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Remote Communities Told to Vote Tomorrow – But No One Was Told

Posted on: 2026-03-13 16:24:57

Residents of Coober Pedy and other remote South Australian communities have been left stunned tonight after discovering that their opportunity to vote in the upcoming State Election may effectively be tomorrow — a full week before polling day.
The 2026 South Australian State Election is officially scheduled for Saturday, March 21, when polling booths across the state will open from 8am to 6pm.
But a little-noticed notice on the Electoral Commission of South Australia website reveals that mobile polling for remote communities began on March 10, with officials travelling to outback locations to collect votes ahead of the main election day.
For communities in the vast District of Stuart, which includes Coober Pedy and Roxby Downs, the commission has quietly scheduled a series of remote voting visits to towns and settlements across the region.
The problem?
Most locals had no idea.
The discovery only came after a Coober Pedy resident stumbled across a page on the Electoral Commission’s website listing the remote polling schedule.
Until that moment, many residents were operating under the assumption that — like the rest of the state — they would vote next Saturday, March 21.
Now it appears that for many remote communities, the opportunity to vote may arrive and leave days earlier, when mobile electoral teams pass through town.
Silence from authorities
What has sparked the greatest outrage locally is not the existence of remote polling — which has long been used in remote Australia — but the apparent absence of any meaningful communication.
Residents say:

There has been no widespread advertising locally.

No major announcements from local authorities.

No clear guidance from council about when or how people are expected to vote.

For many, the information has only surfaced through word of mouth and social media late on the eve of the scheduled visit.
That raises a serious concern: how many voters will miss their chance entirely because they believe they can vote next Saturday like the rest of South Australia?
Postal vote rumours
Further fuelling concern are reports circulating in the community that voting tomorrow may involve assisted postal voting rather than a traditional polling booth.
Residents claim they have been told that some voters may be “assisted” in filling out postal ballots when officials arrive, rather than voting privately in a conventional booth.
If true, critics say that approach raises serious questions about transparency and voter confidence.
At this stage, there has been no clear public explanation from electoral authorities confirming exactly how voting will be conducted when officials arrive in remote communities.
Democracy by stealth?
Remote polling itself is not unusual. Electoral officials often travel to isolated communities by road or air to ensure residents can participate in elections.
However, critics argue that the process must be visible, transparent and widely communicated — particularly in towns where missing a single mobile polling visit could effectively mean losing the opportunity to vote.
Without clear public messaging, some locals say the process risks looking less like accessibility and more like democracy by stealth.
Calls for answers
Community members are now demanding answers to several key questions:

Why was there no broad public announcement about remote polling dates for communities like Coober Pedy?

Why were residents left to discover the information by accident on a government website?

Will there still be a full polling booth available on March 21 for those who miss the mobile visit?

And if assisted voting is being used, what safeguards are in place to protect voter independence?

With voting in some remote communities expected to begin within hours, many residents are now scrambling to confirm when and how they can cast their vote.
One thing is certain:
people are asking how an election can be held in their town tomorrow — without anyone being told.
For a democratic process that relies on participation, the silence has raised a troubling question:
How many votes could be lost before people even realise the election has already passed them by?

37th Coober Pedy Opal Festival Announced

Posted on: 2026-03-13 08:07:36

Preparations are now officially underway for the 37th Coober Pedy Opal Festival, with organisers today announcing the return of the town’s biggest annual community celebration, set to take place 12, 13 and 14 June.
The festival has long been regarded as the largest community event on the Coober Pedy calendar, bringing locals and visitors together to celebrate the town’s unique culture, its opal mining heritage and the diverse community that calls the outback town home.
Each year the event transforms the town into a hive of activity, with entertainment, stalls, games and attractions designed to appeal to all ages. It is one of the few times each year when the whole community can come together to celebrate what makes Coober Pedy special, offering families, children and visitors a weekend full of colour, laughter and outback hospitality.
This year’s festival theme, “Play Colour,” is fittingly Coober Pedy. Known around the world as the home of precious opal, colour is at the heart of the town’s identity — from the dazzling flashes of opal pulled from the ground to the vibrant characters and culture that make the community so unique.
While the full program is still being finalised, organisers say acts and activities will be announced progressively as they are confirmed. Locals can expect a mix of entertainment, community activities and festival traditions that have made the Opal Festival a highlight of the outback events calendar.
One of the most anticipated highlights will once again be the spectacular fireworks display on Saturday night, lighting up the desert sky and drawing crowds from across the region.
Festival organisers have also acknowledged the generosity of local businesses and sponsors, whose support plays a crucial role in making the event possible each year.
“Events like the Opal Festival simply wouldn’t happen without the incredible support of our sponsors and community partners,” organisers said. “Their generosity helps bring the festival to life and ensures the community can enjoy a fantastic weekend together.”
As planning ramps up, the 37th Coober Pedy Opal Festival is shaping up to be another celebration of everything that makes the town special — its people, its opal heritage and its unmistakable outback spirit.
Further announcements on entertainment, activities and program details are expected in the coming weeks.

Fuel Prices Surge in Coober Pedy as Global Conflict Raises Familiar Questions

Posted on: 2026-03-11 10:33:48

Residents and travellers in Coober Pedy are once again facing eye-watering fuel prices, with diesel now pushing $2.79 per litre in town. The latest spike has been widely attributed to the unfolding conflict involving Iran, which has rattled global energy markets and triggered rapid price increases at service stations across Australia.
But the speed and scale of the increase have left many asking a simple question: how did prices jump so quickly?
The rises began within days of tensions escalating in the Middle East—far faster than physical fuel shipments or oil purchases could realistically move through the supply chain. Crude oil purchased today can take weeks to be refined, shipped and delivered to regional service stations.
Industry groups themselves warned this could happen. The NRMA publicly cautioned that geopolitical tensions often lead to immediate retail price hikes, even before higher crude costs filter through the system. At the time, the organisation urged fuel distributors not to use the conflict as justification for premature increases.
Yet across much of Australia, prices surged almost overnight.

Oil Prices Tell a Different Story

The justification most often cited for rising pump prices is the global oil market. However, a closer look at crude oil prices raises some uncomfortable comparisons.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, peaking at around $101. That spike was widely blamed for soaring fuel prices across Australia.
Today, despite oil trading below those earlier peaks for much of the current conflict, motorists in many places are paying even more at the bowser.
Recent figures show crude oil sitting around $88 per barrel, well below the highs seen in 2022.
Yet diesel in Coober Pedy has climbed to around $2.69 to $2.79 per litre, surpassing prices recorded during the earlier oil spike.
In other words, fuel is now more expensive in town despite oil being cheaper than during the Ukraine crisis.

What the Numbers Reveal

Looking at fuel prices over the past five years reveals some striking patterns.
In March 2021, when oil sat around $59 per barrel, diesel in Coober Pedy averaged about $1.46 per litre.
When oil surged above $100 per barrel in 2022, diesel climbed to around $2.46 per litre.
But while oil prices later fell significantly—dropping to around $57 per barrel in late 2025—diesel in town never returned to earlier levels. Prices remained stubbornly above $2 per litre and have now surged again.
The data suggests that while fuel prices respond rapidly when oil rises, they do not appear to fall at the same pace when oil declines.

A Regional Comparison Raises More Questions

A comparison with nearby Roxby Downs highlights another curious trend.
In the early years of the fuel spike, diesel prices in the two towns moved almost in lockstep.
For example:

March 2022: Coober Pedy $2.43, Roxby Downs $2.38

July 2022: Coober Pedy $2.46, Roxby Downs $2.43

The difference was only a few cents.

But from 2024 onwards, the gap began widening.
By June 2025, diesel averaged:

Coober Pedy: $2.21

Roxby Downs: $1.92

A difference of nearly 30 cents per litre.
Today that gap has grown even larger:

Coober Pedy: about $2.69

Roxby Downs: about $2.17

That’s a difference of more than 50 cents per litre between two towns only a couple of hours apart.
While remote communities naturally face higher transport costs, freight to regional towns is often estimated at around 10–15 cents per litre, leading some observers to question how such a large difference can emerge.

Why the Immediate Jump?

Fuel pricing is influenced by many factors beyond crude oil alone. Refining costs, exchange rates, distribution networks and retail margins all play a role.
But crude oil typically moves through the system with a delay. Fuel currently sitting in underground tanks may have been purchased weeks earlier at earlier prices.
That is why the speed of the latest increases has raised eyebrows among industry observers.
If higher crude costs have not yet worked their way through the supply chain, the question becomes: what exactly is driving the current price?

The Competition Question

Coober Pedy has several fuel retailers supplied through different distribution channels, yet their prices often move in close alignment.
Economists have a term for situations where competitors independently settle on similar pricing without explicit coordination: “tacit coordination.”
In small markets with only a handful of operators, highly visible price boards and limited customer turnover, businesses may simply follow one another’s price movements. No agreement is made, but the result can look remarkably similar.
Importantly, this behaviour does not necessarily imply wrongdoing. Fuel retailers operate within complex markets shaped by wholesale costs, supply contracts and global pricing pressures.
However, the effect for motorists can be the same. Little variation at the pump and limited downward pressure on prices.

Waiting for the Market to Settle

Historically, fuel prices have been known to rise quickly when global tensions emerge, only to fall much more slowly once markets stabilise. Analysts often describe this pattern as “rockets and feathers”- prices shoot up rapidly, but drift down slowly.
Whether the latest spike proves temporary remains to be seen.
For now, motorists in Coober Pedy are paying some of the highest diesel prices on the Stuart Highway, even while oil prices remain below the peaks seen during earlier global crises.
And as international headlines continue to dominate the news cycle, locals are once again asking a question that surfaces every time fuel prices surge:
How much of what we’re paying is driven by global events—and how much is happening closer to home?

Fuel Fears in Coober Pedy Unfounded as Social Media Claims Spark Unnecessary Concern

Posted on: 2026-03-09 09:17:07

Social media claims suggesting fuel shortages and rationing in Coober Pedy appear to be unfounded, despite recent posts circulating online warning of panic buying.
Over the past day, several local accommodation providers have reported receiving phone calls from concerned tourists asking whether fuel is still available in town. The concern appears to have been triggered by posts on social media warning residents not to “panic buy” fuel, alongside claims in a local online forum that fuel was being rationed in Coober Pedy.
However, enquiries made by The Bush Telegraph with local fuel distributors tell a very different story.
Suppliers contacted by this publication confirmed there is no shortage of fuel in Coober Pedy, with one distributor noting they had recently completed a delivery and have ample stock available. They also reported little to no evidence of panic buying locally.
The confusion appears to stem from a mixture of global headlines and unrelated supply issues elsewhere in Australia.
Internationally, oil markets have reacted to escalating tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Much of the global concern centres around the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow shipping corridor responsible for around 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply — which has the potential to influence global oil prices.
While these geopolitical tensions may affect fuel prices in the future, they do not translate into immediate shortages of fuel in Australia, particularly in well-serviced freight corridors.
Closer to home, some fuel stations in other parts of Australia have temporarily run dry due to recent flooding that has cut off road access and prevented fuel deliveries from reaching those areas. These localised disruptions are unrelated to global oil supply concerns.
Unfortunately, reports of those flood-related outages appear to have been conflated with international developments, creating unnecessary alarm online.
Travellers should also keep in mind that the Stuart Highway is one of Australia’s major transport arteries, carrying freight, food, fuel and essential supplies through the centre of the country. As a critical national route, it would be among the last areas likely to experience supply interruptions.
At this stage there is no indication of fuel shortages or rationing in Coober Pedy, and suppliers say deliveries are continuing as normal.
While no one can predict future global developments, current information suggests there is no cause for concern locally. Residents and travellers alike are encouraged to check reliable sources before reacting to alarming posts circulating on social media.

