Heavy rain in much of South Australia’s Outback has forced the closure of some iconic travel routes and left towns cut off from the outside world.
Yesterday, major routes out of Marree, William Creek and Oodnadatta were sealed, and the Birdsville Track and the Painted Desert Road were also closed.
However, despite the flooded tracks and treacherous conditions on muddy roads, there are concerns that some travellers may still put themselves in harm’s way
“My main concern, living and working in the Outback, is the promotion of mainly foreigners hiring these rental four-wheel drives and never having driven one before,” Wallaby Tracks Adventure Tours owner, Paul Keen, told the ABC. “Conditions can turn at the drop of a hat – sunny skies to a thunderstorm that can get the dry creek beds running.”
Mr Keen said he was just on a tour in which he had to take evasive action from an incoming thunder storm. He stopped two women in a hired vehicle and offered a warning. He also asked about food supplies and communications, but the pair continued on their trip.
However, he told the ABC a big positive from all the rain was that it would bring the Outback to life.
“It’s fantastic ,” he said. “Plants in the Outback are opportunistic and with some warm weather to come they will germinate and have an early Spring.”
