Birdsville Track-Cooper Creek crossing to get new $27m barge but not in time for races

One of Australia’s most remote roads will soon get an upgrade but the timing isn’t great news for those making the trek to the iconic desert races.

A new $27m barge planned for the Cooper Creek crossing of a flooded Birdsville Track will not be operating in time for the annual Birdsville races.

The state and federal governments have announced they would share the cost of a barge with capacity to carry a B-double truck across the creek.

But a Department for Infrastructure and Transport spokeswoman said the barge would take three to four months to construct, cart to the site and launch.

“Unfortunately, it will not be operating in time for the Birdsville Races so we are encouraging racegoers to plan ahead to take an alternative route,” she said.

Travellers could add hundreds of kilometres and a detour via Broken Hill - if roads are open - to attend the iconic event.

Birdsville Race Club vice president Gary Brook said he was disappointed the barge would not be ready for South Australians planning on attending the iconic event on September 5 and 6.

The old ferry used for crossing the flooded Cooper Creek on the Birdsville Track.

“The irony is that we knew in April that this was going to be the biggest flooding event in the Cooper since 1974, and that the track was going to be cut,” Mr Brook said.

“One of the challenges through this period is the lack of information that has been provided. “From a Birdsville Races perspective, we’d love to have easier access to the races direct from Adelaide.

A flooded Cooper Creek cuts the Birdsville Track. Picture: Dick Smith

“People will still be able to access Birdsville for the races but it means that people are going to be spending their tourist dollars in NSW and Queensland which means SA businesses miss out.”

Gary and David Brook. Picture: Salty Dingo

The new barge will replace a 50-year-old ferry that could only cater for a single vehicle or trailer, up to 11.5m in length, meaning it could not be used by heavy vehicles transporting livestock.

SA’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport shifted the old ferry 320km to Maree for maintenance in 2022, where it has since remained.

The new barge has been welcomed by livestock producers and meat processor Thomas Foods International, which uses the Birdsville Track to transport sheep and cattle across the country.

Adventurer Dick Smith, who had been dismayed when he noticed no ferry on the flooded Cooper Crossing during a flight from Sydney to Adelaide earlier this month, said news of a new barge was “the best news I’ve heard all year”.

“I don’t reckon you’re a real Australian and unless you’ve been on the Coopers Creek ferry,” he said.

Originally published as Birdsville Track-Cooper Creek crossing to get new $27m barge but not in time for races