Two Minute Noodlers Brings Fresh Energy to Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2026-03-04 08:52:50

A new business is set to bring a burst of creativity and much-needed services to Coober Pedy, with “Two Minute Noodlers” opening on the corner of Hutchison Street and St Nicholas Street.
The brainchild of local identity Mick Watson and his partner Von, the new venture blends the town’s proud fossicking tradition of “noodling” with a playful nod to the humble two-minute noodle. The result is a concept that is as uniquely Coober Pedy as the opal fields themselves.
But this isn’t just about clever branding. The pair are packing an impressive number of services into one small block of land — something locals and travellers alike have been calling out for.
Among the offerings will be caravan, car and dog wash facilities, a laundromat, and a shop stocked with what the owners promise will be a range of “oddities.” Anyone who knows Mick and Von will understand that the word oddities probably means visitors are in for something far more interesting than your average roadside shop.
In addition, trailers, plant and equipment, and bikes will be available for hire, with plans already underway for a hairdresser and even a bakery in the not-too-distant future.
For a town that often struggles to access everyday conveniences, the idea of so many practical services in one location is a welcome development. From travellers needing a wash and laundry stop, to locals looking for equipment hire or something unusual for the home, Two Minute Noodlers appears poised to fill several gaps at once.
And then, of course, there’s the giant predator-alien creature looming over the business — a sight that has already raised a few eyebrows from passing motorists. Whether it’s guarding the premises or simply keeping an eye out for anyone who hasn’t paid for their camel sitting remains to be seen, but it certainly ensures the new business won’t be hard to find.
All jokes aside, ventures like this are exactly the kind of fresh, creative thinking that adds character and value to the town.
Congratulations to Mick and Von for bringing their vision to life. If their reputation for doing things a little differently is anything to go by, Two Minute Noodlers is going to be one of the more interesting stops in Coober Pedy.

Lunar Eclipse Draws Eyes to the Skies Over Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2026-03-04 05:59:31

Locals across Coober Pedy stepped outside last night to witness a spectacular lunar eclipse, with many treated to the striking sight of a deep red “Blood Moon” hanging over the desert skyline.

Under clear outback skies residents gathered in backyards and on top of dugouts to watch as the Earth slowly moved between the Sun and the Moon. As the eclipse reached totality, the Moon transformed from its usual silvery glow to a rich coppery red — a phenomenon commonly known as a Blood Moon.

What Is a “Blood Moon”?

A Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon. Rather than disappearing entirely, the Moon turns red because sunlight is filtered through Earth’s atmosphere.

The atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths of light (which is why our sky appears blue during the day) and allows the longer red wavelengths to bend around the Earth and illuminate the Moon. The result is the eerie red glow that has fascinated cultures for centuries.

Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye — no special equipment required.

A Rare Treat

For many locals, last night’s event was a reminder of just how brilliant the Coober Pedy night sky can be. With minimal light pollution and vast open horizons, the town offers some of the clearest celestial viewing conditions in the country.

Astronomy enthusiasts note that the next comparable total lunar eclipse visible from this region will not occur for approximately three years, making last night’s display a special occasion for those who took the time to look up.

For a town known for its underground living, it was a fitting moment — one where much of Coober Pedy emerged above ground to share in a quiet, cosmic spectacle.

Fringe in the Desert… Again. But Who Is Driving It?

Posted on: 2026-03-03 08:55:57

Last year Coober Pedy was told that bringing Adelaide Fringe to town was a bold cultural step forward.

We were assured it was a success.

When questions were raised about attendance, about free tickets, about whether the numbers stacked up, there was silence. No figures were produced. No breakdown offered. Just repeated assurances that it had all gone well.

Not long after, Coober Pedy Together announced it had incorporated and held an AGM. We covered that too. There was discussion about their constitution. There were promises of transparency.

Then nothing.

No report on how the AGM went.
No published outcomes.
No confirmation of membership numbers.
No financial summary.
No visible activity.

The group appeared to drift quietly into the background.

Which brings us to this year.

Two acts are reportedly coming to Coober Pedy as part of another Fringe effort. The comedy show Granny Flaps and the Tasmanian circus act Nimble are scheduled to perform on March 4.

On February 20, one of the performers reached out requesting help promoting the event. The reason given was simple. Ticket numbers were low.

A quick look around town and online suggested why. Aside from a few sponsored Facebook advertisements, there was almost no local promotion. No visible push from organisers. No steady build up. No community engagement.

For a show due to take place within two weeks, that is concerning.

We responded suggesting they contact the organisers and the venue to encourage promotion.

Interestingly, on February 23, promotions for both acts suddenly appeared on the Coober Pedy Together Facebook page.

Coincidence? Perhaps.

But it raises a reasonable question. Who exactly is driving this?

And more importantly, is this fair to the performers?

Coober Pedy sits 800 kilometres north of Adelaide. It is not a casual detour. It is a significant logistical commitment. Travel costs, time, freight, accommodation. Even if some expenses are covered, the expectation for any performer is that there will be an audience.

Yet Coober Pedy has never been a natural Fringe community. That is not a criticism of the town. It is simply reality. Our population is small. Our demographics are unique. Disposable income is limited. Living remotely is expensive at the best of times.

We are currently in a cost of living crisis. Groceries cost more. Fuel costs more. Everything costs more. For many locals, entertainment is not the first priority.

There are certainly residents who would enjoy live comedy and circus acts. That is not in dispute. The question is whether there are enough to sustain a Fringe model imported from Adelaide.

Is this a case of cultural enrichment that simply needs better organisation?
Or is it another example of someone pushing an idea that does not fit the community?

If Coober Pedy Together is involved again, the public deserves clarity. If they are not involved, then who is coordinating these events? What is the strategy? What lessons were learned from last year?

Because dragging performers nearly a thousand kilometres for an empty room helps no one.

Artists deserve audiences.
Communities deserve transparency.
And Coober Pedy deserves honesty about what works here and what does not.

If this year’s Fringe effort succeeds, we will gladly report that.
We also encourage everyone who can, to support these events and hope our article shines extra light on their plight.

If it does not, perhaps it is time to admit that some horses are better left in the stable.

Shell Coober Pedy Recognised in National Company Awards

Posted on: 2026-03-02 08:31:24

Shell Coober Pedy has been recognised with three honours in Shell’s internal “People Make the Difference Real” awards program.
The awards, run nationally by Shell, acknowledge service standards, operational performance and team culture across Shell-branded sites. Local staff were informed this week that the Coober Pedy outlet had achieved top recognition within the company’s internal benchmarking framework.
Supporters in town have been quick to congratulate the team, praising the recognition as a positive reflection on local workers and their contribution to the business.
The “People Make the Difference Real” awards are designed to celebrate service excellence across Shell’s network of operators. As an internal program, nominations and judging are conducted within the Shell organisation itself, highlighting performance measured against company-set criteria.
For a remote town such as Coober Pedy — where service stations play a central role for travellers, freight operators and locals alike — national acknowledgement of any kind is notable.
Whether such awards translate into measurable differences at the bowser or the checkout counter will ultimately be judged, as always, by customers themselves.
In the meantime, the local team can add three more certificates to the wall. Congratulations on another chapter to the ongoing story of big-brand recognition in small-town Australia.

Stuart Highway Closed Between Glendambo and Coober Pedy After Significant Road Damage

Posted on: 2026-03-02 05:49:17

The Stuart Highway has been closed between Glendambo and Coober Pedy following significant road damage near the Buzzard area, adjacent to the Peak Mines operation.

The closure, which came into effect yesterday, has left travellers and freight operators facing major disruptions along one of Australia’s most important north–south transport corridors. The affected stretch sits between the remote outpost of Glendambo and Coober Pedy, a critical link for freight, tourism and essential supplies moving between South Australia and the Northern Territory.

While details remain limited, authorities have confirmed that the roadway has sustained significant damage in the vicinity of Buzzard. The exact cause has not yet been publicly outlined, but heavy vehicle operators and local residents have reported visible deterioration of the surface in the area.

There is currently no confirmed timeframe for when the highway will reopen.

The Stuart Highway is a vital lifeline for outback communities, carrying everything from fuel and groceries to mining equipment and tourism traffic. Any prolonged closure is expected to impact local businesses, transport schedules and visitor movements, particularly for those travelling to and from Coober Pedy.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area and seek official updates before attempting travel. Further information is expected once road assessments are completed and repair plans are confirmed.

Residents and travellers are advised to monitor official traffic alerts for updates as the situation develops.

Coober Pedy Showcases Outback Spirit at SA Caravan & Camping Expo

Posted on: 2026-02-25 15:33:24

Coober Pedy is proudly flying the flag for outback South Australia this week at the South Australia’s Caravan, Camping & Outdoor Show, one of the state’s largest and most anticipated travel events.
Running from 25 February to 1 March 2026, the annual expo brings together more than 170 exhibitors and thousands of passionate travellers, road-trippers and outdoor enthusiasts. All eager to plan their next adventure.
Hosted by Caravan & Camping SA and proudly supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission, the five-day event celebrates the very best of the caravan, camping and outdoor lifestyle. From cutting-edge caravans and camper trailers to 4WD gear and swags, the show is a hub for those ready to explore Australia with confidence.
And right at the heart of the Road Trips Pavilion, where ideas turn into plans, you’ll find Coober Pedy.
Representing the town this year are George and Nicky Kontouris of Opal Direct and Jason Wright of Riba’s Underground Camping and Caravan Park. They will be joined later in the week by George Russel of Oasis Caravan Park, strengthening the local presence as the show heads into the busy weekend period.
Together, they are sharing the story of Coober Pedy. A town unlike any other. Famous for its underground living, rich opal heritage and authentic outback hospitality.
The expo provides a valuable platform for Coober Pedy to connect with fellow tourism operators and adventurous travellers from across Australia. It’s an opportunity to inspire visitors to venture beyond the highways and discover the unique experiences waiting in the state’s far north.
From underground accommodation and opal experiences to unforgettable desert landscapes, Coober Pedy offers something truly distinctive — and the expo crowd is listening.
Events like this are about more than brochures and bookings. They are about building relationships, strengthening regional tourism networks and reminding travellers that South Australia’s most remarkable destinations are often found off the beaten track.
With free entry for children under 16 and a strong family focus, the show celebrates the spirit of exploration — something Coober Pedy knows well.
As the expo continues through to Sunday, Coober Pedy’s representatives remain busy sharing stories, answering questions and encouraging travellers to add a little underground magic to their next road trip.
For a town built on resilience, community and discovery, it’s a fitting place to be. Front and centre, inspiring the next generation of wanderers.

Coober Pedy Showcases Outback Spirit at SA Caravan & Camping Expo

Posted on: 2026-02-25 15:33:14

HomePolice newsSA Police NewsTrafficDrink driver towing a car in Coober Pedy Drink driver towing a car in Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2026-02-24 07:16:49

A drink driver was detected by police at Coober Pedy last night while he was towing another car.

Police pulled over a ute on Flinders Street, Coober Pedy just after 11pm on Monday 23 February for a mobile driver test.

The driver, a 32-year-old man from the Northern Territory, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.234 - nearly five times the legal limit.

An inspection of the vehicles revealed a makeshift towing setup using a broken trailer drawbar tied to the front of a broken-down vehicle with ropes and straps. The driver had intended to tow the vehicle like this all the way to the NT.

