before the water gets too deep.
Last time I was there it was in the middle of a screaming dust storm so did not get to see all that much.
Cheers
Russ

Am I right in thinking the ferry can only take 1 car at a time with no trailer. So this would mean that no caravans, campers etc will be able to complete the track until the ferry goes back into hibernation.
Mal

Hi Stephen, let me just say you have done a fantastic job in keeping every one informed about the ferry well done mate,Now could you please tell me when does Patsy think the water will start trickling over the track cause i wouldn't mind being there.cheers GREENDOG