That is an interesting but not at all unexpected view on South Australia in today's editorial.

As a South Australian it pains me to agree but in reality I have to.

There really is nothing happening here at all because of a small minority of "Greenie doooo-gooders".  We have absolutely no new projects occurring here at all.
No matter what anyone wants to do there is always someone who feels it will encroach on their comfort zone and somehow gets it blocked.

We have a Government that is totally reactive (very slowly too I might add) unless it comes to putting in tram tracks. That occurs very quickly. But to get a desalination plant or run-off rainwater storage erected (both very vital to this state) there is too much talk and no action.

Apart from the Southern Vales the Barossa Valley, maybe the Flinders Ranges and very few coastal areas, there really is not much else to see or do. There is certainly nothing here that other states don't have and more of.

Let me also say that I love the place but I can understand why the public reaction is the way it is.  Would I live somewhere else??.......................if I were on my own and had no family here I would be full time on the road........so yes.....I guess I would.




-- Edited by Disco Duck on Friday 13th of November 2009 12:20:04 PM

Spot on DD. With all our young, bright intelligent people being lured interstate, I don't see a lot changing.

obviously more to south aussie than you blokes know about, plenty of houses and jobs available anywhere else, it's very simple to shift! I never will! actually it's the solitude and the wilderness that a hell of a lot of interstaters chase each year, no dengue fever, no great traffic snarls, no humidity, water is a problem as the interstate theiving mongrels keep nicking it!

SA is "A Great State"! I was born and grew up there, and my family is there. But, as DD tells us, it's the interlopers who stand in the way of logical progress. The River Murray, the l o n g River which flows through such a vast area and so many regions with their own unique points of interest, south of Adelaide anywhere is beautiful, the beaches are always great, the Adelaide Hills, and not just Mt. Barker and Hahndorf, both peninsulas, the wine regions, all of them, the SE Mt Gambier to Beachport, Robe for lobsters, the far west, the geography and the history it really is an interesting state with no theme parks. It's great for fishing, sightseeing and gives the traveller the opportunity to see the lusher parts down south, and the drier northern outback. There is so much happening in the fish hatchery and farming industries it's amazing. The history and some stunning old buildings are a great reason to check out for the architecture, and to follow the origins of each district, not just the English to Angaston, the German Lutherans to the Barossa and Adelaide Hills, the Cornish on the Yorke Peninsula, farming of all sorts across the state. Such diversity generates interest. But there are no rainforests, hugh gorges and waterfalls. That's what makes it different, but no less interesting. SA has surf on just about every beach. And then there are the whales off Victor Harbour and the west coast. SA has its work cut out promoting itself, creating awareness it seems. A huge community effort. How's that for a promotion? I'd like every traveller to really check the place out and spend some time there, and not just pass through on the way east or west.

No argument with you or DaveO, Granny. As I said I love the place but I don't think we have anything that other states don't have. It probably could be better if we could stop the mongrels upstream monopolising the water. But unless you have a view of it then mostly once you are about two K's from the Murray, you would never know it was there. It gets arid fairly quickly. Unfortunately, we don't have the big tourist attractions............................ BUT who cares??..................let them stay home and that will keep our prices down and we can enjoy our own state. I am not knocking....................merely making observations. More advertising and more development ................less crappy intervention is needed

Granny you forgot the jewel in SA's crown...the Flinders Ranges! Absolutely love that area, have been back several times. Interesting how the rabbit population changes the vegetation, we've often commented that the National Parks people never seem to do much about feral animals. However an "accidental" release of the Calisi virus in the area made a huge difference for a few years till the bunnies developed resistance to it.

And no other state has a Big Galah!

rosey wrote:

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Granny you forgot the jewel in SA's crown...the Flinders Ranges! Absolutely love that area, have been back several times. Interesting how the rabbit population changes the vegetation, we've often commented that the National Parks people never seem to do much about feral animals. However an "accidental" release of the Calisi virus in the area made a huge difference for a few years till the bunnies developed resistance to it.

