Widespread flooding in recent months has caused chaos for motorists and campers in many parts of the country but the signs are good that things are beginning to return to something like normal.
The ABC reports that dozens of campsites in South Australia’s Riverland and Mallee regions will reopen for camping in time for the Easter long weekend as the region looks to recoup some of its losses from floods.
National Parks and Wildlife Service manager Riverland and Murraylands, Sonia Dominelli, said prioritising camping was of great importance to a region in recovery.
“It was really good drying weather over the past few months, and we have had staff out on the ground doing a wonderful job to get sites open,” she said.
The inland lakes are full and make for a spectacular sight. PIC: SA Department of Environment and Water
And it’s not just along the Murray. For grey nomads getting out into Outback South Australia, some of the inland lakes are pretty spectacular at the moment and teeming with birdlife.
The South Australian Department of Environment and Water says that roads have now reopened to four-wheel drive traffic at the spectacular Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park and all SA desert parks, after floodwaters affected road access late last year.
It stresses though that the parks have reopened to four-wheel drive traffic only, with no towing allowed.
Listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, Coongie Lakes is one of the most spectacular of South Australia’s natural attractions. It is a pristine water source made up of channels, waterholes, lakes, internal deltas, shallow floodplains and interdune corridors and swamps.
National Parks and Wildlife Service District Ranger, Travis Gotch, encouraged visitors to head out and view the park while the lakes were full of water and birdlife.
“It’s looking fantastic at the lakes and with the Cooper Creek flowing it’s a great time to get out and see the park,” he said. “There is still water over the causeway at Innamincka on the way out to the park but it’s safe to cross … there is a possibility of further floodwaters travelling down the catchment next month, so I’d encourage visitors to get out and see the park now and over Easter while the roads are accessible.”
Mr Gotch said all visitors must buy a Desert Parks Pass. For up-to-date public road information outside of the national park, click here.
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Not sure where these visitors will stay as all the caravan parks that haven’t been flooded or still under water are full of the 3000 people left homeless from the flooding