Charges to use Cooper Creek Ferry
Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 15:34
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P and JM
Hi All,
My wife works in the local Tourist Center and has been told that the
Cooper Creek Ferry operators are charging $50-00 for a vehicle /vehicle and camper, and another person is charging $75-00 to take caravans across the creek.
Is this correct ? If yes is it allowed ? I can't see the difference in that ferry to any of the others in S. Aust on the River Murray where there is no charge.
Cheers P&J
Reply By: Time - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 15:50
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 15:50
Don't mean to be rude but use Google and you will find the
SA Gov site that says "there is no charge for using the
Cooper Creek ferry"
AnswerID:
459743
Follow Up By: P and JM - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:02
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:02
Hi Time,
You are certainly not being rude, that's what I thought it was, but hopefully I will get some replies from Tourists who have been on it recently. Cheers
FollowupID:
733352
Reply By: ABR - SIDEWINDER - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:21
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:21
Image Could Not Be FoundThere is no charge, I used the ferry last week in a convoy of 9 cars.
No charge.
Regards
Derek from ABR
AnswerID:
459746
Follow Up By: P and JM - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:42
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:42
Hi Derek,
Thanks for reply and photo. Good to see you the good state of Aust.
Hope you has a great look around. Cheers till my next purchase. P&J
FollowupID:
733356
Reply By: Been-Everywhereman - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:30
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:30
It is this simple......
It is free of charge if your vehicle whilst being hooked up to your camper is no longer than 9.8 metres...
You cannot push a trailer onto the ferry because it must be towed on and off by a vehicle...
If you exceed the length of 9.8 metres you may ask the assistance of the tour boat operator who can put your trailer on top of the tray of his truck and he will drive onto the ferry with your trailer aboard his truck and off the other side....
His charge for that when we spoke 3 weeks ago was $50......
Remember his offer of taking your trailer on his truck keeps your hopes alive of travelling north up the
Birdsville Track if you are oversize...
Caravans are not permitted....
AnswerID:
459747
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 22:27
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 22:27
I was there last week - the charge is now $75 to put a trailer on the back of the truck. We watched him load a couple and he works very hard for that $75.
Cheers
Phil
FollowupID:
733402
Reply By: Andrew & Jen - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:34
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 16:34
Hullo P&J
There is no charge for vehicles using the ferry.
The ferry has been marginally increased in length so some shorter C/Ts can get across with the towing vehicle. However, longer C/Ts cannot fit.
I understand a private operator will take them across on the back of his flat top truck, same arrangement as last year - hence the charge of ~$50.
Cheers
Andrew
AnswerID:
459748
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 18:45
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 18:45
I don't see a problem with Peter from Cooper Discovery Cruises using his truck to take camper trailers across on the ferry.
Consider that he must first travel across one way if the vehicle and camper is on the other bank, then cart the camper back on his truck. During this time he cannot run the cruise boat.
He is actually doing folk a favour that could otherwise not get across another way and making his living in doing so.
Good on him I say.
AnswerID:
459762
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 19:23
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 19:23
Hi P and JM
Like all the replies above it is free, but if your camper will still not fit within the specified length of 9.8 metres in total with towing vehicle, then there is the option of paying the Peter the $75 who will take the camper over on the back of his flat top.
This is a private service and gives you the option of still completing your trip without a very big detour.
Cheers
Stephen
AnswerID:
459767
Reply By: Member - DOZER- Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 20:24
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 20:24
I am a little amazed P&J...that you have an expectation for all ferries to be free....someone in the specific council area that runs these free ferries...pays for the service you have come to expect......and im sure theres no constraints on spending either.....My opinion for what its worth, is user should pay, so the non user doesnt have to pay as much.
Andrew
AnswerID:
459770
Follow Up By: Andrew & Jen - Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 21:03
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 at 21:03
Hullo Andrew
This ferry is run by the state dept of transport (DTEI) and, similarly to all the state run ferries on the R Murray, is free.
There is no council within coee of the Cooper R ferry - it is all out of districts up there.
Cheers
Andrew
FollowupID:
733398
Follow Up By: P and JM - Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 16:27
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 16:27
Dozer,
It appears to me you have not read my enquiry properly. Please reread it.
I was only asking if what the Tourists are informing the local Tourist Office
is correct.
It's not worrying me if they charge, but I will go one further now :
Is it legal for somebody to charge people to use Government roads ?
FollowupID:
733462
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 19:23
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 19:23
P&J,
I'm not sure you understand what is going on.
Yes the ferry is free - as everyone has said - provided you are less than 9.8m with the trailer hitched.
For those who are towing and combined length is greater than 9.8m, a local is offering to transport your trailer on the back of his truck for $75. You drive your vehicle over separately while he transports your trailer on the next ferry ride. He's doing you a big favour because there is no other way you'll cross on the ferry.
In my opinion, he's working very hard for that $75 - that $75 is his and is nothing to do with the SA Govt ferry which is free. I was watching him load a trailer last week - there is no way in the world I'd do what he does for $75.
FollowupID:
733476
Follow Up By: Member - DOZER- Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 20:13
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 20:13
Ok, ive reread a few times. No it is not correct what your wife has been told. The ferry ride is still free for the user, tab picked up by everyone who works and pays taxes. Is it legal what the third person is doing??? Yes, he is not charging to use a gov road, he is charging to allow compliance with gov regulations...should he have an accident, he will be out of pocket many thousands of dollars after solicitors have taken their cut....if he is still alive...
Andrew
FollowupID:
733483