And no other state has a Big Galah!

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But here in WA we do have a big ram at Wagin and a big Croc at Wyndham

 

As you all know.......I weekend camp a lot........prob been 8 times this year.....from South-East to Mid North....and to Riverland..MurrayLands..and Adelaide Hills.......I always thought I had to go to Vic or NSW to camp.....but this year.....I've found many places to visit....and I'm sure theres more out there...most being 3-4hour drive max...I may be bias to living in the Fleurieu Peninsula .....winerys less than 5klm away........beach .15min walk http://www.safilm.com.au/Location/Showcase.aspx?p=88&tid=1&cat=2 Dave

Place I liked was Kingston on the Murray, last time I was there we had to use the ferry as the bridge had not been built then.

We spent a couple of days camped on the river bank and just lazed about fishing and quenching the thirst with a few coldies, magic.

There's also a big merino ram at Goulbourn in NSW. I am sorry I missed the Flinders. Yes they are unique. And that's what the attraction is to all those places. They are unique. Tourism is a huge industry which boosts the economy and peoples' spirits and coffers. Every place is unique and has something special. It's all about marketing. While we may not like tourism and bus loads of people it brings, it certainly boosts everyone and raises the profile of the region. Unfortunately SA hasn't looked nice and green and lush for some time until the last winter. Now they have a good harvest. Survival is what SA does good. Droughts, bushfires, floods, good seasons. The state seems to deal with and overcome these things. That alone makes it a very unselfish state. Other states in this country could learn from SA. Keep that community spirit.

dave06 wrote:

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actually it's the solitude and the wilderness that a hell of a lot of interstaters chase each year, no dengue fever, no great traffic snarls, no humidity, water is a problem as the interstate theiving mongrels keep nicking it!

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You're right Dave. IT IS the solitude and the wilderness. The Flinders Ranges is on the top of my list. The "mighty" Pilbara is a close second. Need to return to both places........Sue

 

We have done the Strezleckie,Cordilo downs rd ,Birdsville Track ,Oodnadatta tr, Simpson Dessert.Eyer Penn, Adelaide,Fleurieu Penn,The Murray.
All very good .

Them dooooooooo          goooooooders are every where .

Against progress  , nomatter what form .

too late Ducky, you shot your bolt! we have had the luxury and good fortune of travelling all over the joint, seen what every state has to offer, stayed in some of the most beautifull places on earth, to pick the eyes out of australia huge ammounts of travel is necesary we take off at the drop of a hat, in fact I will often throw the hat down just to go, we are out more than we are home, we could live anywhere in australia that we wished and there are some absolutely fantastic spots that we could choose, sure we dont GLITTER like the other states but that is to me a major bonus for all round livibility, ease of access, diversity, and life fullfilment we chose south australia, we have it all, as chris and others said we have mountains to forests, fish to cray, wine to cheese, snow to deserts, you name it we have it, and we are central to everything else that australia has to offer, I could prattle on for an hour and not name half of the good points I honestly hope that the rest of australia takes note of the front page and decides that we are a horrible place and they all stay away, that way we can go and park under a big old 200 year old river red with a bottle or three of the finest pino noir that god has ever granted a license to (produced here in sa) chewing on a southern rock lobster, with a side order of freshly caught blue swimmer and ocean fresh tuna with a plate of the best cheeses that ever walked the rangeland, I can nibble on this manner from heaven whilst waiting for the bite of a big murray river cod all on a barefoot budget whats more we can enjoy this along so many scenic stretches of one of the mightiest river systems that australia has ever seen all in delightfull silence in the knowledge that there is not a living soul for at least 50 km's, some places 100 km's or more we can be in desert country and yet still have 5 star meals in the finest of restaurants, I can watch the sun set over a desert this morning and be dipping my toes in the great southern ocean by nightfall, standing on a mountain this morning and enjoying a blowhole by night, we have the best ocean scenic drives bar none, down amongst the peninsulas and the bight, we just dont brag about them, dont believe me then come and take a look, it will take your breath away we dont charge you to park or to fish or to come and have a look, snobbery is left at the border did I also mention we have the only true island "sanctuary" that is left in total pristine condition with very little interference from modern man, all animals are still surviving, just as they have for millenia cmon down and say G'day to a Koala at Kangaroo island, while you are there grab a marron and a beer and have a taste of heaven! dont forget the only true wild honey from that special bee SA should not be called simply SA great, it should be called SA simply the BEST! but if it's glitter and falsitys that you crave then stay well away, we's good old freindly country folk! you all come back now ya hear! if it's a smile and a great relaxing time then this is it I for one love every square inch of it and proud as all get out about south australia!!