He was issued with a 12-month instant loss of licence and his vehicle was impounded for 28 days. The vehicle was also unregistered and uninsured.

He was reported for drink driving and driving unregistered and uninsured and will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

Media Release here.

SA Water to Take Over Coober Pedy Supply — Long Overdue Reform or Election-Eve Promise?

Posted on: 2026-02-20 09:49:08

Coober Pedy residents have been promised something they have been asking for, loudly and consistently, for many years: the transfer of the town’s water management from the District Council to SA Water.
In a media release issued Tuesday, Ministers Joe Szakacs and Nick Champion announced that management of water treatment and delivery in Coober Pedy will be transferred to SA Water “by the end of this year.”
For a town that has battled unreliable infrastructure, ageing systems and crippling costs for decades, the announcement is significant.
But as with many things in Coober Pedy’s political history, the devil is in the detail… and the timing.

A Long Time Coming

Much of Coober Pedy’s water infrastructure was built in the 1970s and 1980s and has seen little meaningful upgrade since. Leaks, inefficiencies and high costs have been persistent complaints from residents and business owners alike.
The idea of transferring control to SA Water is not new. It has been raised repeatedly over the years, particularly during the town’s prolonged period under administration since 2019. Administrators were acutely aware of the problems and made persistent efforts to have the town’s water infrastructure privatised or taken over.
For many locals, state intervention in essential services has felt inevitable — even necessary — given the council’s well-documented financial struggles.
If SA Water does assume control, residents can reasonably expect:

Improved maintenance and infrastructure investment

Reduced water loss

Greater operational efficiency

Pricing closer to statewide norms

That last point alone could bring relief to households and businesses already stretched by cost-of-living pressures.

Credit Where It’s Due

Minister Geoff Brock, who has had a long association with Coober Pedy and previously visited multiple times while Local Government Minister, deserves recognition if this agreement has genuinely been negotiated and secured.
If he has managed to bring SA Water to the table and broker a workable transition, that is no small feat. For a town often overlooked in metropolitan decision-making, meaningful engagement matters.
But that’s where the cautious optimism begins.

No Date. No Model. No Guarantees.

The release states the transfer will occur “by the end of this year.”

There is no exact handover date.

There is no confirmed pricing structure.

There is no publicly released transition plan.

And this announcement arrives on the eve of a state election.
That timing will not be lost on residents who have seen promises made before, sometimes loudly, sometimes confidently — only to watch them fade after ballots are counted.
Is this a genuine structural reform that will finally stabilise essential services in one of South Australia’s most unique communities?
Or is it a carefully timed reassurance designed to soften political ground in a regional electorate?

A Town on Its Knees

It is no exaggeration to say Coober Pedy has been struggling for years.
Water has not been the only issue. Policing shortages, hospital pressures, council administration, infrastructure decay. The list is long and well documented.
The town has not just been asking politely for reform. It has been pleading.
Residents have endured uncertainty and instability long before any election promise was dangled.
If this move represents real structural change and backed by funding, engineering expertise and a firm transition timeline… it could mark a turning point.
If it is simply an announcement without follow-through, it risks deepening the cynicism many regional communities already feel toward Adelaide.

Hope — With Eyes Open

There is room here for cautious hope.
State-level management of essential services makes practical sense. SA Water has the scale, expertise and financial capacity that a small outback council simply does not.
But Coober Pedy residents have learned the hard way to listen carefully to what is not said as much as what is.
Until a formal agreement is signed, a handover date locked in, and pricing confirmed, this remains a promise — not a transformation.
The town will be watching closely.
And this time, it will remember.

Brandon Turton Visits Coober Pedy, Hears Concerns from the Ground

Posted on: 2026-02-15 15:53:06

Coober Pedy, SA — One Nation’s candidate for the vast electorate of Stuart, Brandon Turton, spent the weekend in Coober Pedy, meeting with locals, touring the opal fields and listening to the concerns of residents who say they often feel overlooked by major parties.

Turton’s visit included time in the township as well as out on the opal fields — the lifeblood of the region — where he spoke directly with miners and small business operators about the challenges of operating in remote South Australia. Rising costs, regulation, declining services and political disconnect were recurring themes throughout the discussions.

Unlike many political hopefuls who pass briefly through remote communities during campaign season, locals noted that Turton appeared willing to take the time to listen.

“He actually asked questions and waited for the answers,” one resident said. “It felt less like a photo opportunity and more like a conversation.”

Firearms Laws and Election Silence

A key stop on Turton’s itinerary was the Coober Pedy Shooters Club, where firearms legislation became a central topic of discussion.

Club members raised concerns about what they described as the Federal Labor Government’s rushed push toward new firearms legislation earlier in the year — followed by what one member described as “crickets and tumbleweed.”

A significant question posed during the discussion was whether the approaching federal election has prompted a pause in progressing controversial reforms.

“If they’re making all these promises but staying quiet on their firearms laws intentions, you can bet they don’t have anything good to tell firearms owners,” one club member said.

Attendees expressed concern that, in a largely rural state such as South Australia, unpopular firearms changes would likely be politically sensitive in the lead-up to an election. The perceived silence on the issue, several suggested, was telling.

A Broader Political Shift?

Beyond firearms policy, conversations throughout the weekend reflected deeper frustrations — with cost-of-living pressures, infrastructure neglect, service shortages and what many described as a widening disconnect between metropolitan decision-makers and regional realities.

What appeared evident across multiple discussions was a noticeable openness toward One Nation among some voters. Several constituents openly stated they intended to switch their vote, while others spoke of friends and family considering the same move.

Whether this sentiment represents a broader turning point in regional political alignment remains to be seen. However, the mood in Coober Pedy this weekend suggested that, at the very least, some voters are reconsidering traditional loyalties.

As the election approaches, visits like Turton’s may prove significant — not merely for campaign optics, but for the conversations happening quietly in regional halls, opal fields and shooting clubs across the state.

Coober Pedy: Paying the Most, Getting the Least

Posted on: 2026-02-13 07:17:10

There is something deeply wrong in Coober Pedy.

For years, our 1-kilometre dirt road — a main access route used by tourists, freight operators and livestock transport travelling to and from William Creek — was graded regularly. It wasn’t perfect. But it was maintained.

In the last 18 months, it has been graded once.

Today it is badly corrugated. The vibration is relentless. Suspension damage is inevitable. I will likely be up for my third wheel balance in 12 months — not because of reckless driving, but because of neglect.

And this is not a quiet residential cul-de-sac. This is a primary access road servicing business, tourism and freight.

So the obvious question is:

Is this happening to other dirt road residents across Coober Pedy?

Commercial Rates. Rural Standards.

We pay commercial rates because we operate a business from our property. We are about to open for the season. Visitors will travel this road to reach us.

Ten days ago, we submitted a written request to council.

We have received no acknowledgment.

No confirmation of receipt.

No timeline.

No grading.

There is now a rumour circulating that council does not even have a functioning grader.

If that is true, it is beyond incompetence. It is scandalous.

A town built almost entirely on dirt roads — without the machinery to maintain them? That is not a budget oversight. That is systemic failure.

The Highest Rates in Australia

And here is where the anger turns to disbelief.

According to the 2024/25 rates comparison table, Coober Pedy sits at the very top of South Australian council charges — and among the highest in the nation when comparing equivalent property values.

On a $200,000 property:

The average fixed + variable charge across councils is approximately $931.

Coober Pedy’s equivalent charge sits at over $3,000.

The cents-in-the-dollar rate is dramatically higher than metropolitan councils.

We are not marginally higher.

We are astronomically higher.

We are paying city-level — and in many cases above city-level — rates in a remote town receiving near-zero service return.

How is this defensible?

And Then There’s the Water

Let’s talk about water.

Residential and commercial water in Coober Pedy is charged at:

$9.00 per kilolitre (first tier)

$12.60 per kilolitre (second tier)

$14.36 per kilolitre (third tier)

At the upper tiers, that equates to roughly $15 per kilolitre — making it the highest in Australia.

Our closest comparable town pays roughly one-third of that.

We live in a remote environment. We understand logistics cost money. But three times the cost of comparable towns?

At what point does “regional pricing” become price gouging?

Years of Administrators. Years of Decline.

Coober Pedy has endured a revolving door of administrators and CEOs.

Each promising stability.

Each promising reform.

Each leaving us deeper in debt and with higher charges.

Roads deteriorate.

Costs rise.

Communication disappears.

Where is the accountability?

Where is the long-term financial recovery plan that actually benefits residents?

Where is the infrastructure investment?

Where Is the State Government?

Peter Malinauskas has toured regional South Australia extensively during election campaigns. Promises were made. Commitments given. Photo opportunities taken.

But Coober Pedy continues to crumble under the weight of its own council structure.

Is our electorate too small to matter?

Are we simply an inconvenient dot on the map?

Because from where we stand — on a corrugated, neglected dirt road — that is exactly how it feels.

Paying the Most. Receiving the Least.

This is not just about one road.

It is about a pattern.

Highest rates.

Highest water prices.

Deteriorating infrastructure.

Silence from council.

Silence from state government.

Coober Pedy residents are resilient. We have built businesses in one of the harshest environments in Australia. We understand hardship.

But resilience should not be mistaken for tolerance.

We are not asking for extravagance.

We are asking for basic governance.

If council does not have a functioning grader, tell us.

If finances are in crisis, show us the books.

If state support is required, demand it publicly.

Because what we have now is the worst combination possible:

Extraordinary cost.

Minimal service.

No transparency.

And that is unsustainable.

The question is no longer whether residents are frustrated.

The question is: how long before that frustration turns into something far more organised?

Citizen of the Year Award Finally Reflects the Community

Posted on: 2026-01-26 12:50:14

Each year on Australia Day, South Australia recognises individuals whose quiet, tireless service strengthens the social and cultural fabric of their communities through the Citizen of the Year Awards.

The awards, conducted by the Australia Day Council of South Australia in partnership with local councils, are intended to honour the unsung heroes — people whose contributions often go unseen but whose impact is deeply felt by those around them.

In Coober Pedy, however, the intent of the award has not always aligned with its outcomes.

In recent years, council decisions around the Citizen of the Year have been, at best, curious and, at worst, outright baffling. The decision to award the same recipient two years in a row sent a clear message to the community — that apparently no one else was worthy. Last year’s choice left many residents openly scratching their heads.

For some, it felt like the decisions were being made by people increasingly disconnected from the town itself. Given other questionable choices made by an unelected layer of administrators and CEOs overseeing local governance, that perception was hardly surprising. To many residents, it appeared as though outside “consultants” were shaping outcomes, rather than the lived reality of the community.

This year’s decision, however, marks a sharp and welcome departure.

Dawn Jones has been named Coober Pedy’s Citizen of the Year, and for once, the response has been near-universal agreement.

For as long as many locals can remember, Dawn has worked tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome lost and injured dogs and cats. Often operating with little support, she has repeatedly stepped in where systems have failed — doing the work of council services, and at times even filling gaps left by unavailable veterinary care.

Her efforts have not been occasional or symbolic. They have been relentless, hands-on, and frequently carried out at personal cost. Sleepless nights, emergency call-outs, and the emotional toll of animal rescue are part of her everyday reality — all undertaken quietly, without expectation of recognition.

This year, that work has finally been acknowledged.

Across Coober Pedy, congratulations for Dawn have come from all walks of life. It is a rare moment when a civic award genuinely reflects the values and lived experience of the town it represents.

