This detour over the Barcoo River between Blackall and Tambo stopped north and southbound freight on a national highway for a day and a half. Pic Owen Orange.

 After all the complaints and consultations and industry wah wah that followed Queensland’s floods earlier this year. It was all discussed, the broken channels of communication, the problems with keeping roads closed for far too long because of bureaucrats protecting their backsides and working nine to bloody five. All the government departments and industry associations have had their meetings and conferences but nothing seems to have changed.

Yesterday I posted a text I received from warren Orange while stopped with all other southbound freight at Blackall because of the ‘flooded’ Barcoo River. The trucks rolled and … well I’ll let Owen tell his story …

“FROM THE HOT SEAT: Well they finally threw the gate open at 10.30 A.M. & the charge was on after a day & a half of sitting around drinking coffee & standing around in groups solving the problems of the world especially the transport industry here in our fine country.

So off we go, with the hard runners leading the pack, jostling for pole position eager to see the mighty torrent of floodwater that has held us at bay for so long. Cars racing past so they don’t get held up by those bloody drug crazed lunatics in their big trucks. Then in the distance it appears, the mighty “BARCOO RIVER”, that has shut us down with it’s massive expanse of water.

The stop go people are there slowing the charge to a crawl as we approach the dangerous crossing & then there it is!

I can see it all, the absolutely awesome sight before us: NOTHING. We had been held until the water had completely gone – we could have got underway hours ago if the governing bodies’ had, SHOCK HORROR, got out of their warm bed & checked the road surface a little earlier.

There were drivers with cattle on that had to unload at the sale yards to feed & water the stock , fridge vans full of essential food stuffs heading north with their use by dates decreasing as time wore on. These are the things nobody cares about of course, unless your the person awaiting their swift arrival.

But I must say the local POLICE would do their checks & come back into town & announce over the loud speaker in the car an update of events, as did the local council workers after their recon mission & the staff at the BP couldn’t do enough for us so a big thanks to those involved trying to keep us in the loop & to get us going as soon as possible , “FROM THE HOT SEAT”