Final Cooper Creek Ferry Details for 2011 - 2012

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 21:27

ThreadID: 91585 Views:2871 Replies:16 FollowUps:18

This Thread has been Archived

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)

Hi All

Image Could Not Be Found

It now looks like the task that I started nearly 2 years ago has finally come to an end, proving Mother Nature does not dump mega rain in the Queensland catchment area in the not so distant future.

When the ferry is returned to its blocks is the big question that no one in Transport SA is prepared to answer, but I have asked to be kept informed.

What I can now officially give is the final figures that have only been release today and again all EO Forum readers are the first to view the figures. The figures are the grand totals since the ferry was first put back into operation on the 22nd June 2011 and ceased operations at 10am on the 12th January 2012. The 10,000 person to cross was on the 6th September 2011.

Total 4X4 ferried 5488
Total Cars ferried 179
Total Buses ferried 410
Total Motor Bikes Ferried 215

Grand Total of all vehicles 6292

Total Adults ferried 14828
Total Children ferried 1990
Total of non vehicle people ferried 483

Ferry Crossings

Noth Crossings 3121
South Crossings 3260
Empty Crossings 3179

Busiest Day and number of Vehicles each month

29th June 2011 - 42 vehicles
12th July 2011 - 71 vehicles
31st August 2011 - 107 vehicles
1st September 2011 - 107 vehicles
3rd October 2011 - 82 vehicles
5th and 8th November 2011 - 19 vehicles
19th December 2011 - 10 vehicles
7th January 2012 - 7 vehicles

Thanks to everyone that contacted me for details and I hope that you enjoyed the experience of the Cooper Creek Ferry Crossing.

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Member - Gordon T (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 23:00

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 23:00

Thanks Stephen for your frequent reporting - it has been interesting and informative.

AnswerID: 476540

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 08:15

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 08:15

Hi Gordon

I am glad that you have enjoyed following my reports on the flooding of the Cooper and the running of that iconic ferry.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751652

Reply By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 00:03

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 00:03

Thank you so much for all the information that you have put on here Stephen, it's been very interesting following it. We loved our trip on the ferry and seeing the flooded Cooper, it was a sight to behold. I'm glad we went over again just for it, inspired a little by yourself of course.

Cheers

Deanna

Simba, our much missed baby.

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 476545

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 08:19

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 08:19

Hi Deanna

Like above, I am glad that you enjoyed following my reports on the progress of the ferry. What you have not told everyone is that you made 2 trips over from the West, the first one washed and a second successful trip just to have a ferry ride.....Well done and I bet it was all worth the very long drives.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751653

Reply By: 158 - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 01:26

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 01:26

Cheers Stephen, you have done a great job on reporting what has been going on, here in the west we would never know...

cheers again.

AnswerID: 476549

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 08:23

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 08:23

Hi 158

Good to see you also have been following my reports. We may be a Big Country, but a sight like this brings us all close together, and it does not matter where we live, we are all kept informed by members of events taking place in our great Nation.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751654

Reply By: Member - peter f (VIC) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 09:01

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 09:01

hi all ,
with all the rain QLD has had recently is there a possibility that the track could get water across it in some months time ???,
yes ,crossing on the ferry was something that I will remember for a long time
cross that off the bucket list ,
mechpete

AnswerID: 476556

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:04

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:04

Hi Pete

Yes there are many here on the forum that had a Cooper Creek Ferry ride on their wish list, including myself. Our second trip was an added bonus. It will be very interesting to see how much rain they get in central Queensland and if it will have any effect on the Cooper.

If it does not get down that far, who knows it could be another 20 years before we all get another ferry ride.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751687

Follow Up By: Member - Ed C (QLD) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 17:46

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 17:46

From the BOM >>

IDQ20860
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

FLOOD WARNING FOR BARCOO RIVER, THOMSON RIVER AND COOPER CREEK
Issued at 12:57 PM on Wednesday the 1st of February 2012
by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane.

River levels are rising in the Barcoo River following weekend rainfall and
further rainfall overnight Tuesday.

Minor flood levels at Tambo on the Barcoo River are expected to exceed moderate
flood levels on Wednesday, with major flood levels possible. Minor flood levels
are forecast at Gillespie and Duneira late Wednesday. Minor flood levels are
rising at Blackall. Major flood levels are possible at Blackall on Thursday.
Major flood levels are possible between Coolagh and Retreat at the end of the
week and over the weekend.

