Hi all

A couple of photos of road damage at Strangways crossing about half way between Mataranka and Roper Bar.

When looking at the photo which includes my Mazda, look at 1.1m om the gauge beside it. One of the vehicles travelling with us went through that point with the gauge at 1.1m and then fell into the 300mm hole a bit closer to the bridge. Running water, unfamillar creek, over-confident, night-time, couldn't see the other side as the causeway went around a bend.

All the ingredients for somebody to die were there. Still don't know how they made it.

These photos were taken on 29th March on our way out when Roper had gone down to 8.5 metres.

Its now back up to 14 metres today and yet to peak so the damage is probably even greater now.

At 14.3 metres ALL of the Tomoato Is campsites are under. Even Bruce's (the "mayor of the square").

Hells Gate is currently 3.8 metres under.

regards
Ronj

bl..dy nuisance water destroying roads.

Hopefully the fishing makes up for it!

Im planning on hitting roper bar for a few days when its at the right level, never fished there before.

What are the chances that the road will be ok by the time it drops enough?

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Anyone got an idea how low the water will have to drop to before you can get to Tomato island campsite?I have a Patrol and am only towing a 14fter. I have a mate comin up from QLD and we where thinking of goin out for a few days at easter if the bl..dy rain ever stops. .

Cheers Rob

I heard the the Hodgsen crossing has a big hole ripped out of it the other day, anyone confirm?

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We tried to get back to the Hodgson from the Tomato Is side but could only get to the gully just short of it. Water everywhere. Trips over previous years as far as that gully indicated that the Hodgson bridge still well under though. Imprint in silt on road of a big croc so we weren't interested in going into water to

Three of our vehicles and crews are still at Roper Bar. They've had to move to radio hill next to the airstrip as the caravan park went under the other day and still rising. They can't fish or anything and are sick of playing cards.

I'll get them to go down to the Hodgson and have a look. take some photos. One fella has internet access via a dodgy mobile phone link to Ngukurr so he can e-mail pix to me for posting on FFF if u like.

Will Tomato Is camp be accessible by easter?

Maybe but the fishing will be rats...t for a while thereafter. We got down to Blackfella/Tuna/Crocodile and Prawn Farms in the last few days of March.

Dirty water was running back into the river. Much cleaner water running in via Tuna and Little Tuna but we flogged those creeks for 3 days for no result. Fish hadn't congregated. It'll take them a while to congregate.

Now river is 14m at Red Rock (it was 8.2m when run-off was back into river previously). Rule of thumb for river heights is that Tomato Is is half the height of Red Rock and Green Is is half the height of Tomato Is. 14m at Red Rock = 7m at Tomato Is = 3.5m at Green Is.

Whatever way u say it, it means lots of water in river.

I'd forget it until 1st week of May.

To get a vehicle over Hellsgate, the Roper has to be 10.7 or less at Red Rock monitoring site. That gives 500mm plus washouts at Hellsgate.

Strangways is true runoff so it depends if rain is experienced east of Daly Waters/Larrimah.

If the hole is in the Hodgson bridge I'd like to know how they saw it as its under 5 metres of water. Maybe they're talking about the southern approaches which usually fills up with sand.

Will get back with some info from the guys.

regards
Ronj

Spoke to the fellas at Roper Bar.

They've been down to the Hodgson a few times in the last week.

They're not aware of any hole.

A week or so ago, the fellas were there when a depth sounder was run over the bridge. It showed the bridge at 6 metres under.

River has risen significantly since then and best estimate now is 10 metres over bridge. River is approx 150 metres wide and water is up to hard road surface above normal flood level.

I see that Roper has risen again to 14.3 metres at Red Rock.

regards
Ronj

Sorry guys First time poster,hope this works Strangways is dropping out again .4 last night Water across the road in a few places included this culvert about a k from Hells gate which has about 4.5 over it

Great update Ronj, we have postponed the Roper trip this year that's a poop load of water. Mate of mine who lived at Ngukur for years reckons 1st week of May also and that's if it stops raining now so who knows. I'd like to be there when it does drop though it will be pretty decent fishing.

It better f$%king stop! I'm heading down on the 30th for 5 days, but i reckon there will still be too much water.

wow, should be some good fishing down there after the water receeds a bit!!! Same at the Vic!!

Good fishing off the Bar there too Turtle!! Used ti drive there from Katherine a bit.

Got my PB so far there LB off the old crossing a little upstream from the bar 115cm was a ripper on 6kg mono!!!

good updates on the roads guys!! Strangways might be ripped up and washed out little more now

Cheers for the info lads looks like i better come up with a back up plan