Cooper Ferry to be Lengthened
Submitted: Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 14:24
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Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)
Hi All
It is now official, the Cooper Ferry will be lengthened from its current length of 7.8m to 10m and rather than rewrite the details, here is a copy of my reply:
Hi Stephen
Confirming that the DTEI has plans to lengthen the existing ferry from 7.8m to approximately 10m to enable it to transport a 4WD and a small - average camper / trailer. The depth of
Cooper Creek has increased by 150mm in the last month due to local rain and there is reportedly more
water in the Queensland catchment areas which may come down. DTEI is planning for a longer operational time rather than shorter, hence plans to lengthen the ferry.
Not included in my above reply, but told over the phone, was that the lengthening should be complete by the end of February 2011, but this will come down to how quick the work can be carried out by the contractors.
Also I have been told that the ferry will be still running 7 days a week, providing that the Track is not closed due to wet weather right through the Christmas period.
Once the new resized ferry is ready it will be great news for travellers with camper trailers, so if you are looking for somewhere different for
Easter 2011, then you may consider a trip to the Cooper.
Patsy was down the other week and she tells me that the Mosquitoes are very bad during the day and once that sun goes down, you have to head inside.
I will post the latest figures tonight, as
well as some very interesting figures on just how wet the
Birdsville Track has been this year.
Cheers
Stephen
Reply By: Member - John L (WA) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 16:03
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 16:03
Your reports have been fascinating reading - especially as its so dry over here. Many thanks. Cheers Heather
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 18:39
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 18:39
Hi Heather
It just does not want to stop raining up north. I was very surprised to see the local rain having that much effect on the
water levels. It is hard to think that it has been so wet over here and the eastern state and the west has missed out.
To think that when I first reported the possible ferry running back in March, I would never have thought that it will probably be
well over 12 months to give the full updates.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Duncs - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 16:33
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 16:33
Damn!
Now I will have to go all the way back there with the Trak Shak and Mrs Duncs.
More time stuck in the bush, kept away from the joys of
Sydney traffic and the absolute thrills offered by life in the office.
Oh
well.
Duncs
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Nev (TAS) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 18:53
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 18:53
Sheeze live can be a bitch, but someone has to do it.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 20:00
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 20:00
Hi Dunc
It sound a good reason to head back. I will keep the updates coming to let you know how the ferry end up.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 19:30
Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 19:30
Despite the comment in my reply any return trip to the ferry is sadly a long way off.
I couldn't get away before April and even then it is looking unlikely.
But it would be better than sitting in the office.
Once again Stephen thanks for the updates.
I pray that you and all those close to you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and that 2011 finds you prosperous,
well and most of all happy.
Duncs
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Pete Jackman (SA) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 16:51
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 16:51
The insects were pretty bad in September for about 2 hours after sunset:
Image Could Not Be Found
Not many bitey ones then, just very annoying.
Sunset was good though:
Image Could Not Be Found
Image Could Not Be Found
Ferry on the Cooper:
Image Could Not Be Found
My boat on the Cooper:
Image Could Not Be Found
My boat on my 4by on the ferry on the Cooper:
Image Could Not Be Found
Loved it up there
Cheers
Pete
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 20:03
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 20:03
Hi Pete
More great pictures and thanks for sharing. Patsy was saying that even during the day you have to keep on the go all the time, or else you get covered in mosquitoes. You would have had a great time on the Cooper.
Cheers
Stephen
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Follow Up By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 22:14
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 22:14
Pete,
That's a great post mate! Thanks for sharing!
Cheers
Brian
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Follow Up By: Pete Jackman (SA) - Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 09:56
Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 09:56
It was good up there -
Our
Camp
Image Could Not Be Found
A visitor:
Image Could Not Be Found
But does anyone know what this is a few kilometers upstream from the ferry?
Image Could Not Be Found
Thanks
Pete
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 14:37
Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 14:37
Hi Pete
You have me green with envoy. What is that blue stuff in the sky...LOL
Looks like you had perfect weather.
When we were there, is was nearly full cloud cover...Bugger.
That fold up boat looks very interesting. You would have had a ball on the Cooper. Where was that rock cairn in relation to your
camp.
Cheers and Seasons Greetings
Stephen
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Pete Jackman (SA) - Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 16:45
Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 16:45
The boat is a Porta Bote - very handy. All but the motor was on the roof.
We were camped on the north side to the west of the track just inside the "don't
camp past this point"
sign.
The rock cairn was upstream (East) from the ferry about 1 to 2 km just before the river turned north. It was on the south side of the river.
There was a reef of rock coming from the bank towards it:
Image Could Not Be Found
Cheers
Pete
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Follow Up By: Garry H (S Aus) - Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 23:17
Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 23:17
Hi Pete,
we were camped with the white dual cab just east of where you were the same night, we camped there an extra night as we all did a helicopter flight, and the evening sunset cruise on the cooper, both were
well worth the money and worth staying the extra time,
the cairn that you photographed upstream of the ferry was actually an early sheep crossing 1904 for a picture visit here
http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/13750/B13521.htmhttp://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/13750/B13520.htm
Temporary Causeway
DESCRIPTION Temporary causeway built for sheep to cross a flooded
Cooper Creek near Kopperamanna for boarding rail transport at
Farina. 32,000 crossed in this way, their drover is said to have been Stuart Field, their owner Sidney Kidman.
these pictures also are on the
sign board by the MV TOM BRENNAN (the original ferry) next to the
Birdsville track just south of the cooper crossing in the section of the road now closed because of the wet. This ferry was first used in 1949,1950 & 1951, it was replaced in 1960 with a larger ferry operated by the E&WS
a mighty effort by all concerned in the day, it's a shame that photography wasn't more advanced back then
cheers
Garry H
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Follow Up By: Pete Jackman (SA) - Sunday, Dec 19, 2010 at 09:10
Sunday, Dec 19, 2010 at 09:10
Thanks for that info Garry. That would have been a big effort to get that across the
creek.
Your car was a lot cleaner than ours when you camped there. We had already been there a few nights when you pulled up.
You must have been the ones that asked the ferry driver about our boat on the roof.
Cheers
Pete
FollowupID:
711181
Reply By: Members Pa & Ma. - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 17:03
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 17:03
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for that report and all your other updates.
Because we couldn't get to where we were going this holz we weaved & dodged closed roads & went to see the
Coopers Creek. My grand parents used to live up there. We'd only seen it dry. The dunny is a classic!
However, I'm a magnet to Mozzies, so I'm glad there wasn't that many there when we were there in Sept.
Warmest wishes of the season & every good wish for the coming New Year.
Take care, safe travels.
Bye Ma.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 20:08
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 20:08
Hi Ma
This will be one year that will be going down in the record books, and one will be the constant wet weather, which in turn has kept the ferry going for all this time.
I usually attract the mossies and if there are any around, I am first to know, so like you I am glad that they were not that bad when we were there also. It will be very interesting to see just how long the ferry will run for.
To you also the warmest Seasons Greetings and all the best for 2011.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 22:18
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 22:18
Another great post Stephen... thank you!
Cheers
Brian
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 22:45
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 at 22:45
Hi Brian
Thanks for that. It started off with updates when the Cooper was coming down and has kept going from there. It sounds like you have not heard the last of these reports,
well not until at this stage April or May 2011.
Cheers
Stephen
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