The unexpected heavy rain which massively disrupted the travel plans of many grey nomads on the way to the Big Red Bash early last month has once again put the spotlight on the state of Outback roads.
In the lead-up to this year’s festival, 15 millimetres of rain fell in the area, cutting off all roads into Birdsville and leaving hundreds of travellers stranded.
Event founder and organiser Greg Donovan told the ABC that tourists travelling to the desert for the festival spent an enormous amount of money, and the unsealed roads had the potential to wreak further havoc on future festivals.
“It is a valuable event, and it brings a lot of economic benefits throughout Queensland,” he said.
Despite some travel hiccups, most grey nomads eventually made their way to this year's Big Red bash. PIC: Matt Williams / Big Red Bash
In 2023, more than 11,000 people attended the festival, with more than 80% travelling from the east via Longreach and Windorah.
“From Windorah to Birdsville, it’s nearly 400 kilometres, which I think about 220km is dirt road,” Mr Donovan said. “It’s a major importance to the event … to make sure the roads are safe.”
The ABC reports that the only other way to get to Birdsville from the east is via Bedourie, which adds an extra 600 kilometres to the trip — and there is still 15 kilometres of dirt on that road.
Mr Donovan, along with other business owners impacted by the unreliable nature of the unsealed roads, are now calling on the state government to invest in upgrades to the roads.
The ABC says an inquiry into state-controlled roads from Birdsville to Bedourie and Birdsville to Windorah will consider the necessity of upgrades.
“The best case is to seal the roads,” Mr Donovan told the ABC. “A couple hundred kilometres is obviously a lot of road to seal, so perhaps there needs to be a plan to do that over a period of time.
And he said the investment would make sense on many levels.
“Tourism to the outback is becoming more popular,” he said. “It’s a great way to keep people in Australia, rather than going overseas, by providing access to these destinations that they can’t otherwise access because of the roads.”
In a statement to the ABC, Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads said it would continue to seek the funding needed through various state and federal programs to deliver fully sealed road access to Birdsville.
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You get more bang for your buck when it comes to the cost of sealing an outback road. And 220ks of dirt on the Birdsville Development Rd would probably take a year or two to complete. QLD government just needs to commit.
Unlikely to be a priority, Qld Gov’t rarely leaves Brisbane unless i’s for members to take an O/S holiday!
Just came back from a stint from Port Augusta to Darwin, Kakadu, Litchfield and over to Mt Isa. The Stuart highway was second to none as was the roads to Kakadu and Litchfield. As soon as we got across the border to QLD they’d turned to crap. But of course we need Olympic Games
All the outback roads need major work as heavy transport is making them worse, but it’s needed for supply to the outback communities. Wonder where the taxpayers money is going? Not on roads that’s for sure.
Just did a Great Central Rd. What a way to link Qld, NT and Western Australia with a sealed road. It has been promised but nothing has happened. NT side is disgusting. The middle part is just ok and just out of Laverton it’s crap even with our tyres let down. If sealed it would save 1600ks instead of travelling the Nullabore plus two fuel stops and 16 hrs difference. Why do we have to keep pumping money into Tourist spots ie Broome, Margaret River when there are more in the great outdoors to see than these places. Let’s get a 3 state initiate going here it would benefit all including the little places on the way opening up Australia.
I have driven to Birdsville a number of times and to three Big Red Bashes (2018, 2022 & 2023) and also the Mundi Mundi Bash this year. Greg Donovan does a fantastic job organizing them and getting great entertainers. I have never heard anyone making the trek there complain about the current travel conditions and I will be going to Big Red again next year. This year was for a lot of people a disaster due to the heavy abnormal rainfall but the majority that made it through had the usual great time in spite of the mud and one very strong blast of wind. To me the prime reason for attending the BRB is its remoteness and the fun of the travel getting there and back home, particularly via the Birdsville track. Please don’t rush turning it into yet another paved highway as it will kill the enjoyment for most of us that have been driving to Birdsville and around the outback for many years.
I agree, I think the gravel roads and the risk of wet muddy conditions all adds to the adventure of the Tripp into the out back. If we bituminise it.. what’s next resort accommodation at Birdsville? no need for caravan and/or 4×4 to make the trip outback.
Agree 100%. I wouldn’t bother going to these places if it was just another boring sealed highway. The road is part of the adventure.
I agree. There are plenty of sealed roads for people to travel on if that’s what they prefer. We choose the unsealed ‘road less travelled’ for that reason. Less traffic, more nature. Don’t destroy the adventure that many travellers enjoy. It is meant to be the outback … leave it that way.
I also agree. I think places like Birdsville thrive from those whom want a bit of adventure. Do towns like this have the capacity to carry more visitors and would that investment be sustained over the years to come? Would those who love the challenge of the dirt road come back? These are also nested in fragile environments.
Why should all Queenslanders have to pay for roads so that a few people can hold a festival for a few more people to attend a once a year event. If people want to have sealed roads then they should pay. Even if they put a toll of $1000 per vehicle it would take many years to pay for the upgrade which would only be required on very few occasions.
And the 1000s attending Burning Man in the US has just found out what rain can do to a huge isolated event
Of all the States we’ve traversed in the past three years in our motorhome, QLD would have to get the gong for the worst roads outside their metro areas. The very worst and dangerous bitumen road to be found is from Charlotte to Emerald. Although bitumised it had deep drop offs and very uneven surfaces for hundreds of kms. We saw how the QLD govt has neglected it’s rural roads for decades. Overseas visitors for the Games will be in for a shock if they choose a few road trips into the QLD country areas.
Queensland has some shocking roads and the Government is blind. Plenty of bitumen roads in the capital so who cares.