After years of questionable selections, the 2026 Citizen of the Year award feels both overdue and well-earned — a reminder of what the honour is meant to represent, and of the people who truly hold communities together.

Opinion: Coober Pedy Has Been Warning You for Years – Now the System Is Breaking

Posted on: 2026-01-21 22:52:10

For those of us who live in Coober Pedy, none of this comes as a surprise.
The latest revelations about dangerous police shortages, community constables being forced into frontline roles, and incidents simply going unattended are not a sudden crisis. They are the inevitable outcome of years of neglect, ignored warnings, and hollow assurances from both SAPOL leadership and the state government.

We have been raising the alarm for a long time. Not quietly. Not politely. We have written, complained, reported, and pleaded. Yet here we are, reading a police union letter that confirms what locals have known for nearly a decade: Coober Pedy has been under-policed, under-resourced, and effectively abandoned.

Nine out of nineteen police positions vacant. Community constables – employed specifically to build trust and cultural bridges – being pushed into general policing roles they are neither trained nor meant to perform. One individual sometimes left to police an entire town alone. That is not “challenging regional policing”. That is systemic failure.

And it is dangerous – for residents, for visitors, and for police themselves.

Coober Pedy is not just another country town. It is a regional hub with a transient population, serious social challenges, and responsibility for policing vast, remote areas including the APY Lands. Backup is hours away. Alcohol-fuelled violence is not theoretical – it is a reality. Yet somehow, decision-makers in Adelaide continue to act shocked when the cracks finally split wide open.

What makes this worse is that none of this was unforeseen. According to the police union, these concerns have been raised repeatedly with SAPOL leadership – twenty times in three years – with minimal response. Workplace safety reports piled up. Industrial disputes were lodged. Still, nothing meaningful changed.

Meanwhile, the state government continues its well-rehearsed routine.

We get the photo-op whistle-stop tours. The hard hat. The high-vis vest. The carefully framed smiles as the Premier breezes through regional South Australia, promising to “listen” and “invest” before moving on to the next camera angle.

Yet when it comes to confronting extreme, uncomfortable realities – like a town being left without adequate policing for years – there is silence, deflection, or bureaucratic wordplay.

Take your pick.

And while we’re at it, let’s not mention the Premier’s ongoing failures elsewhere. Except, of course, we should.

Ambulance ramping remains unresolved. Hospitals remain under pressure. Regional health services are stretched beyond breaking point. And then there’s the algal bloom issue – quietly ignored, downplayed, and effectively swept under the rug until the election was safely out of the way.

So yes, let’s not mention it. Except everyone out here noticed.

What this latest police union letter really exposes is not just a staffing crisis at one station, but a broader pattern: regional communities are expected to cope, adapt, and absorb risk while Adelaide reassures itself that “record funding” and recruitment statistics somehow translate into boots on the ground where they are actually needed.

Numbers on a budget line don’t stop violence.
Press releases don’t answer emergency calls.
And incentives don’t help when people are burned out, unsupported, and sent into unsafe situations.

Coober Pedy deserves better than being an afterthought.
Community constables deserve better than being used to patch staffing holes.
And residents deserve the basic expectation that when they call police, someone will actually come.

This situation did not appear overnight. It was built through years of inaction, oversight failures, and political complacency under the watch of the state government – including Premier Peter Malinauskas.

If the government is serious about regional South Australia, it’s time to stop touring it and start fixing it.

Because from where we stand, the warnings were loud, clear, and ignored – and now everyone is paying the price.

Driver escapes serious injury

Posted on: 2026-01-12 10:32:29

A driver has narrowly avoided serious injury after crashing into a licensed premises in Coober Pedy overnight.
Police were called to Hutchison Street about 11.20pm on Sunday, January 11, following reports a Holden sedan had crashed into the side of a beer garden at a local venue. The vehicle sustained significant front-end and undercarriage damage, while the building was also damaged.
The driver had left the scene before police arrived, but officers later located the alleged driver nearby. A 55-year-old man from Whyalla Stuart was taken to hospital with minor injuries, where a mandatory blood sample was taken for drug and alcohol testing. Police investigations into the crash are continuing.

Teen to Face Youth Court Over Coober Pedy Break-In and Car Theft

Posted on: 2025-12-29 20:56:09

A 17-year-old boy from Coober Pedy is due to face the Youth Court today after being charged in relation to a break-in and car theft at a local caravan park last week.
Police were called to the caravan park at about 4.30am on Friday, 26 December, following reports that a person had broken into one of the cabins. During the incident, two sets of car keys and a vehicle were allegedly stolen.
It is alleged the boy used the stolen car to ram the caravan park gates before driving around town. The vehicle later became bogged on the side of the Stuart Highway.
Police allege the boy then returned to the caravan park with another person and attempted to take a second vehicle but was frightened off by staff.
Police attended both the caravan park and the location of the bogged vehicle, which was recovered with the assistance of a member of the public. Crime scene investigators examined the car, and further investigation led police to search a house on Giles Street, where the boy was located and arrested.
The second set of stolen car keys was also recovered.
The boy has been charged with theft, illegal use of a motor vehicle, property damage, and driving unlawfully. Bail was refused, and he is scheduled to appear in the Coober Pedy Youth Court today, Monday, 29 December.

Drink-Driver Stopped in Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2025-12-22 23:56:47

Far North Region – South Australia Police

Just after 10 pm on Sunday 21 December 2025, officers from South Australia Police stopped a Holden station wagon on Grey Street in Coober Pedy during routine patrols and roadside testing. A female driver returned a positive breath-analysis result for alcohol well above the legal limit.

As a result of the test, police immediately suspended her learner driver’s licence for a period of 6 months. Further enforcement actions are expected as the matter progresses through the legal system.

SA Police remind motorists that drink and drug-driving laws are strictly enforced throughout the holiday period, with targeted operations continuing across the Far North and statewide to keep communities safe. Police urge all drivers to plan ahead, nominate a sober driver, or use alternative transport if consuming alcohol. Stay safe — don’t drink or drug-drive this holiday season.

New Exploration Release Raises Fresh Fears for the Future of the Opal Industry

Posted on: 2025-12-01 09:34:18

The South Australian Government has announced more than 11,000 km² of new Exploration Release Areas (ERAs) in the Northern Gawler Craton, opening 16 parcels of land for competitive tender in early 2026. The move, promoted as a major opportunity for copper, gold, nickel and other strategic minerals, has been welcomed by the mining sector — but it has also reignited concerns about the long-term future of Coober Pedy’s opal industry.

While the government’s statement highlights the region’s potential for “critical minerals,” it makes no mention of opal. For many in the region, that omission speaks volumes.

A Pivot to Base Metals — But at What Cost?

According to Energy and Mining Minister Tom Koutsantonis, the new release follows promising geological results from the National Drilling Initiative. The government is positioning the area as one of the country’s most exciting new frontiers for metal exploration.

On paper, this is a win for investment in South Australia.

But on the ground, particularly around Coober Pedy, the announcement lands differently.

In recent months, our publication has examined exploration licences already issued within established opal-mining territory, raising questions about how closely new tenures are creeping toward the township’s historic opal fields. This latest announcement expands the footprint again — not into the town itself, but outwards from existing mineral licences that already encroach on known opal-bearing regions.

The pattern is becoming difficult to ignore.

The Silence on Opal

Official releases from the Department for Energy and Mining have consistently referred to “minerals,” “base metals,” and “strategic commodities” — language aligned with national and international demand for resources tied to the renewable-energy supply chain.

Opal, Australia’s national gemstone, does not appear anywhere in the government narrative. Nor does the future of the industry that has defined Coober Pedy since the early 20th century.

No one is suggesting the government intends to shut down opal mining outright. But the absence of opal from these major land-release discussions is becoming increasingly conspicuous, especially when the land in question borders — and in some cases overlaps — zones still considered prospective for future opal discoveries.

If the Northern Gawler Craton becomes dominated by large-scale mineral tenements, then opportunities for small-scale opal prospecting could shrink to a fraction of what existed even a decade ago.

A Slow Squeeze, Not a Sudden Death

It would be premature to declare the opal industry “finished.” There are still active fields, existing tenures, and years — potentially decades — of mining left in parts of the region.

Yet for anyone familiar with the history of resource development, the direction of travel is clear:

More land is being prioritised for base-metal exploration.

Larger companies are being invited into regions traditionally worked by small opal miners.

Existing licences already sit inside the opal fields.

New releases are expanding those zones outward, further restricting any future opal-bearing ground.

Put simply: opal isn’t being banned — it’s being overshadowed.

And when major players with billion-dollar budgets move into a region, history shows that smaller, semi-nomadic industries like opal mining are often pushed to the margins, not by policy but by the practical realities of access, land availability and exploration dominance.

What This Means for Coober Pedy

For the town built on opal, the announcement adds to a growing unease. The industry has already weathered decades of fluctuating prices, rising costs, and diminishing easy ground. Many miners had hoped the Northern Gawler region would be the next frontier — the place where new generations might strike fresh pockets.

Now, those same areas are being packaged for copper, gold and nickel exploration instead.

Nobody can say definitively what lies beneath the newly released parcels. They may never become mines. But the very act of locking them into mineral-exploration tenures effectively removes them from the pool of potential opal-prospecting regions.

If the opal industry is to survive long-term, it may need both policy clarity and land-use transparency — assurances that it will not simply be squeezed out at the edges until nothing remains.

A Turning Point Worth Watching

This latest ERA release might not be the “final nail” in the opal industry’s coffin, but it is unquestionably another nail, hammered in quietly under the banner of economic opportunity.

Whether the community responds with advocacy, inquiry, or resignation remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: every new mineral release reshapes the map of what the opal future can look like — and that future is shrinking.

Knife Incidents at School Spark Questions Over Student Safety and Departmental Policy

Posted on: 2025-11-28 11:30:15

A series of concerning reports from local students this year has raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of current school safety policies, particularly as knife-related incidents continue to make national headlines.

Multiple parents have confirmed that their children witnessed separate occasions in which students allegedly brought knives onto school grounds. In at least one instance, another student is understood to have quietly removed the knife when the offending child was distracted, preventing a possible situation from escalating. The school is believed to have taken disciplinary action in each case, but no broader notice was issued to the wider parent community.

While protecting the privacy of the children involved is essential, these incidents highlight an uncomfortable reality: the systems designed to keep dangerous items out of schools may no longer be keeping pace with modern risks.

A National Wake-Up Call

The issue gained renewed attention after the disturbing story out of Melbourne this week, where an eight-year-old boy was stabbed at a primary school. A teacher was also injured in the chaos. According to national reports, the school has faced criticism for allegedly downplaying the severity of the incident.

This is not an isolated problem confined to a single jurisdiction — it is part of a growing pattern that suggests schools across Australia are encountering challenges in managing student behaviour, supervision, and compliance with banned items.

Phones Banned, Yet Still Filming

Adding to local concerns is the reported resurgence of organised fights occurring in student amenities blocks, with children using mobile phones to film assaults and distribute the footage among peers via messaging apps and social media.

Mobile phones were banned in schools across the state some time ago for precisely this reason. Yet, these incidents indicate that enforcement is inconsistent and that some students are still managing to bring devices onto school grounds unnoticed.

This combination, weapons in pockets and phones used for broadcasting violence, poses a serious question: are the existing rules actually enforceable without more robust screening methods?

Schools Doing Their Best — But Are They Being Supported?

Local educators and school leadership are understood to have handled each knife incident internally, and staff routinely work under significant pressure to manage student behaviour safely and sensitively. The broader community recognises that teachers cannot physically search students, nor can they be expected to catch every prohibited item without additional tools or clear legislative backing.