Dave how do we find these place called South Australia is next island below Tasmania

Follow any arterial road out of any major city and you will find us, just look for the smiling state! they all lead here eventually!

too true, find a paradise and put up a parking lot! with entrance fees and parking doohickeys and bus only and handicapped, give me a gum tree by a stream anyday!

I used to like Adelaide but the new trams ruined it....Now you have to go to St Kilda to ride a real Adelaide tram and its just opposite the sewage works and can get quite ripe at times....
Was great while SA had a Gay Premier and Woomera was in full swing and you can't even get a Vanilla slice in Mt Gambier on a Sunday but you can by as much grog as you want.... When you consider that South Australains, unless they have their own rainwater tanks, get to dring the recycled sewage of all the towns west of the great divide it's no wonder everyone is leaving......
Then there are those bizzare murders, vast distances, and much of SA is below sea level, no thanks I'll take my chances with Canberra, at least Gays can get married here!

vanilla slices, cappuccino's, pastys grocerys anything you want in mt gambier or most central towns any day of the week Basil, more gays and child molesters as well as those politicians who as we all know are the weirdest of them all in canberra than anywhere else apart from sydney,

murders, bizzare or not are the mainstay of any city, sydney followed by melbourne, of course it never happens in canberra, if it does it is quickly covered up

your statement is a bit like sitting in kings cross on a saturday night and saying "ooooh I dont like nsw, its horrible all that drinking, fighting and stabbing and flesh, cant wait to get out of here" more to life than citys

the jewel in any state is the diversity and it's natural beauty, not citys, citys are a blight on the nation, placed there just to service itself and rape the surrounding landscape to feed itself and producing and contributing nothing, the city is nothing more than a cancer that consumes all within it's grasp

 most places I visit have nothing to do with the murray and therefore not recycled anything, if you think you are the first to drink that glass of water then think again it's already been through billions of guts

but yep I like the advertising you expell, I hope everybody believes it and stays away! we dont want you, we like it as it is, no loonies from interstate for us, just continue up and down the east coast, nothing to see over here folks just keep going, thats the way! up the coast you go! and down the coast you go!

-- Edited by dave06 on Saturday 14th of November 2009 12:07:23 PM

Maybe you loyal and faithful, extensively travelled Sth Aussies could tell your state government what they're missing by not leaving the burbs, and offer to be the promotion team. Someone over there sure has got it wrong. If it's not the people who live there, who is it?

state or federal government Like some people cannot be told anything they will do simply that which is in their own best interest to denegrate mount gambier simply by not being able to purchase a tart on a sunday is really very silly, especially coming from a state that can be covered up by a drawing pin, that exports nothing but poverty to the rest of the nation and hot air, manufactures nothing, mines nothing and really is simply a drain on the producers of the rest of australia and has as it's centrepeice a farmers dam mount gambier is one of the most beautifull citys that would rival any that I have seen with absolutely breathtaking natural beauty including such things as the umpherston sinkhole, a marvelous hanging cave garden, the hanging gardens in the centre of the city full of beutifull plants, the blue lake of course which is a natural fantastic wonder, little blue lake and is surrounded by natures majesty at every turn but I guess if all that matters is the gaining of a custard tart then why leave home to actually go and see all this, just go to your corner shop most of inland australia is "below sea level" so there is no surprises there, we often find sea shells and very rare fossils up in the ranges vast distances are representitive of australia, and must be endured to actually see things, part of the spectacle really, we can travel huge distances and not see another soul and whats more we like it like that I would gladly take up the position of south australias tourism promoter if it were offered but the trouble is it is occupied by knowall travel nowheres typical of the over educated non travellers

