The ambitious goal of completely sealing South Australia’s iconic Strzelecki Track is slowly moving toward becoming a reality.
Work has begun on sealing and strengthening a 33-kilometre section, boosting flood resilience, road safety, and access along the key Outback transport corridor.
Major works are underway from Art Baker Lookout to Mount Hopeless, with drainage improvements, pavement rehabilitation and bituminous sealing set to improve network reliability year-round.
The start of these works marks the next milestone for the $215 million Strzelecki Track Upgrade and Sealing Project, which will create a continuous sealed road between Lyndhurst and Innamincka in the far north-east of South Australia.
Work on sealing the tarck is pressing ahead quickly. PIC: Department for Infrastructure and Transport
The Government says improving this section of the track will enable the road to remain open or be opened sooner after bad weather and floods. The track was most recently closed in late June due to a significant rain event, and several creeks flowing across the track.
Between September 2020 to July 2026, there have been 64 weather events which have impacted the track resulting in closures to all traffic for 229 days and restrictions in place for a further 585 days.
Currently, some sections of the track east of Moomba remain impassable due to flooding, with other sections open but with restrictions.
The Australian and South Australian governments have jointly funded $205 million (80:20) for the Strzelecki Track Upgrade and Sealing Project, with an additional $10 million investment from the South Australian Government.
The Chief Executive of the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, Jon Whelan, said sealing this next section of the Strzelecki Track would be another major step toward a safer, more reliable outback road network.
“A sealed, more dependable outback road corridor means fewer disruptions to travel and the transport of essential supplies and services, resulting in more investment, tourism and regional economic growth,” he said. “Under this important project, we have so far sealed 214 kilometres of the 472-kilometre Strzelecki Track, reducing crash risk and creating more reliable journeys for all road users who depend on this vital transport link.”
WIN DENI UTE MUSTER TICKETS
Grey Nomad members are being given the chance to win one of three admission and camping packages to the iconic Deni Ute Muster event in the NSW town of Deniliquin.
Each package is valued at $800 and includes two General Admission tickets, a reserved campsite, and early entry from Wednesday for the event which this year runs from Friday, October 2, until Saturday, October 3.
Click here to learn more about the competition.
For me it’s a disgrace, tracks like this are there to remind us of nature’s challenges but instead governments are continually wrapping us up in cotton wool.
The tracks are not there to remind you of anything. They are not there for you at all. They are there to provide access to our remote areas where some seriously tough people live and work. Roads like this are their lifeline.
Have you ever been there??
Thanks, Doug. My sentiments as well.
Spot on Australia is full of tracks…find another to use!
A sealed track is a lot better than a closed track. There are dirt road alternatives though Western Queensland to Innamincka if you really want to deliberately abuse your caravan and vehicle. And yes we have visited Innamincka on a number of occasions.
I suppose it had to happen eventually,, great for local properties etc but with better access comes more people,more rubbish (if u carry it in carry it out) and damage to the environment that’s progress.
I’ll miss driving the old track . Higher speeds bring there own problems. When in the outback drive to the conditions , and enjoy were you are , and learn to drive responsible. If the trip takes 1 day longer ; more peace and relaxation away from the rat race . That is why I go there !!
Fairly disappointed. It’s one of the great iconic dirt tracks to do in Australia which will become open to anyone with a vehicle. The biggest problem is that there will be an even greater influx of tourists and the infrastructure isn’t there to cater for them. Accommodation is limited, food and restaurants are limited. There will be more vehicles on the road which could potentially increase the amount of accidents. I’m glad I’ve done it before all this happens.
Hasn’t been a “track” for decades.
Definitely miss the adventure, everything to easy just makes us comfortably numb.Some things in life are meant to test your durability.What next coffee shops every 50 Kilometers.Spare me
Taking away the bush in the bush by sealing tracks like the Strez
You don’t want to get dust on your lifted highly modifed ute or its winch and super spotlights. Thank goodness we did the tracks when everything was basic and simple.