That responsibility sits with the Education Department, which sets the rules, the limitations, and the powers provided to schools.

A Call for Proactive Policy, Not Reactive Discipline

With knife incidents reported locally, and a serious stabbing in Melbourne fresh in the public consciousness, parents are now asking whether it is time for more proactive safety measures — not just stronger discipline after the fact.

Some parents and community members are raising the idea of empowering trained school security staff (or visiting safety officers) with authority to conduct random, non-intrusive wanding for:

Prohibited weapons such as knives

Banned mobile phones

Other unsafe items that pose risks to students or staff

This approach is already used successfully in airports, major events, and even some high-risk workplaces. Advocates argue it could be implemented in schools in a child-safe, rights-respecting manner if done transparently and with strict privacy boundaries.

Protecting Rights While Protecting Children

Any policy change must balance student rights with community safety. Randomised electronic screening, conducted respectfully and without stigma, could potentially strike that balance.

What is clear is that simply banning items is no longer enough. Students determined to bring knives or phones to school have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to work around the rules.

A Community Conversation That Cannot Be Delayed

As local parents quietly discuss these incidents among themselves, many say they do not blame the school — they blame the silence from the top, and the lack of a clear, updated strategy to address emerging risks.

The safety of children must not rely on luck, nor on other students stepping in to disarm their peers. The events in Melbourne illustrate how quickly a situation can turn from concerning to catastrophic.

It is time for a broader community conversation — led by the Education Department — about modern school safety, the tools available, and the responsibility owed to children, parents, teachers, and staff.

Until stronger measures are explored, parents are left asking one uncomfortable question:

Are we doing enough to keep our children safe at school?

Suspicious Blaze Destroys Vacant Coober Pedy Property Amid High Fire Danger

Posted on: 2025-11-23 08:17:02

Police are investigating a suspicious early-morning fire that completely destroyed a vacant property in Coober Pedy on Sunday. Emergency services were called to the blaze at 3.40am on 23 November, after reports of flames coming from a building on Van Brugge Street.

When police and CFS crews arrived, the structure was already fully engulfed. Despite efforts to contain the flames, the building was completely destroyed.

The incident occurred during a period of extreme fire danger in the region. Yesterday’s high winds and dry, hot conditions — combined with the current total fire ban season — meant the potential for the fire to spread was significant. Fortunately, the blaze remained confined to the single property, avoiding what could have been a far more dangerous situation for neighbouring homes.

Police have confirmed they are treating the fire as suspicious. The incident adds to growing unease within the community following several recent fire-related callouts. While authorities have not linked this event to any previous incidents, locals continue to speculate about the possibility of a fire bug operating in the area — a concern raised in earlier community discussions and media commentary.

Investigators are urging anyone who saw or heard anything around the time of the fire, or who may have information that could assist, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au and quote reference 301938.

Are We Watching the Death of Australia’s National Gemstone in Real Time?

Posted on: 2025-11-17 16:08:47

An Early Investigation Into the Quiet, Troubled Future of Australia’s Opal Fields

Australia’s opal industry has survived droughts, depressions, and the tumbleweed indifference of successive governments. But now, in 2025, a new threat appears to be emerging — not from nature, but from policy, geopolitics, and a stealthy re-shaping of outback land access.
Across the country, opal fields — once the backbone of remote towns — are being quietly restricted, paused, or shut down entirely. And the timing of those closures is beginning to look… suspicious.
This article is not an accusation. It is an invitation for readers, miners, and researchers to look closer — because something isn’t adding up.

The Lambina Mystery — Closed, But Nobody Will Say Why

With minimal information, it is difficult for me to speculate what happened here. On line research would indicate that the Lambina opal field effectively closed around 2014 when its ILUA agreement came to an end. But unlike most major land-use shifts in SA, no clear public record explains what happened next.
Miners say one day they could peg, and the next day they couldn’t.
If true, Lambina would be the first in a series of significant opal areas slowly choked off from access.

The Mintabie Shutdown — A Story That Never Made Sense

In 2019, Mintabie — once a thriving opal town — was shut down and residents forcibly evicted.
The stated reason?
“Criminal activity endangering APY residents.”
A strange justification, considering:

There was little policing done to address the problem.

Drug and alcohol runners travel from Alice Springs into APY lands daily… and no one has suggested shutting down Alice Springs.

Within months of Mintabie’s closure, a new set of Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) began appearing across the Officer Basin.
A coincidence?
Maybe. Maybe not.

White Cliffs — A Town Stuck in Government Limbo

The opal miners of White Cliffs (NSW) have been waiting years for the Governor to sign off on new access arrangements. Their ILUA issues were resolved long ago, but mining still cannot resume.
Why?
No one seems willing to explain the delay.
Is the Government stalling?
And if so, for whose benefit?

The Geological Elephant in the Room: Oil, Rare Earths, and Net Zero

Here is what is factual:

The Great Artesian Basin contains some of the largest shale oil reserves in the world.

Shale oil originates from organic matter left over from the ancient inland sea

Australia’s major opal fields — Mintabie, Coober Pedy, Lambina, White Cliffs — all sit on or near fossil-rich basin structures

.
Stack on top of this:

The Gawler Craton is one of the richest geological provinces on Earth for copper, gold, uranium, and rare earths.

Demand for these minerals has exploded due to the push for electric vehicles, batteries, and net-zero transition.

Suddenly, those “remote dusty opal fields” don’t look so unimportant anymore.
They look like strategic assets.

The Coober Pedy Question — Nobody Is Talking About the New Els

If you live in Coober Pedy, ask yourself:
Have you noticed the explosion of Exploration Licences (ELs) around the town?
Many reach deep into traditional opal mining areas. Several lie directly over PSPP zones.
By law, these licences must be publicly transparent.
In practice, the data is almost impossible to find.
This author had to dive through ASX filings to uncover details the SA Government doesn’t make easily available — or in some cases, doesn’t list at all.
Example:
EL 6089 — Golden Cross Resources
Golden Cross is openly targeting Copper–Gold–Rare Earths (as their annual report states).
But their exploration approval has stalled due to:
“issues related to access to the Woomera Area”
— Golden Cross ASX report
Why would Woomera Defence restrictions apply?
Consider this:
Three of Golden Cross's four directors have deep links to China/Hong Kong corporate networks.
This doesn’t prove any wrongdoing.
But it does raise eyebrow-worthy questions about Defence sensitivity, political caution, and why approvals are quietly withheld.

Are Opal Fields Being Squeezed Out to Clear the Way for Mineral Giants?

This hypothetical scenario begins to form:
1. Opal fields — small-scale, independent, unregulated.
2. Mineral & petroleum exploration — high-stakes, high-value, strategically significant.
3. Government actions — opaque restrictions on opal fields; far less transparency on new ELs.
4. Foreign-linked resource companies gaining interest in the region.
5. Defence interference when exploration overlaps Woomera Prohibited Area.
If a conspiracy theorist wanted ammunition, they wouldn’t need to invent anything.
The pattern itself is suspicious enough.

The Long Memory of Coober Pedy Miners

Some locals may recall how “helpful” and “friendly” certain resource companies have been toward opal miners lately.
Is this goodwill?
Or early relationship-building for something much bigger?
After all, BHP hasn’t made a habit of bonding with opal miners before.

And Let’s Not Forget…

The South Australian Labor Government quietly approved Santos and Beach Energy to inject liquified CO₂ into the Great Artesian Basin before the public even knew the project had begun.
Secrecy is becoming standard practice.
So why would exploration licences be treated any differently?

Conclusion: This Isn't a Claim — It's a Call for Vigilance

Every point above can be investigated further. Every question raised is legitimate.
What we need now is:

miners

journalists

geologists

local councils

and concerned citizens

answers

Picture:

High-Speed Chase Ends in Arrest Near Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2025-11-10 05:42:58

COOBER PEDY — A man has been arrested after a high-speed police pursuit through the state’s Far North ended in scrubland north of Coober Pedy on Sunday morning.
At around 10:30am on Sunday, November 9, police detected a Jeep station wagon travelling at 173 km/h in a 110 km/h zone on the Stuart Highway near Ingomar. The vehicle had no registration plates.
When patrols attempted to stop the car, the driver failed to pull over and continued north. A short time later, just after 11am, the vehicle was again seen speeding towards Coober Pedy, where it once again ignored police directions to stop and continued towards Marla.
A search was later conducted in the bushland near Cadney Homestead Roadhouse, north of Coober Pedy. Officers discovered the Jeep hidden roughly 10 kilometres off a dirt track, concealed in scrubland. The occupants were located nearby.
Police arrested the 22-year-old driver from Para Hills, charging him with:
• Excessive speed
• Driving dangerously to escape police pursuit
• Driving without registration plates
The man’s licence was immediately suspended for six months, and the vehicle was impounded for 28 days.
He was refused police bail and is scheduled to appear before the Coober Pedy Magistrates Court on Monday.

Council Defunding of “Coober Pedy Together” a Win for Ratepayers — But Questions Remain

Posted on: 2025-11-09 12:08:10

By The Coober Pedy News Desk
November 9, 2025

The District Council of Coober Pedy has confirmed it will no longer be funding Coober Pedy Together (CPT) — a decision that comes as welcome news to the overwhelming majority of ratepayers who objected to footing the bill for what many viewed as an out-of-touch and divisive experiment in “community facilitation.”
For several years, ratepayer funds have supported a fly-in, fly-out facilitator leading the CPT group — a facilitator who has been widely criticised for being disconnected from the day-to-day realities of the town. The council’s defunding effectively ends an arrangement that saw approximately $80,000 a year flow to one individual under the guise of “community engagement.”
To most residents, this decision marks a long-awaited correction and a victory for ratepayer accountability.

“Financial Support” or Wordplay?

In its recent public statement, CPT thanked the council for “financial support over the past few years,” but the phrasing raises more questions than it answers.
If, as the community has always understood, the only council expenditure connected to CPT was the facilitator’s contract, then this so-called “financial support” was simply a wage for one person — not funding for a community organisation.
The statement’s wording — that CPT will “no longer receive ongoing financial support from the District Council” — implies that other funds may have been flowing beyond the facilitator contract.
If so, the public deserves transparency. Were there additional payments or in-kind support made to this group? If not, then the phrase stands as yet another example of the careful wordsmithing that has typified CPT communications since inception.
Ratepayers have a right to know whether the council has, in fact, provided more than just the facilitator’s salary — and if so, what exactly was funded and on whose authority.

The Question of Privilege

While CPT now claims to be an “independent incorporated association,” its ties to council remain far from clear. The group still features prominently on the District Council’s website, enjoying visibility and endorsement not extended to other not-for-profit groups in Coober Pedy.
The facilitator, by all accounts, continues to use office space inside the council chambers, with presumed access to phones, photocopiers, and other council resources. If the group is now “independent,” will that privileged access end?
If not, will the council extend the same benefits to all community organisations — or is CPT still receiving special treatment?

Constitution and Credibility

CPT’s statement also boasted of having a “relevant constitution” — a claim already debunked in earlier reporting, which revealed the document to be riddled with inconsistencies and non-compliant clauses. The group’s continued reference to it as a legitimate foundation document suggests either wilful ignorance or deliberate misrepresentation.
Further, the announcement of CPT’s inaugural AGM fails to specify a meeting time, an omission that appears more than a simple oversight. In a town where transparency is paramount, such details matter — especially from a group that has repeatedly framed itself as the voice of community inclusion.