Minor flood levels are rising in the Thomson River at Muttaburra and Camoola
Park. Minor flood levels are expected downstream between Longreach and
Stonehenge on Thursday.

River level rises are expected on the Cooper Creek over the weekend and next
week.

Further predictions will be made once more data becomes available.

Predicted River Heights/Flows:

Blackall: Expected to reach at least 6m on Thursday.
Longreach: Expected to reach at least 4m on Friday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Radar shows light - moderate rain falling in the catchment as we speak, and the system is still active, so I wouldn't rule out another good flow down the Cooper Ck...

There has also been good rain in the Georgina/Hamilton R. catchments, so a good flow down Eyre Ck. is on the cards as well..

Diamantina R. is also rising at Diamantina Lakes, so there's another one to watch ;-)

The highest falls (away from the coast) appear to have been in the Condamine/Balonne/Warrego catchments, and I believe the Darling is running a banker at Tilpa & Louth as we speak, w/- plenty more headed that way (good rain happening right now in the Barwon catchment)..

Looks like there'll be some water about for a little while yet.................

:)

Confucius say.....
"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand,
....Not necessarily mechanic!!"

Member
My Profile Send Message

FollowupID: 751704

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 21:00

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 21:00

Hi Ed

Thanks for that and it will be interesting to keep an eye on the events unfolding up there. This would also be one of the reason why Transport SA have no firm plans as to when the ferry will be put back on its blocks.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751732

Reply By: Member - cuffs (SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 09:46

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 09:46

Thanks for your reports, I enjoyed the trip across the ferry in September 2011

AnswerID: 476561

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:06

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:06

Hi Cuff

It sure was a real experience and last year there were perfect conditions up that way compared to 2010 when it was wet, wet, wet.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751688

Reply By: Member - Graham N (SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 10:41

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 10:41

Hi Stephen,
Great pictures and reporting as usual. The part I can't get used to is that in years to come when it is dry and we visit and say the water was up here or over there you start to even think maybe I was dreaming it could not have done that.
Thanks for all the information we certainly enjoyed a few trips up there.

Cheers

Graham

AnswerID: 476566

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:08

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:08

Hi Graham

Thanks for that and great to hear you also experience this rare water flow over the Birdsville Track and a Cooper Creek Ferry Ride.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751689

Reply By: happy go lucky - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 11:07

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 11:07

Thanks for the great info.
We were lucky enough to have to cross north to south twice on two separate trips. Did you have any stats for camper trailers that crossed? either behind vehicles or on the truck, which is where our camper trailer had to be transported across.
June

AnswerID: 476568

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:13

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:13

Hi June

Great to hear that you also had a great experience over the Cooper. I would have to try and get in contact with Peter re the number of campers etc taken over.

Seeing that they were on the back of Peters truck, it would have been included as a vehicle that crossed and not a single camper.

I will see what I can try and find out.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751690

Reply By: Robin Miller - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 12:46

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 12:46

Thanks Stephen , good job.

I hope its drier now for a year at least.

Robin Miller

Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 476578

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:16

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 14:16

Hi Robin

Thanks for that, it was an experience that was great to have witnessed.

At this stage it looks like that we are heading back to normal conditions, but it would be great to have a crystal ball.

Pass on our regards to Anne.

Cheers

Stephen and Fiona

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751691

Reply By: "crack-a-tinnie" - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 16:06

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 16:06

Hi, Stephen,
Keith from Ararat here, I'm the fella that forwarded some photos of the 100s of yabbies on the Cooper to you some time back.

Enjoyed following your posts on the Cooper.

We've only done the Birdsville track twice. We crossed it heading Nth to Birdsville in the wet month of Sept. 2010 and again coming Sth in Sept 2011 when the track was dry. Both trips in my Ford RTV Ute, they were both great trips. I'd do those trips out that way any time before going over sea's.

Thanks for the up-dates,

Cheers.

AnswerID: 476587

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 20:51

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 20:51

Hi Keith

Thanks for the thumbs up. Yes I remember those unreal images and as strange as it is, I was only taking to one of the locals that I know that works up at Moomba last Friday, and he was saying it was an unreal sight up at Ballera. He said that they scooped an empty esky through the water and it was fully of yabbies in seconds. He even said that as he walked towards the water, in was impossible to get close to the water without walking on them, they were just everywhere.

The Birdsville Track is a great drive, having driven it many times in the past. Last year was the best the track has been in many years, with the added bonus of the ferry ride.

