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

Contents

Cooper Creek Barge

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:07): Supplementary: will the minister inform the chamber about what the cost will be for locals using the ferry per car and per truck?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Autism) (15:07): There is a cost associated with this, and this is something we discussed quite closely with the local community, even when I first visited some months ago, and whether, if there was to be a barge, they would be happy for a cost to be associated with it. It is a substantial investment. Usually we only have a ferry in place, which enables a single car to travel to and from and to cross the creek area.

This is the first time ever that cattle will be able to continue to move throughout this area and stay in South Australia. Without this connection they would have had to go up through Queensland and maybe stay in Queensland in those markets—that was what we were advised. The alternative was to travel up through Queensland, which could have added at least an extra day to their trip, to bring them back down through South Australia.

In regard to costs, on the website I understand there is a booking link to be able to go and book a trip. We also understand that at the moment our priority is getting that cattle to Adelaide, and that is why we have increased it to 24/7. I believe that motorcycles are $10, caravans and trailers with a vehicle fee are $15, a light vehicle is $25, a medium vehicle is $50 and a heavy vehicle is $375 per trailer.