A Record of Recycled Achievements

CPT’s published list of “highlights and achievements” reads more like a public relations exercise than a record of measurable community outcomes.
Events such as the tree-planting day and the Christmas celebration were welcome activities — but far from unique. The annual Christmas party, for example, long pre-dated CPT’s existence and was simply rebranded under new management. Granted, it was much more elaborate than the preceding events but hardly an achievement worthy of boasting about?
Meanwhile, the much-touted Governor’s visit and delegations to Adelaide generated little tangible benefit for local residents. Beyond photo opportunities and carefully worded reports, there is scant evidence of any long-term outcomes for Coober Pedy.
When weighed against the more than $400,000 of ratepayer funds channelled through the facilitator contract and related projects — including the $30,000 “drive-in disaster” — the return on investment is questionable at best.

Community’s Verdict

For many in Coober Pedy, CPT has long represented style over substance — a group more focused on branding than building.
Council’s decision to withdraw funding is, therefore, being celebrated as a long-overdue recognition of public sentiment.
But serious questions remain:

Will CPT’s privileged position within council infrastructure now be revoked?

Will other community groups finally be offered equal access to council resources?

And most importantly — will the council release full records of all payments, contracts, and in-kind contributions made to the facilitator and CPT since its inception?

Until those answers are provided, ratepayers can take comfort in one small victory: the public funding tap has finally been turned off.

Opinion: Coober Pedy Should Beware the Fine Print Behind the Promise

Posted on: 2025-11-02 12:39:49

When Minister for Local Government Joe Szakacs stood in Parliament last week and confidently declared that “the Coober Pedy community will be out of administration next year,” many in town took it as cause for celebration.
After six years under external control, “out of administration” was music to the ears of a weary community.
But as the applause fades, we would do well to listen carefully to what was not said.

A Return to Democracy — or a Hybrid in Disguise?
Rumours have been circulating that the State Government may replace the Administrator not with a fully elected council, but with a “hybrid” model — part elected, part government-appointed.
If that proves true, it would amount to a return to partial local governance, not full democracy.
Mr Szakacs’ statement in Parliament was notably vague on the form of governance to come. He said only that Coober Pedy would be “out of administration,” not that its people would regain full control of their town.

Blaming the Past, Ignoring the Present
In his parliamentary response, Mr Szakacs criticised the “poor governance, abysmal asset management, and a council that was on absolute breaking point” that preceded administration.
While few would argue the old council was perfect, the record under administration has been far from exemplary.
Since the State Government took over, Coober Pedy has seen its asset base eroded and its infrastructure decay.
• The council fleet has become so dilapidated that vehicles had to be rented to keep basic services running.
• Bin collections were missed when the rubbish trucks broke down.
• The generator for the town’s water pumps failed, forcing the town to rent one at massive expense — despite two new generators having been purchased. One was even cannibalised for parts, leaving no redundancy when the inevitable failure came.
When the Minister speaks of “asset management,” he neglects to mention that the town’s assets are now a shadow of what they once were.

The Rhetoric of Pride vs. the Reality of Neglect
Mr Szakacs told Parliament that Coober Pedy is “one of the most amazing places in our state”, a jewel of history, culture, and resilience.
Yet the Malinauskas Government’s own tourism campaign, the multimillion-dollar showcase of South Australia, made no mention of Coober Pedy.
Not a single frame in the promotional video highlighted this world-famous underground town.
The message seems mixed: public praise in Parliament, but practical omission in policy and promotion.

The Price of Trust
Coober Pedy has endured six years of broken trust, neglected infrastructure, and promises of reform.
If the Government intends to impose a “hybrid” council — part elected, part appointed — it must be honest with the people now.
“Out of administration” should mean returning power to the people, not rebranding continued control.

A Poisoned Chalice?
Even if the town is handed back next year, one has to ask “who would even take the job”?
Who in Coober Pedy is willing to put their hand up to be Mayor or Councillor?
Who is qualified, and more importantly, who would want to shoulder that burden?
If the rumours of a $19 million debt are true, then “handing the town back” could be nothing more than a ruse, a political red herring to shift blame.
If years of administration have left Coober Pedy deeper in debt than ever before, what hope does a newly elected council have to fix the damage?
The last Administrator openly admitted that the town was trading insolvent. And yet, that is apparently how they intend to hand it back.
Those celebrating the end of administration may be drinking the proverbial Kool-Aid if they believe the outcome will be anything other than the State Government, a few years down the track, saying:
“We knew you couldn’t do it. We were nice enough to give you a go, but now we have to take over again.”

Quoting the Record
“The Coober Pedy community will be out of administration next year.”
— Hon. Joe Szakacs, Minister for Local Government, South Australian Parliament, October 2025

Opinion: Six Years of Silence — What Really Happened to Coober Pedy?

Posted on: 2025-10-30 09:11:01

By a concerned local resident
(This article reflects the author’s personal opinions based on observation, rumour, and circumstance. Readers are encouraged to draw their own conclusions.)
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Back in 2019, Coober Pedy was placed under state government administration. At the time, locals were told it was a necessary step to stabilise council finances and get our town back on track. Yet here we are, six years later, and our community is in worse shape than ever.
In 2024, our Administrator openly admitted that the council was trading insolvent — a startling confession that should have raised alarms at every level of government. But for those of us who’ve been paying attention, it wasn’t just the financial mismanagement that felt off. It was everything that followed.

A Convenient Time to Remove Local Oversight?
Not long before the administration began, the people of Coober Pedy had united in opposition to fracking. That public pushback resulted in a moratorium — a rare win for a small outback town. Then, almost as if by coincidence, local control was stripped away, and government-appointed administrators took over.
Was this purely about debt? Or did someone in Adelaide decide Coober Pedy was easier to manage without locals in the room?
Rumours have long circulated about rolling meetings in council chambers involving mining companies and the Department of Energy and Mining. Locals have seen the parade of government cars, rental sedans, and men in suits. Maybe it’s nothing — maybe it’s opal business. But it doesn’t feel like that to a critical observer. It feels like something is being prepared quietly, behind closed doors.

The Rise of the “Community Group”
Around the same time, we saw the sudden appearance of a new, council-backed “community group.” Despite being a broke council, somehow $80,000 a year was found to hire a “facilitator” to lead it. Originally called Coober Pedy 2030, it was rebranded as Coober Pedy Together after public backlash.
We were told this group would be community-driven. Instead, it became an extension of council — guided not by locals, but by a FIFO facilitator living in the city. His background, according to LinkedIn, was more youth ministry than municipal development. Yet somehow, he was suddenly rubbing shoulders with BHP and Peak.
Under his watch, the group championed a $7.5 million outdoor movie theatre, complete with a $30,000 “draft plan” funded by a council that could barely pay its power bills. After overwhelming community rejection, the plan was shelved — but not before confirming what many already suspected: the people driving this town’s “future vision” were hopelessly out of touch.

Blurring Lines and Questionable Interests
The same facilitator was granted office space inside council, access to meetings, and even input on CEO appointments. At times, he was referred to as a “consultant.”
When a member of his group later won the contract to rebuild the outdoor movie screen, no conflict of interest was declared. Whether or not any privileged information was shared, the optics alone were troubling.
Then came the park upgrade and the BHP-funded basketball court — projects that looked great in photos but did little to address the core issues tearing Coober Pedy apart. Some began to wonder if these beautification projects were part of a larger plan: to make the town appealing to incoming workers rather than fix its broken foundations.

Preparing for the Next Phase
Whispers soon followed about 40 new houses being proposed by a “private investor” — supposedly for FIFO workers or ”Essential Service workers”. Whose workers? No one would say. The “Coober Pedy Together” group was right there again, backing the idea enthusiastically.
Meanwhile, BHP had been spotted around town, running grader training with the Miners Association and helping them source equipment. Harmless gestures, perhaps. Or a way to build relationships ahead of something bigger.
Some say an area of the ”Olympic” field has been quietly marked out for mining — iron, manganese, or who knows what else. This can’t be verified, but if true, it would explain a lot. It would explain the administration. It would explain the sudden spending. It would explain why locals have been kept out of the loop for so long.

The End of the Opal Era?
If all of this speculation has any merit, we may be witnessing the slow death of the Coober Pedy opal industry — the very identity of our town — replaced by corporate mining interests.
And perhaps the most telling rumour of all: that our once-humble facilitator, the man paid to guide our “community group,” has allegedly taken a position with BHP. If true, that would tie a neat bow around the whole story.
A Call to Pay Attention
Over the next few months, don’t be surprised if politicians suddenly rediscover Coober Pedy. Don’t be shocked if Premier Peter Malinauskas himself pays a visit. After years of neglect, they’ll tell us they care again. They’ll talk about opportunity, progress, and “a bright future.”
But ask yourself this: why now?
If money starts flowing, make no mistake — it’s not for us. It’s because the big players are moving in.
So watch closely, Coober Pedy.
Listen carefully.
Ask questions.
And remember — when outsiders tell you it’s all for your benefit, it usually isn’t.

Coober Pedy Together: A Community Group or a Closed Circle?

