Cooper Creek Ferry Details up until 7th Novermber 2010

Hi Ed

Yes it does not seem to want to stop raining. My contact went on to say tongue in cheek that if the Birdsville Track was open for more than a week in a row this tourist season without some rain, it was a record. LOL

The constant wet roads have been a real problem for Transport SA road crews and when it does finally dry out, it will be a very big job to get the full Birdsville Track back into good condition again.

Prior to the Track being closed due to the flooding, the station people were placing bets on who would get to the closest date for when the floods would close the Track. Perhaps they could now do the opposite and see who can get as close a date as possible for when the Track will be back to normal.

I have also been told by one person that has been following the weather patterns for years that he reckons that it will be wet like it has been for the next 3 years, caused by the vast land massed that are under the influence of the rain pattern. If this is the case, the ferry will be part and parcel of life on the Track for a very long time... We will all have to wait and see.

Thanks for the latest flood details from your neck of the woods.

Cheers

Stephen

G'day Stephen,
Here's the latest from the BOM >>>

FLOOD WARNING FOR THE THOMSON, ALICE AND BARCOO RIVERS AND COOPER CREEK
Issued at 5:00 PM on Wednesday the 24th of November 2010
by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane.

Fast river level rises are occurring along Aramac Creek and the Alice River.
Barcoo River levels continue to rise at Blackall; downstream areas between
Coolagh and Retreat should expect further rises as Alice and Barcoo River flood
waters converge. Moderate flood levels are occurring at Jundah on the Thomson
River and major flood levels of at least 5.5 metres should be expected at
Windorah over the weekend.

THOMSON RIVER

Significant flooding is occurring along Aramac Creek and Tributaries. At Camoola
Park on the Thomson River, levels are expected to rise further late this week.
Predictions for Longreach will be made once upstream peaks have been observed.
Rises should be expected along the Darr River today and between Bogewong and
Stonehenge through next week. At Jundah, moderate flood levels are rising.

ALICE RIVER

Rainfall totals of up to 188mm have been recorded in the 24 hours to 9am in the
Barcaldine area. Fast river level rises should be expected between Barcaldine
and the Barcoo River confluence in the next 48 hours with some minor to moderate
flood levels likely. Further rises are possible.

BARCOO RIVER

Up to 39mm of rainfall in the upper Barcoo catchment in the 24 hours to 9am
Wednesday will lead to continued river level rises with moderate flood levels
likely at Blackall later this week. Barcoo River levels at Coolagh were about 4
metres and rising fast at 3pm Wednesday.

Minor flooding continues between Isisford and Glenlock and major flooding
continues at Retreat. Further rises should be expected over the weekend and
through next week as flood waters from the Alice River arrive. Forecasts will be
made once upstream peaks have been observed.

COOPER CREEK

Major flood levels of at least 5.5 metres are expected at Windorah this weekend.
Further river level rises should be expected late next week.


Next Issue:

The next warning will be issued by 10am Thursday.


Latest River Heights:

Cornish Ck at Bowen Downs * 2.01m steady 04:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Thomson R at Camoola Park 2.65m steady 06:00 AM WED 24/11/10
Thomson R at Longreach auto * 2.89m steady 04:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Darr R at Darr Auto * 3.42m steady 04:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Thomson R Stonehenge (West) Auto* 3.77m steady 02:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Thomson R Stonehenge (East) 2.45m steady 08:00 AM WED 24/11/10
Thomson R at Jundah 4.15m rising 03:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Barcoo R at Duneira 2.5m rising 09:00 AM WED 24/11/10
Barcoo R at Blackall * 4.3m rising 04:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Barcoo R at Coolagh 3.95m rising fast 02:30 PM WED 24/11/10
Alice R at Barcaldine Weir Auto* 1.12m falling 04:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Barcoo R at Isisford 4.2m falling slowly 12:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Barcoo R at Oma 4.4m rising 06:00 AM WED 24/11/10
Barcoo R at Wahroongha 3.4m steady 03:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Barcoo R at Glenlock 4.65m rising slowly 03:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Barcoo R at Retreat Auto * 5.15m falling 04:00 PM WED 24/11/10
Cooper Ck at Windorah 4.95m rising 03:00 PM WED 24/11/10


Catch ya later......... Ed C

:)

Hi Ed
Thanks for the updates, as they go hand in hand with the outcome if the ferry.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Andrew
Thanks for that. It seems to be my pet project and since I started the updates in about March this year, I now feel compelled to follow it through until the end. Having the right contacts has made the job even easier and without the help from Transport SA, I do not know how easy it would be for the general public to get the information first hand. When I now ring my contact direct, I do not have to say who it is, she now knows me quite well over the phone.

As they say, "until my next updates, keep watching this forum"


Cheers

Stephen

Personally Stephen,
I'm glad you have made it your pet project. I'm sure I don't stand alone when I say that your regualr updates have helped us plan and facilitate our holidays up the Track.

All those in favour say "I".

Fab.

Hi Fab
I am glad that you also had a great time when you went away. Like most posts here on the forum that require updates, this is one such post, but a very long update process that has continued over many months and looks like a few good months to come yet.

All the Best and until my next update.


Cheers

Stephen

Hi Pete
It only seems like yesterday when we were camped up there with you. We have tried to get back 2 more times since and both times the Track was closed. Lucky Ian and Ruth spent a week on the north side, I was green with envoy when we had to come back to work and they were having a ball on the banks of the Cooper.

Take care

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Duncs
Thanks for the kind words.

The purpose of my regular updates is for that very reason, to supply information that is true and correct and I again must thank Transport SA, as without the help of my contact, it would not be possible to supply these valued details, so a very big thank you must go to Juanita up in Port Augusta.

I am glad that you had a great trip and as you have personally seen for yourself,
words can not do justice for the sheer volume of water that is out there. My only regret is that we could not stay longer up there when we first visited the flooded Cooper and then when we have tried to get back again, mother nature made sure that we were not going to get there.

Even today as I write this reply, there is more heavy rain expected up north.


Once again all the best and thanks for the reply.


Regards

Stephen

Hi Pete,

Yes the numbers are a true testament that the Birdsville Track is very much a very busy outback highway, even with all this rain. It also makes me wonder that if the weather was fine, the number of vehicles that would have used the ferry would be far greater. It has been mentioned many times here on the forum that people have venture that way to travel on the ferry, only to be stopped be wet weather.

I know that EO Member, Deanna from WA had tried to get there but was unlucky due to closed roads but have now travelled all that way again so they would not miss a piece of history.

The ferry operators must be real veterans at it now, as when we were up there the busiest day carried just 44 vehicles and the ferry operators were flat out and to think that on the 1st September the ferry carried a record 98 vehicles in just 1 day.

Great to hear that you made the crossing and your vehicle has added to the numbers.

Cheers

Stephen

Yep the 1st of sept was flat out as that was just before the BV races and people were escaping the monsoon type conditions that followed in the next couple of days.
BF