All the Best and thanks for your reply.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751725

Reply By: Member - Michael O (NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 20:09

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 20:09

Great work Stephen.

We were on the ferry in July!

Stayed with the Oldfields at Clayton Station on the Birdsville Track after an "almost" crossing of the Simpson (at that time, Eyre Creek was still flooded)

We went up for the day and the kids still talk about it.

I must say it was your regular updates and positive remarks that encouraged us to head up there. Thank you...

Michael O

AnswerID: 476609

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 20:56

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 20:56

Hi Michael

Thanks for that and like I have said many times with my updates, I wanted to get out to everyone, reliable and accurate information for everyone to read, so that they could rely on what I had posted.

There is nothing worst than receiving wrong information. I am glad that your family still talks about their ferry ride, that is great.

Thanks for the reply.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751729

Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 21:45

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 21:45

it is a small part of the trip but was such a highlight of our trip, i mean all it is is a small barge that takes you accross a small river ........ but it was AWSOME and we did it, we even got to the other side and parked up and sat for a while planning our next move, yep we had plans right up to the ferry and nothing beyond ......
Anyway Stephen thanks for the up-dates and stats, it was really them that caught our attention and got us wanting...
We have some really weird weather happening up here and i am afraid it is heading down that way over the next few weeks, we have had low baro pressures and very little rain so far, not normal for here, it should be flooded and pouring, i reckon there is still more water to come down yet, guess we will see eh ..... it was at 997 today in some places around here, cyclone stuff but nothing eventing from it eh..
Cheers and keep it up (see if ya can get rid of that crappy blue, i still hate it hahah)
Joe

AnswerID: 476620

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 21:54

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 21:54

Hi Joe

The weather is very strange down here as well. It was down to 9 C degrees this morning and it felt like it was autumn, when it should have been in the low 20's.

Well at least it is better than the 40's which will hit us again soon....

Great to hear that you also had a great time o=when you travelled it last year.

Take Care.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751742

Reply By: Rockape - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 23:13

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 23:13

Stephen,
I will keep it simple

THANKYOU.

RA.

AnswerID: 476634

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 at 07:42

Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 at 07:42

Hi RA

Thanks for that and it has been interesting for me collecting the details.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751756

Reply By: Fab72 - Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 at 20:15

Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 at 20:15

G'Day Stephen,
I've been up the Birdsville Track 3 times now, and each time I crossed the Cooper on the ferry.
It's going to feel weird to do it any other way. (But I will).

Life time memories I'll never forget and an interest that was first sparked by your initial reports way back when the first trickles came flowing down the dusty waterway that had laid idle for so long.

I still remember your first pics of the water just reaching Etadunna. Seems like so long ago.

Thank you.
Fab.

AnswerID: 476691

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 at 20:47

Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 at 20:47

Hi Fab

Yes it has been a very quick 2 years since there was talk that the Cooper may cross the Birdsville Track and in the end it caught everyone out with the speed that is crossed the Track and the depths that it reached.

Providing that there are no more major inflows down the Cooper, some of the larger waterholes will have water in them for years to come and from memory it will take at least 5 years before Lake Hope is dry and dusty again.

Take Care

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751841

Reply By: Sigmund - Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 12:25

Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 12:25

Where does the boat tour operate out of Stephen?

AnswerID: 476765

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 14:29

Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 14:29

Hi Sigmund

Peter is based on the northern side of the Cooper Creek at the ferry site. He is a wealth of knowledge on the History and Bird life on the Cooper. I have tried to give him a call, but his phone was only on message bank.

I would say that he will be running is tours for a while yet, as it is a very deep waterhole where the crossing is and it will hold water for years.

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

I hope this has helped you out.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751918

Reply By: Pete Jackman (SA) - Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 20:20

Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 20:20

Thanks for all your reports Stephen - they spurred us to go up in 2010 for a ride. We are 2 in that 4x4 total!

Cheers

Pete

Any mug can be uncomfortable out bush

Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

AnswerID: 476788

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 22:44

Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 22:44

Hi Pete

Great to hear that you were also spurred on to take a visit and ride on the Cooper Creek Ferry.

Thanks for the reply.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 751962

Reply By: GREENDOG ! - Saturday, Feb 04, 2012 at 16:41

Saturday, Feb 04, 2012 at 16:41

As all have said mate THANKS for all your up dates on here you have done a wounderful job,and it was great to spend a couple of days camping by Birdsville track crossing to see so much water was unreal.cheer's GD

AnswerID: 476864