Posted on: 2025-10-27 11:41:53

Coober Pedy Together Incorporated, a “community group” that claims to represent the town’s vision and progress, has come under scrutiny following the release of its constitution. While the group’s stated purpose is to “bring about change, community spirit, and pride,” the fine print of its governing document tells a different story — one of centralised control, limited accountability, and very little room for genuine community input.
After analysing the association’s constitution, several clauses raise serious red flags about transparency, fairness, and democratic process. Something that has always been the case, with this group, but now emboldened in their required constitution. Below is a breakdown of the most concerning provisions and what they could mean for Coober Pedy residents.
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Clause 2.3 — The Facilitation Group as the “Sole Authority”
The Issue:
This clause gives the Facilitation Group — the committee running the association — “sole authority for the interpretation of this Constitution,” with its decisions “final and binding on all members.”
The Impact:
This effectively places unchecked power in the hands of the Facilitation Group. There is no mechanism for ordinary members or the community to challenge or appeal decisions. In practice, this means the committee can determine the rules as they please, interpret them to suit their own purposes, and silence dissent without oversight. It’s a structure more aligned with an autocracy than a community association.
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Clauses 5.2 and 5.3 — Restrictive Membership Control
The Issue:
Applications for membership must be proposed and seconded by existing members, and then approved by the Facilitation Group. The group may accept or reject any application “whether or not the applicant has complied with the requirements,” and they are “not required to provide any reason.”
The Impact:
This allows the Facilitation Group to handpick who may join and exclude anyone they choose — including residents who question or criticise their actions. With the ability to deny membership without explanation, the group can easily remain insular and self-protective while claiming to represent the wider community.
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Clause 7.2(c)–(e) — A Self-Perpetuating Committee
The Issue:
The first Facilitation Group — those already overseeing Coober Pedy Together prior to incorporation — automatically became the initial committee for a two-year term. Future elections are tightly controlled, with nominations required 28 days in advance and subject to procedural barriers that discourage participation.
The Impact:
This entrenches the founding members’ control. With no early election and little opportunity for others to nominate, the same individuals remain in charge without the community ever having voted for them. It prevents the natural rotation of leadership that healthy community organisations rely upon.
________________________________________
Clause 3(c) — Consultation Defined by the Group Itself
The Issue:
The constitution says the group will engage in “strategic conversations and activities … as guided by community consultation (defined by the Facilitation Group).”
The Impact:
This wording allows the committee to decide what constitutes “consultation.” In practice, this could mean a handful of private meetings or selective discussions being presented as community consensus. There is no requirement for public forums, surveys, or transparent engagement.
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Clause 6.2 and 6.3 — Appeals That Lead Back to the Same Committee
The Issue:
Even when members are expelled or rejected, appeals are made to the Facilitation Group itself. The committee that makes the original decision also decides whether to overturn it.
The Impact:
There is no independent appeal process. This creates a closed loop of authority — a hallmark of poor governance. It denies members any impartial avenue for justice, and once again centralises power in the hands of the same small group.
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Clause 9.4 — Quorum and Voting Rules That Favour Insiders
The Issue:
General meetings can proceed with a quorum of just five members, and proxy voting is prohibited. The chairperson has both a regular vote and a casting vote, effectively giving them double influence in tied decisions.
The Impact:
A tiny number of individuals could make decisions affecting the entire organisation — and by extension, the broader community it claims to represent. Without proxy votes, members unable to attend in person lose their say entirely.
________________________________________
Clause 4 — Broad Corporate Powers
The Issue:
The association grants itself the power to “acquire, hold, deal with, and dispose of any real or personal property; borrow money; give security for liabilities; and enter into any contract it considers necessary or desirable.”
The Impact:
These powers are typical for large incorporated bodies, but concerning when concentrated within a small, unelected committee lacking external checks. The Facilitation Group could, in theory, take out loans, sign contracts, or dispose of assets on behalf of “the community” with no obligation to seek member or public approval.
________________________________________
Clause 9.3 and 10 — Transparency Loopholes
The Issue:
There are no provisions requiring the publication of meeting minutes, financial reports, or decisions. While the constitution requires accounts to be tabled at the Annual General Meeting, it doesn’t require them to be made public.
The Impact:
For a group claiming to represent Coober Pedy’s interests, this lack of transparency means the public may never see how decisions are made, who benefits, or how funds are used. The promise of accountability is left to internal goodwill rather than enforceable rule.
________________________________________
A Constitution at Odds with Its Mission
The group’s stated vision — “a vibrant, empowered, inspired community of people working together with pride and respect” — is difficult to reconcile with a governance structure that centralises control, limits membership, and silences criticism.
While the constitution satisfies the technical requirements of the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (SA), its design appears to prioritise control over collaboration. The repeated phrase “at the discretion of the Facilitation Group” runs throughout, giving the impression of a top-down organisation masquerading as a community initiative.
________________________________________
What It Means for the Community
Residents have raised concerns that Coober Pedy Together is less a community movement and more an inner circle making decisions on behalf of others — without transparency, elections, or meaningful consultation.
If the group is to claim to represent the people of Coober Pedy, it must reform its constitution to reflect true democratic principles:

Open and transparent membership;

Independent appeals;

Public accountability;

Fair elections; and

Genuine consultation with the community it claims to serve.

Until then, the words “together” and “community” in its name ring hollow.
________________________________________
Editor’s Note:
Information in this article was drawn from the publicly available Constitution of Coober Pedy Together Incorporated, approved on 1 April 2025, and from public records under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (SA). Residents can verify the group’s registration and filings via the SA Consumer and Business Services website or the Australian Business Register.

Image: Screenshot from Coober Pedy Together Facebook page, used for the purpose of reporting and public interest analysis.

Two Men Banned from Driving After Separate Drink-Driving Incidents in Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2025-10-10 05:04:04

Two men will be off the roads for a year after being caught drink-driving within minutes of each other in Coober Pedy early this morning.

At 12.20am today (Friday, 10 October), police conducting mobile driver testing on Grey Street stopped a silver Ford sedan.
The driver, a 33-year-old Oodnadatta man, returned a positive blood-alcohol reading of 0.202. Further checks revealed he held a provisional licence.

He was reported for drink-driving and breaching a licence condition, and issued an immediate 12-month loss of licence notice.

Just ten minutes later, at 12.30am, police stopped a silver Subaru station wagon on Hutchinson Street.
The driver, a 35-year-old Mimili man, also returned a positive reading — 0.261 — more than five times the legal limit.

He was reported for drink-driving and also received an immediate 12-month licence disqualification.

Both men will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

Possible Serial Arson Threatens Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2025-09-22 11:42:04

Late last night, Coober Pedy residents were alarmed when South Australia Police responded to a report of a suspicious fire at a property in town. Authorities say the fire’s origin remains under investigation, and no injuries have been reported but several belongings on the premises were damaged before fire crews arrived.

This fire isn’t the only recent blaze worrying locals. Over the last few weeks, the Coober Pedy Country Fire Service (CFS), SA Police, and local volunteers have been kept extremely busy: multiple spot fires, car fires, structure and shed fires have stretched resources, especially under dry, windy conditions and rising temperatures.

The pattern is becoming hard to ignore. Some are asking: Could Coober Pedy have a serial arsonist on the loose?

While there’s no confirmation yet, authorities are urging everyone in the community to stay vigilant. If you see anything out of the ordinary—smoke late at night, suspicious behavior around vacant lots, vehicles, sheds, or properties—please don’t hesitate to report it.

If it's an emergency—call 000 immediately. Otherwise, contact SA Police on 131 444 with any information. Your observations could be crucial in preventing another damaging fire. Stay safe, keep your eyes open, and let’s work together to protect our town.

Coober Pedy Together ride again

Posted on: 2025-09-21 13:07:31

The renewal of the Coober Pedy Together facilitator’s $80,000-a-year contract has left many locals shaking their heads. Rate payers flooded the Minister’s office with objections, only to be met with generic responses that failed to address any of their concerns.
In his first reply, Minister Joe Szakacs spoke broadly about the future of Coober Pedy under administration but said little about the specific issue at hand—the facilitator’s contract. When pushed for clarity, he doubled down with a second letter, claiming he had no jurisdiction and directing residents back to council. The problem, of course, is obvious: there is no elected council. Coober Pedy remains under state administration. The Minister for Local Government telling residents to take their concerns to a council that doesn’t exist is more than just dismissive, it borders on farce.
What makes this situation all the more frustrating is that the community never asked for Coober Pedy Together in the first place. Many locals remain openly opposed to the group, questioning why an outsider—someone who doesn’t even live in Coober Pedy—should be paid handsomely to “facilitate” community engagement here. Engagement with whom, exactly? The group is notorious for blocking comments on its social media, silencing the very community it claims to represent.
Even their recent announcement about becoming incorporated raises eyebrows. Last year, the community was told incorporation had already happened. Were we misled then, or is the current claim just another example of smoke and mirrors?
Residents are not interested in finding a way into Coober Pedy Together, they are asking why public money is being funnelled into it at all. Especially when groups made up of actual rate payers, like the Coober Pedy Alliance, struggle to get a single government official to respond to their correspondence.
Meanwhile, the CPT facilitator enjoys office space inside council chambers, complete with resources such as phone, internet and copier access. Council insists this doesn’t make CPT part of council, but it certainly looks like special treatment. Other community groups would no doubt appreciate the same perks, but they don’t get them.
From the failed $7.5 million outdoor movie theatre project to years of decisions out of step with community wishes, CPT has not earned the trust of Coober Pedy’s residents. Instead, the group has become a symbol of how disconnected state-backed initiatives can be when they ignore the lived reality of those paying the rates.
So the question stands: what exactly are we paying $80,000 for this year? Because from where rate payers are sitting, it looks like money spent on silencing the community rather than strengthening it.

District Council of Coober Pedy Website Offline for Over a Week — Silence from Council Raises Alarm

Posted on: 2025-09-16 16:28:40

Coober Pedy, South Australia — The official website of the District Council of Coober Pedy has been offline for more than a week, leaving residents, stakeholders, and tourists without access to vital information — and the Council has offered no explanation, no notice, and no timeline for restoration.

In a town that relies heavily on tourism, the outage comes at a critical time: the final months of the peak season, when travelers are actively seeking local information. The Council’s site typically appears on the first page of Google search results for “Coober Pedy tourism,” meaning thousands of prospective visitors are currently being met with a dead link.

Despite this, the Council has remained publicly silent. There have been no announcements or acknowledgements on its official social media channels, and no updates for residents or businesses who rely on the site for council notices, policies, forms, and meeting documents.

“Are they even aware their site is down? Who would know? They certainly haven’t said a word,” one frustrated local business owner told us. “This is the height of our tourism season, and their silence is deafening.”

The silence is especially concerning given that, as a government website, the platform is presumably hosted on reliable infrastructure with professional support. That makes a week-long outage highly unusual and raises questions about the Council’s oversight and responsiveness.

This latest failure adds to what many see as a long list of blunders and administrative missteps under the current CEO and administration. The absence of even basic communication, let alone a resolution, is further eroding public trust.

For now, residents and visitors alike are left in the dark, unable to access council information and unsure when — or if — the website will return.

Disqualified drink-driver stopped in Coober Pedy; highway speeder cops $1,841 fine

Posted on: 2025-09-15 16:28:23

COOBER PEDY, 15 September 2025 — Far North police intercepted two dangerous drivers across the region in separate incidents overnight and on Sunday afternoon.

Shortly after 1.30am today, officers stopped a Holden sedan on Crowders Gully in Coober Pedy for a roadside breath test. Police allege the driver, a 39-year-old Far North man, returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.252, more than five times the legal limit, and was also driving while disqualified. He allegedly tested positive for cannabis on a roadside drug test. The man was reported for drink driving and driving disqualified, issued an immediate 12-month loss-of-license notice, and had his vehicle impounded for 28 days. He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date, with further drug-driving charges possible pending forensic analysis.

In a separate operation, Woomera police on patrol along the Stuart Highway near Arcoona detected a Toyota ute travelling at 145km/h in a 110km/h zone about 3.30pm on Sunday, 14 September. The driver, a 29-year-old man from Port Adelaide, was issued a $1,841 expiation notice and seven demerit points for speeding. Police noted that speeding has been a factor in 20 per cent of fatal crashes so far in 2025 and urged motorists to slow down.

SA Police continue to target impaired and dangerous driving across the Far North, reminding motorists that license disqualification, hefty fines, vehicle impounds and court appearances are among the consequences for those who put lives at risk.

*Sources: SA Police media releases for the Far North Region published 15 September 2025.*

Woman Caught Drink Driving at Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2025-08-28 16:28:55

South Australia Police have reported a woman for drink driving after she was stopped on the Stuart Highway at Coober Pedy earlier this week.

Just before midnight on Wednesday, 27 August, police pulled over a Holden ute travelling south of the town as part of routine patrols. The driver, a 37-year-old woman from Peterhead, returned a positive breath test.

Further testing allegedly showed a blood alcohol reading of 0.172, more than three times the legal limit. Checks also revealed the woman was disqualified from driving at the time.

She was reported for drink driving and driving while disqualified, her licence was immediately disqualified for 12 months, and her vehicle was impounded for 28 days.

The woman will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

Police have reminded motorists that drink driving poses a serious risk to all road users and will not be tolerated on South Australian roads.

Solar cars roar silently through Coober Pedy: leaders split by minutes at the checkpoint

Posted on: 2025-08-27 16:29:13

Coober Pedy — The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge hit the opal capital this morning with a razor-thin gap between the front-runners. Brunel Solar Team (Netherlands) reached the Coober Pedy checkpoint first at 8:30am, chased by compatriots Solar Team Twente at 8:36am. Innoptus Solar Team (Belgium) arrived moments later at 8:36am, third across the line at the stop but sitting fifth overall on provisional standings. In contrast, Team Sonnenwagen Aachen (Germany) checked in at 9:54am yet holds third overall on cumulative time.