This is what you find at Southern Yorke Peninsular. A picture says it all.

They look a bit small DeBe. You sure they aren't undersize??

-- Edited by Disco Duck on Saturday 14th of November 2009 03:14:08 PM

Don't know what the people who took part in the survey are looking for but I found the Eyre Peninsular wonderfull in 2008 when I spent about 10 days doing a slow circuit,  I also love the green triangle area and if one has to visit a City give me Adelaide every time......last but not least, Adelaide Central Markets - food to die for!
And the cafes on the outskirts of the City, for instance down near the Vic. Park ex racecourse (what is it going to be now?) are wonderful too and many with outside eating not only welcome dogs, they can even have a small serve of what you are having on a disposable plate - Clancy thought he was it and a bit with eggs benedict for breakfast!
No - SA still has lots going for it!

Annie

The Gawler Ranges north of Eyre Highway provide camping, station stays and some wonder ful scenery. It's also access to the salt Lakes to the north, Gairdner and Everard, and a short cut to Kingoonya and Tarcoola, across the Trans railway line. There's always the Dog Fence or the Trans to negotiate through some magnificent country. Maybe it was city slickers who did the survey, and they can't see the view for the scenery. When I hear travellers say a section of somewhere was boring I want to scream. When they tell me they read a book or knitted coming across the Nullarbor I want to scream. Maybe it was the boring readers and knitters who did the survey.

Cruising Granny wrote:

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The Gawler Ranges north of Eyre Highway provide camping, station stays and some wonder ful scenery. It's also access to the salt Lakes to the north, Gairdner and Everard, and a short cut to Kingoonya and Tarcoola, across the Trans railway line.
There's always the Dog Fence or the Trans to negotiate through some magnificent country.
Maybe it was city slickers who did the survey, and they can't see the view for the scenery.

When I hear travellers say a section of somewhere was boring I want to scream. When they tell me they read a book or knitted coming across the Nullarbor I want to scream.
Maybe it was the boring readers and knitters who did the survey.

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My mother in law always says "There are those who do not have the eyes to see".  Apparently there a many of them doing surveys today.  We have crossed the Nullabor several times now and we have not been bored once, there is always something new to see.

 

We don't get a lot of the overseas tourists here and I wonder if some of that can be blamed on our airport curfew. There was a Qantas plane bound for Adelaide on Thursday night and when for some reason or another is was discovered that it was going to land seven minutes after the curfew closes at 11pm it was sent back to Canberra. We would have another 2 airlines at lease fly in here per day if it were not for the curfew. They can't make connecting flight times by sticking to the curfew. We lose again!!

Isn't that curfew about the residents who live in the vicinity of the aiport? I would have thought that by now they would have realised the curfew was holding up progress. Most curfews around the country have a midnight curfew which seems to be more useful. The planes aren't as noisy as they were when that curfew was set up, and they don't hang around long enough to keep anyone awake. There are lots of contributing fractors to stagnating tourism. It's not the roads, because they are very good. The rail is expensive these days, since it was privatised, but they're good trips to go on. Maybe SA should be promoted as the state tourism development hasn't wrecked. An example of how towns would be without resorts and all the glam and glitz. And bring back service - 7 days a week.

Ah Disco arent computers wonderfull you can make your fish look any size you like at the click of a mouse.