Mary Pool Rest area open again !!

kiwijims · Guru

Mary Pool Rest area open again !!

TheHeaths · Guru

We were there 2 weeks ago, and if it was repaired in April, it certainly didn't show.

The cracks on the photo were still there and some areas of concrete were lifting.

That said, it was fine to go into, and there were 70 there the night we went in.

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Wednesday 20th of July 2016 09:07:46 PM

kiwijims · Guru

TheHeaths wrote:
We were there 2 weeks ago, and if it was repaired in April, it certainly didn't show.

The cracks on the photo were still there and some areas of concrete were lifting.

That said, it was fine to go into, and there were 70 there the night we went in.

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Wednesday 20th of July 2016 09:07:46 PM

Thanks for the reply Theheaths, I was wondering just how much work was done on that Causeway, seeing as it was only closed for two weeks.

There is nothing on the Main Roads Web site stating that it had been reopened to the Public, so I emailed them asking the question. I got an immediate ( pre written reply ) saying they would respond to my request within 72 hrs, that was 7 days ago !! finally got a ring today saying, " Yes all fixed and open again " makes you wonder, who is pulling who's leg ?

If anyone has a photo of the Crossing, taken after April this year, preferably with the date imbedded on the picture, I sure would like to receive it, I will then send it on to Main Roads, with a question or two,

This crossing could be a real trap if it was to break up in heavy rain, given the number of campers who use the Site,

We have also stopped there, at about this time of the year, the night we were there , we counted 150 Caravans & Motor homes packed in, "man" what a "Happy Hour" that was, went into the very late hours with live music from Grey Nomads, and camp fires going all over the place , Everyone had a ball and not a bad word said anywhere.

K.J.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

A great spot, I think they may have just removed some debris, from pics I have seen lately, no different from two years ago!

adrian foley · Member

We were there about a month ago,judging by the photo they may have cleared a bit of debris.While we were travelling through WA we could only praise the quality of the free camp areas especially up and around the Kimberley.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I am with you Adrian - free camps in WA are great!

Happywanderer · The Master

Looking at that photo I would say they have flattened and levelled all the rough bits.
Two years ago we had to find our way past some very jagged upright pieces of concrete.

kiwijims · Guru

Here's a funny thing that has just appeared on Main Roads Web Site, It's dated 24/04/2016 but wasn't on view before last week !!!!

https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/_layouts/15/alert.aspx?id=6652

I don't know how old the picture at the top of this tread is, it could be years old, taken before the Causeway really broke up.

K.J.

Bushpie · Guru

The chance of rain is non existant this time of the year and campsite would be fine for a cfew more months.

There would be no need to worry.

When the wet season arrives there wont be a grey nomad in sight the Kimberley is far to hot for the wise. I am sure the campsite will be closed once again as soon a sniff of rain is iminent in the area.

Sounds like a great place to hang out but it will be quiet a few years before we head back that way.........we have to do SA and the east coast first. I am sure that will take a few years :)

MOLLUSCAN · Senior Member

We drove in to have look 4 days ago and commented how bad the causeway surface was. No obvious sign of recent work. We liked the look of Ngumpan Cliff rest area with good facilities including dump point and resident dog.

kiwijims · Guru

Hi there MOLLUSCAN,

Well that sounds like there couldn't have been much work done by Main Roads,

Sounds like a P.R. job just to make it look good for future road funding,

It's a pity you didn't manage to snap a picture of the entrance, as I said, I'll gladly post one on with a Please explain request attached.

.................................................................................................................................................

BUSHPIE, I have worked in the North West, and I can tell you there's no warning when a flash flood can strike,

even at this time of the year. We were working on a new Telephone line in the area before Cyclone Tracy hit back in 74 ,

We had received a radio warning about the Cyclone and were in the process of pulling out of camp when the Boss jumped up and yelled "head for high ground" He had heard, what I thought was thunder, it turned out to be a 3m high flash flood, it came down a dry creek bed like a rocket, taking everything in it's path.

Although the weather was fine with nothing on the Horizon except blue sky , this flash flood had started from heavy rain on the Coast more than 150km away.

You just can't be too careful when camping in the North, expect the un-expected and be prepared, is a safe way to go.

K.J.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

unfortunately, with the demise of the millions the WA govt used to reap in royalties from the mining industry every week, it has dropped to put this state on the same level at Tasmania - a basket case.

The govt is trying to cut back public servants and restrict their annual pay increases to the CPI (more than those in the private industry get) but with little success.

For the past few years the govt has made each dept make "efficiency" gains - that means spending less and returning a surplus at the end of each financial year and this financial years Main Roads have also had their budget reduced. This many account for "less important" roads and other services having money spent on them

Bushpie · Guru

KJ after spending many years in the northwest.....travelling roads in the wet and sitting patiently at flooded rivers,creeks etc I stand by my comments earlier.

Cant figure why anyone would be working in a dry creek bed in December so you and your workmates were lucky.

The interest in the crossing at this time of year seems unwarranted given that mainroads do a mammoth job maintain roads in such a harsh environment.

A flash flood at this time of the year.......nah not happening, no need for anyone to be concerned.