But but but will I be able to take my EV across
To all those who say it’s disgraceful and a waste of money, I’ll bet you’ve got a sealed road to your place. Don’t be so mean.
A mate of mine used to drive the Ghan on the old line and sometimes they’d be stranded for a week or more and that was a railway line. The dirt roads would be impassable for 2 or 3 weeks and they can’t get to town. The airstrips aren’t all sealed, RFDS can’t land. Can’t get an ill person to Hospital so they die all because you want to play on dirt roads. I say seal the bloody lot. I grew up in the Northeastern wheatbelt of Western Australia with dirt roads, best thing that ever happened was sealing at least the main roads.
thank you
I agree with you. Safety is needed for all Australians. Truckies will appreciate the sealing as well. As long as the tourists drive safely and communicate with all other road users this will be very good.
If when finished will the road be maintained or left to breakup and end up a potholed track worse than the original like most of the outback roads in Australia? Just drive the Newell Highway and you will see the result of neglect along many parts of the road not to mention the Gore Highway and most roads loosely called Highways in Qld.
Happy memories of my 1994 trip to Innamincka (via Thargomindah) to pay my respects to the Burke and Wills expedition at the Dig Tree followed by the Strzelecki track to Flinders Ranges.
All done in a 2WD, with a little help from a gas crew who towed us through the flooded Cooper Creek.
I was saddened when I learnt that the road from Thargomindah had been sealed. And now the Strzelecki? We enjoyed the challenge and adventure.
Recently visited the Kimberley. Won’t be too long before the Gibb River Road is fully sealed.
I have completed almost all the iconic inland tracks over the years, at least the easier ones, and very happy to have done them before they were sealed. However the Strzelecki and Outback Way remain untravelled for me and being in my mid 70’s now I feel that I have nothing to prove by bashing my latest camper trailer over yet more corrugations. So I am happy to wait for the blacktop although my active driving years are fast running out.
I do think though that those regretting the sealing honestly think these tracks are there for their amusement. Time to think of the greater good guys.
Thank you
I worked exploration around this area in the early 80’s, it is not meant for tourists & is very unforgiving…
Snakes lizards & dingoes rule the country, beware!!
The bit they are sealing is the most roadworthy section…..more vehicles will attempt the upgraded section and come unstuck on the northern part when the weather is dodgy which will trash the road even more. The Innamincka Regional Reserve desperately needs repairs and upgrades, as does the Track between Moomba and Innamincka. Meanwhile, the QLD access road remains a single lane bitumen access and the Arabury & Cordillo Downs roads are facing permanent closure. Why improve access at one end but do nothing for the other ends?
Destroying the ambience of an outback TRACK by replacing it with a suburban road ….
I did the Nullabor the first time when it was all dirt from just outside Norseman to Pt Augusta.
Yes it was a great adventure then but if it rained, all trucks ended up bogged to the chassis.
I continued crossing it over the years and saw the Eyre Hwy slowly get sealed completely.
I have now crossed it 30 times and it is a beautiful road.
Is it still an adventure?
Yes of course. Maybe slightly different to the old dirt road but I still look forward to doing it again which I will be doing later this year and love the drive almost as much as that first time.
I really dont believe you need to have your fillings rattled loose on the corrugations to enjoy our outback.
I did most of our outback roads including the Strzeleki Track when they were dirt and many are now sealed, and to be honest, I dont miss the corrugations or the mud one bit and I am sure that those people who live and work out there wont and dont either.
If you miss the adventure (corrugations)feel free to drive in the table drain all the way I am sure the locals will appreciate the sealed road
Can’t wait for the roads to be sealed, the corrugations are the worst, and I avoid wet clay roads because of no traction.
Maybe I have it wrong. But when we did the Strzelecki there was the original Strzelecki which needed a permit to travel and the new Strzelecki which I would think is the one they are sealing. If so what is the problem. If you want to try and wreck your vehicle there is a real test for the stupid people who will need rescuing and plead all sorts of innocence.
