Hi All
It is again time for the monthly updates for the
Cooper Creek Ferry Details. Also below after the updates are some very interesting facts from the DTEI that I have also asked for and will show just how wet it has been during 2010.
Cooper Ferry Details for the month of November.
Number of four wheel drive vehicles ferried…….438
Number of Cars ferried…………………………….........10
Number of Buses ferried………………………….........37
Number of Motor Bikes ferried……………………......11
Number of Adults ferried………………………........1291
Number of Children ferried……………………….........94
Number of People not travelling with vehicles….…92
Total Number of ferry crossing both directions…..865
Busiest day 6th November with and 61 vehicles.
Year to date until the End of November 2010.
Total number of four wheel drives………………5014
Total number of cars……………………………….....104
Total number of buses…………………………….....503
Total number of motor bikes………………………..195
Total combined vehicles…………………………....5816
Total adults…………………………………….........16315
Total children…………………………………...........1642
Total of adults and children……………………...17957
Total North crossings……………………………..... 2849
Total South crossings……………………………......2964
Total empty crossings…………………………….....2314
Total people no with vehicles……………………….789
Total number of days that the ferry could not run due to closed by inclement weather, too windy etc………………………………………26.8 days
Now for another set of very interesting facts-How many times has the
Birdsville Track been closed, either to all vehicles, of open to either four wheel drive vehicles or to four wheel drive and heavy vehicles. It should be noted that that the last category has only been functioning since early 2010 when the new automated
sign system came into operation. The figures for 2010 are only up until 23rd November 2010.
From
Marree to Mungeranie
2008
Closed to all traffic 4 days
Open to 4WD only 10 days
2009
Closed to all traffic 0 days
Open to 4WD only 2 days
2010 – Yes that very wet Year!!!
Closed to all traffic 27 days
Open to 4WD only 77 days
Open to 4WD/HV 60 days
Mungeranie to
SA Border
2008
Closed to all traffic 3 days
Open to 4WD only 21 days
2009
Closed to all traffic 3 days
Open to 4WD only 3 days
2010
Closed to all traffic 53 days
Open to 4WD only 60 days
Open to 4WD/HV 19 days
The Cooper
water level is now rising at the ferry site from local rain only and has risen 150mm in the last month. The floods from Queensland have not had any impact as yet and when they do arrive, will see the ferry in operation until at least the end of April 2011. Until these last floods in Queensland, it was hoped that the ferry would cease operation by mid December 2010, but now it is impossible to say how long it will run for, as we all know, it will not stop raining in our outback regions.
This will be the last Ferry figures update for 2010 and I will be able to have our next lot of figures in February, due to my contact have time off over the coming weeks.
To all those that have been following my reports since March when there were very high hopes that the Cooper would flood over the
Birdsville Track, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and please take care on the roads over this very busy time of the Year.
Cheers to All
Stephen