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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-11 Daily Xml
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Cooper Creek Barge

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the minister provide an update on how the state government is reconnecting key freight and tourist routes in the north-east of the state?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Autism) (15:03): I thank the member for his question and interest in this topic. As members would be aware, there has been an unprecedented flood event in the far north-east of our state. Following significant rainfall in Queensland earlier this year, huge amounts of water flowed into South Australia, causing major flooding in this area, particularly around Cooper Creek. I understand it is about half the size of Tasmania. At its peak, Cooper Creek reached one of the highest levels on record at Innamincka, surpassing the 1974 flood event. The flood waters covered approximately 32,000 square kilometres to enable this record amount.

Earlier this year, in June, I had the pleasure of visiting this area to witness the extent of the floodwaters. It was hard to comprehend the sheer amount of water that had inundated our remote communities, effectively cutting them off. The floodwaters cut off the Birdsville Track, which connects South Australia through to Queensland. The Birdsville Track is an important transport route for livestock producers, as well as being a popular route with tourists.

Since the closure in June, there has been no direct route for pastoralists to transport cattle to Adelaide. Now, thanks to the Albanese and Malinauskas governments, pastoralists and tourism operators are once again reconnected with a new heavy vehicle barge, securing the state's beef supply and supporting local jobs and tourism and meat industries. This is a first for SA. The $27.4 million barge, jointly funded by the Albanese and Malinauskas governments, under the disaster recovery funding agreement, will allow safe crossings in Cooper Creek until permanent road access is reinstated.

This is the biggest barge of its type in South Australia, capable of transporting a fully-loaded A-double truck or a road train. This barge is an investment from the federal and state Labor governments and one that will enable our operators to continue to benefit. We are enabling the industry to keep rolling and keep South Australian beef on South Australian shelves.

I thank the livestock industry and the local community for their patience while we delivered a solution to this situation and reconnected one of Australia's most remote regions. Its operations reopened a crucial transport route in the state's outback for the movement of livestock and essential goods. The barge initially opened for livestock transportation just last week, and now tourists and locals using their vehicles can enjoy this new link in their transport system. There are well over 10,000 cattle isolated in remote parts of the state due to these floodwaters. As well as being an important connection for the livestock industry, the area is a popular route for tourists, forming a crucial connection to the Birdsville Track.

We have a record number of cranes in metropolitan Adelaide, and we had also for a rare time two cranes in the outback to help build this barge connection. The barge is constructed from 12 modular pontoons, which were first floated in the water and then bolted together. Rigorous testing was undertaken before the barge opened to public bookings, and we can now confirm it is operating 24/7, it is that popular.

Throughout preparation works for the barge, the state government worked closely with the local community to find effective solutions that answer their needs and suit the unique requirements of that location. I would like to thank particularly David and Sharon from the Cooper Creek community for their feedback and advocacy throughout this process.

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