Grey nomads trapped by heavy rains and treacherous conditions in Outback South Australia are on the move again.
Unsealed roads across the state’s far north are starting to reopen after a deluge in recent days cut several roads in the region, causing major issues for travellers and remote communities.
Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis told the media that, after carrying out inspections, maintenance teams had now declared several key roads safe for four-wheel drive traffic.
These include the roads going from Coober Pedy to Oodnadatta, and from Coober Pedy to William Creek, along with several other sections of the Oodnadatta Track.
“Crews have been working hard to assess and reopen Outback roads as quickly as possible, being mindful to ensure the safety of all road users and limit any further damage to the road surface,” Mr Koustantonis told the media. “The re-opening 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.”
But, with more rain on the way, travellers in the area are being urged to plan the journey and drive to the conditions
Senior forecaster from the Bureau of Meteorology, Simon Timcke, said conditions would be relatively dry in the Far North in coming days, but another weather event would soon move across the region.
“There’s another front moving across,” he said. “I don’t think there will be totals anywhere near what we’ve seen in recent days but we will see more showers.”
Earlier this week, an upper-level low-pressure system moved over the state’s north dumping heavy rain across the area. 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. Many stranded travellers were picked up by locals and other vanners and taken to William Creek to wait for things to dry out.
