William Creek roads re-open in the nick of time for weekend | Publican Trevor Wright calls for improved flooding planning

Roads have reopened right on deadline day for an SA outback town that was going to run out of supplies by the weekend.

South Australian outback roads turned to slush earlier this week after heavy rainfall have reopened in time for the weekend, after a concerned community leader called for better planning.

Woomera was lashed with 68.8mm of rain up to 9am on Tuesday, while Arkaroola received 50mm and Marree Airport recorded 45.2mm.

The rain left dozens stranded on the Oodnadatta Track, with several caravans bogged along the rural stretch of road.

It was caused by an upper-level low-pressure system over the state’s north.

William Creek, located on the Oodnadatta Track, about 166km east of Coober Pedy, has been completely cut off.

Caravans back on the road and able to leave William Creek, in SA's outback, after roads reopened following heavy downpours and flash flooding. Picture: 7NEWS

The town’s publican and longest inhabitant, Trevor Wright, said on Tuesday communications “trouble” with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport caused local frustration, as the town remains isolated and cut off from road travel.

But thankfully for trapped tourists and locals, Kempe Rd, from Coober Pedy to Oodnadatta, William Creek Rd, between Coober Pedy and William Creek, and sections of the Oodnadatta Track reopened on Friday to four-wheel drives.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis warned motorists to be careful.

“Crews have been working hard to assess and re-open outback roads as quickly as possible, being mindful to ensure the safety of all road users and maintenance crews, and limit any further damage to the road surface,” he said.

“The reopening yesterday of a number of key routes to 4WDs is great news for local communities, as well as pastoralists and stranded travellers at William Creek who have now safely arrived in Coober Pedy.”

It comes as senior forecaster from the Bureau of Meteorology Simon Timcke said conditions had eased during Tuesday with a total 20mm falling in areas like Sedan in the state’s east as the weather event moved over.

Mr Timcke said conditions would be relatively dry in the Far North in coming days, but another weather event would move across the regions already battered on Friday.

“There’s another front moving across … I don’t think there will be totals any where near what we’ve seen in recent days but we will see more showers.”

Mr Timcke said relief was not expected for Far North towns until Sunday.

The Oodnadatta Track, flooded and turned to a mud bath. Picture: William Creek Hotel

William Creek recorded about 32mm of rain as of Tuesday morning. Picture: William Creek Hotel

Between 15mm and 20mm of rain is likely to fall on Friday and Saturday over “anywhere over parts of the agricultural area and pastoral districts”.

“There is more likely to be some thunderstorm activity over the pastoral districts, and that continues on Saturday,” senior forecaster Vince Rowlands said.

Mr Rowlands said parts of the northeast pastoral district could see the highest totals, but pinpointing locations was “tricky”.

William Creek’s town centre was flooded. Picture: William Creek Hotel

William Creek, where roads become invisible during the downpour. Picture: William Creek Hotel

On Tuesday, Mr Wright said the town’s residents and stranded tourists were “handling it really well” but remain concerned for supplies if the Oodnadatta Track couldn’t open by the weekend.

“People are saying ‘well, we can’t get out by then, what are the contingency plans we need to make?” he said.

Trevor Wright pictured with one of the Wrightsair planes. Picture: Tricia Watkinson.

“The one road we do need open to get everyone out is the William Creek-Coober Pedy road.”

He said free Wi-Fi had been offered to all patrons and guests at the pub, and food and drink prices had been cut.

Mr Wright, founder of the town’s Wrightsair airline, said one of his crews would fly over the road to assess the damage, and send a report to DIT to make an assessment.

An issue the town was facing, Mr Wright said, was that no DIT crews were in the area to examine damage.

A DIT alert was issued an alert on Sunday warning travellers to check local weather conditions prior to travel.

“Due to rain, several roads in the Outback have been temporarily closed, including Mount Dare to Hamilton, Coober Pedy to William Creek, and sections of the Oodnadatta Track,” the alert said. “These roads will be reassessed in the coming days.”