A cattle truck crossing the Cooper Creek on the newly commissioned barge. Image Credit: DLDIT

A $27.4 million heavy vehicle barge constructed from 12 bolted-together pontoons has officially opened for traffic on the Cooper Creek in northern South Australia today.

The barge is capable of supporting the weight of fully loaded cattle trucks and is reconnecting flood-cut pastoral properties in the State’s far north-east with processors in the south after months of isolation due to slow morving floodwaters which have cut the Birdsville Track.

The barge was jointly funded by the South Australian and Australian Governments under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

In addition to restoring cattle movements it also provides a restored link for freight, essential goods and tourism across the economically important outback route.

For much of this year, slow-moving floodwaters from record rainfall in Queensland have submerged vast areas across the Thomson, Barcoo and Cooper Creek river systems, covering some 32,000 square kilometres – about half the size of Tasmania.

The flood peaked at Innamincka at one of the highest levels on record, surpassing the major 1974 event.

The resulting inundation severed the Birdsville Track at Cooper Creek, cutting off access to southern meat processors for months and stranding more than 10,000 head of cattle north of the floodwaters.

The new barge, now operating and open to the public, can carry fully loaded A-Double cattle trucks, making it the largest of its kind in South Australia.

Constructed from 12 modular pontoons bolted together on site, it was assembled with the help of two heavy cranes transported to the remote crossing.

Rigorous testing was completed before its public opening today, allowing livestock transporters and other road users to book crossings through an online system hosted by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

Keeping South Australian cattle in South Australia

The investment is designed not only to reconnect remote communities but also to protect the state’s red meat supply chain. Without the barge, thousands of cattle would have been diverted to processors outside South Australia.

“This investment secures the supply of quality South Australian cattle from the region into our southern processing facilities, supporting jobs in the meat processing industry,”said Livestock SA CEO Travis Tobin.

“Producers in the northeast of the state are an integral part of South Australia’s red meat supply chain and regional economy.”

“Without this barge, pastoralists and other businesses across the region would have faced serious losses, and communities would have been left isolated for months.”

The project, which followed industry advocacy, showed what could be be achieved when government and industry worked together, he said.

The South Australian Government said significant works were undertaken on both approaches to the crossing to ensure safe vehicle loading and unloading.

Government ownership of the barge would ensure it remains available for future flood events, providing long-term security for pastoralists and tourism operators in the region.

The Birdsville Track, a 517-kilometre road connecting Birdsville in Queensland with Marree in South Australia, is both a vital supply artery for the state’s cattle industry and a tourism drawcard.

With today’s opening, regular transport operations are returning to the outback for the first time since the record floodwaters arrived.

Booking Information

Bookings for crossings can now be made through the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport website, where users can select timed slots and access information on costs and operating terms.