The split times underline how tight—and tactical—this year’s 3,000-km Darwin-to-Adelaide epic has become. Overall order can differ from checkpoint arrival times because it’s based on total elapsed time (plus any penalties), not just who rolls in first at a control stop.

Coober Pedy is one of the official control stops on the route that shadows the Stuart Highway south before swinging to Adelaide’s finish. From here, teams push on to Glendambo and Port Augusta before targeting Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga in the CBD. Control-stop windows published by the organisers show Coober Pedy operating through Thursday 28 Aug, 1:00pm, with Glendambo and Port Augusta following later that day and into Friday.

The World Solar Challenge is a biennial test of student-built, ultra-efficient machines, famous for demanding energy management, strategy and reliability across Australia’s interior. The course spans over 3,000 km from Darwin to Adelaide, largely down the Stuart Highway.

With minutes between the leaders and weather always a factor, the run to Adelaide remains finely poised. Spectators can keep tabs on positions and speeds via the event’s live tracker, which refreshes regularly as teams head south.

Notes: Times above reflect today’s Coober Pedy checkpoint log; “overall” positions refer to the event’s provisional classification, which can change as official results are updated.

Clontarf Academies Visit Coober Pedy for Action-Packed Two Days

Posted on: 2025-08-22 16:11:28

Coober Pedy welcomed students from five Clontarf Foundation academies this week, with boys from Port Pirie, Woodville, Murray Bridge and Christie’s Beach joining the local academy for two days of competition, culture, and community connection.

The visit kicked off with a lively soccer tournament, pitting academy teams against each other and against local school groups in a spirited showcase of talent and sportsmanship. The energy continued at the Coober Pedy Speedway, where the students were treated to a hands-on look at local cars before watching them roar around the dirt track in a thrilling demonstration. Mark Hoad and other local volunteers took the boys through mine rescue techniques and procedures with a hands on experience using road crash tools.

One of the highlights of the visit came with a mining demonstration by Coober Pedy’s own “bomb kings,” giving the students a taste of the town’s unique and world-famous opal mining culture. The experience wrapped up Thursday evening under the stars at the Coober Pedy Drive-In, where the academies came together for a screening of Captain America.

About the Clontarf Foundation

The Clontarf Foundation works to improve the education, discipline, self-esteem, and life skills of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men through sport, mentoring, and leadership development. Founded in 2000 in Western Australia, the program has grown to support thousands of students across the country.

Clontarf academies operate within schools. Using sport, especially football, as a tool to attract participants and keep them engaged. Beyond the playing field, staff provide mentoring, educational support, and pathways into employment and further study. The aim is not only to keep students at school but to help them develop into strong role models and leaders in their communities.

For Coober Pedy and visiting academies alike, this week’s program provided not just a chance for competition and entertainment, but also a valuable opportunity to build friendships, cultural pride, and community connection.

Variety Bash Rolls into Coober Pedy with Colour, Characters, and a Cause

Posted on: 2025-08-14 15:26:19

This morning, Coober Pedy Area School was transformed into a carnival of colour and laughter as the Variety Bash rolled into town. The annual charity motoring event — famous for its bright, bizarre vehicles and equally eccentric crews — brought a wave of joy to local students, along with a powerful message of support for Aussie kids in need.

From beloved children’s favourites like Bluey to the spooky-but-friendly Addams Family, the participants turned up in full costume, making an unforgettable entrance in their wildly decorated cars. The lineup of vehicles was as creative as the characters themselves — think neon paint jobs, oversized props, and more glitter than a disco ball factory.

The Bashers didn’t just put on a show; they came bearing gifts. Students were showered with goodies, keepsakes, and souvenirs, while the participants spent plenty of time chatting, posing for photos, and answering a flood of curious questions from the kids.

Behind the fun, the Variety Bash carries a serious mission — raising funds for Variety – the Children’s Charity, which helps disadvantaged children across Australia access life-changing equipment, programs, and experiences. Every dollar raised goes towards giving kids a fair go, whether they’re living with a disability, facing illness, or simply need a helping hand to reach their potential.

Why It Matters
The Variety Bash is more than just an eccentric road trip; it’s a moving fundraiser that directly changes lives. By the time the teams reach their final destination, they will have travelled thousands of kilometres through the outback, visiting schools and communities to bring not only joy but tangible support.

How You Can Help
You don’t have to drive a decked-out vehicle to get involved. Donations, sponsorships, or even volunteering your time with Variety can help ensure more kids get the opportunities they deserve.

For more information or to donate, visit www.variety.org.au and help keep the wheels of kindness turning.

“It’s Not a Billboard, It’s a Box with Dreams” – The Great Coober Pedy Container Conundrum

Posted on: 2025-07-04 15:57:06

In a town built on ingenuity, grit, and the occasional well-timed “grey area,” it takes a special kind of boldness to raise eyebrows. But that’s exactly what happened recently at the Southern entrance to Coober Pedy, where a large shipping container has quietly set up camp—complete with colorful signage promoting local business ventures.

Now, before anyone cries foul, the owners of the mining lease where the container squats have assured the public that this is not, in fact, a billboard. “It’s a storage facility,” they claim. A storage facility that just happens to be raised off the ground, impossible to access without a cherry picker, and features bold advertising visible from space. But let’s not get bogged down in details—this is Coober Pedy, after all, and interpretation is half the fun.

Locals, however, have started asking: at what point does bending the rules turn into breaking the spirit of fair play?

“It’s not the first time someone’s used a mining lease for a creative purpose,” said one town resident, squinting up at the container like it might contain answers. “And let’s be honest, Coober Pedy’s been thriving on creative interpretations of regulations since about 1915.”

And they’re not wrong. If there were an Olympic event for exploiting loopholes, this town would take gold, silver, and a couple of opals for good measure. But there’s a fine line between cheeky and unfair—especially when local businesses are doing it tough.

With tourism down, power bills up, and the only thing rising faster than the price of groceries being the cost of keeping the lights on, every advantage counts. And a high-visibility ad platform that didn’t require council approval? That’s the kind of leg-up most local businesses would kill for—or at least politely enquire about.

But therein lies the issue. Not all businesses were invited to the party. The advertising space, which apparently just happens to be on the side of an equipment storage container that nobody can open, was offered to a select few. An exclusive club, it seems, made up of whoever got the nod from the leaseholder.

Meanwhile, over at the Department for Energy and Mining, the silence has been louder than the generator out the back of the caravan park. A brief flurry of activity occurred shortly after a letter of complaint was lodged—some dirt moved, a few half-hearted holes appeared, and then… well, nothing.

“It was like watching someone pretend to clean their room when they hear mum coming down the hallway,” said a witness. “Lots of huffing and puffing, but not much actual work.”

So where does that leave us? In true Coober Pedy fashion, probably somewhere between “technically allowed” and “ethically questionable.” The container remains. The signs shine on. And the question of fairness hangs as heavy in the air as the red dust.

One thing’s for sure: if the Mines Department is hoping this one blows over, they may need a sturdier storage container to hide in.

Driver Killed in Tragic Crash at Pimba

Posted on: 2025-07-03 15:20:18

A 54-year-old woman has died in a collision between a car and a road train at the intersection of the Stuart Highway and Olympic Dam Highway at Pimba on Thursday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the scene just before 12:30pm on July 3, following reports of a serious crash involving a Toyota sedan and a road train.

Tragically, the driver of the sedan died at the scene. Her passenger, a 74-year-old man, sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. The driver of the road train was not physically injured and underwent mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

The highway remains closed to heavy vehicles while Major Crash Investigators work to determine the circumstances of the incident. Authorities are urging heavy vehicle drivers to wait at the nearest rest area until the road reopens.

Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash or may have dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The woman's death marks the 40th life lost on South Australian roads so far this year.

Teens Charged After Break-In at Coober Pedy Sports Club

Posted on: 2025-06-02 14:50:22

Coober Pedy – 2 June 2025

Two local teenagers have been charged following an alleged break-in at a sports club in Coober Pedy on Sunday afternoon.

At around 2:50pm on 1 June, police were alerted to a break-in at a club on Robins Boulevard, where a window had reportedly been smashed to gain entry. According to authorities, two suspects entered the premises and stole a carton of pre-mixed alcoholic beverages.

Following inquiries, police attended a local address and arrested two youths, aged 13 and 17, both residents of Coober Pedy. Officers also recovered the stolen carton of drinks during the arrest.

Both teens were charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass. They were granted police bail and are scheduled to appear before the Coober Pedy Youth Court on 30 July 2025.

Police are continuing investigations into the incident. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestopperssa.com.au. Callers can remain anonymous.

Mystery Visitor Lands in Coober Pedy: A Lone Pelican on a Long Journey

Posted on: 2025-06-02 07:16:30

Coober Pedy residents were treated to an unusual and magnificent sight this week—a lone pelican, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest coastline, was spotted circling and eventually landing just outside town. The large bird, I have affectionately dubbed Mr Percival (a nod for the well-read), may be on a great inland pilgrimage towards Lake Eyre, or perhaps just taking a much-needed break on its journey.

The appearance of this striking pelagic bird has sparked conversation across the community. Some wonder if he’s lost, others believe he’s just one of many en route to Australia’s great inland sea. What’s clear is that his arrival comes at a symbolic time.

Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda) has been steadily filling in recent months as floodwaters from southwest Queensland snake their way down through the Channel Country. Tour operators and aerial footage confirm that pelican flocks have already begun gathering at the lake, a sure sign that nature’s great migration is in full swing.

This isn't the first time locals have seen early omens of change. In December last year, I reported sightings of kingfishers and a solitary cormorant in town—rare visitors whose appearance hinted at water on the move. At the time, I predicted a full lake event in 2025. So far, those predictions appear to be right on the money.

But Mr Percival's journey wasn’t without peril. While photographing him today, I watched in alarm as three stray dogs set upon the exhausted bird moments after he landed. He barely escaped, flapping back into the air just as jaws snapped beneath him. It was a sobering reminder of the risks these long-distance travellers face in crossing a dry, harsh continent.

Yet here he is—alive, soaring, and sparking joy.

His visit raises questions more magical than scientific: How do these birds know the lake is filling? What invisible signal calls them from coastlines and rivers to gather in the middle of the desert, where water appears once in a generation? Their instincts remain one of nature’s most profound mysteries.

For tourists, this moment is an invitation.

There has never been a better time to witness Lake Eyre's transformation. With waterbirds in motion and the desert awakening, Coober Pedy is the ideal base for your journey into Australia’s surreal heart. Bird watchers (or "twitchers") might even catch a close-up of one of these aerial nomads like Mr Percival himself.

So keep your eyes to the skies—and maybe pack a pair of binoculars. Nature’s great inland spectacle is underway.

Drive-In Plan Rejected: Is It Time to Put This $7.5M Idea to Bed?

Posted on: 2025-05-27 14:32:17

COOBER PEDY, 27 May 2025 — The results are in, and the message from the community is deafening: Coober Pedy residents do not support the proposed $7.5 million Drive-In Master Plan.

As part of a public consultation process, the District Council of Coober Pedy received 83 formal submissions in response to the plan. Of those, 71 were clearly opposed, while only 12 offered support—a breakdown of roughly 86% against and 14% in favour.

The council is due to formally discuss the results at its meeting tomorrow, 28 May 2025. The submissions can be viewed by the public
here, https://www.cooberpedy.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/1813610/signed-Agenda-28-May-Council-Meeting-attachments.pdf, with feedback listed from page 570 to 596.

Among the many voices expressing concern was local resident Rob Dempster, who wrote:

“To beautify a drive-in at an expense of $7.5 million is a moment in madness.”

His submission went on to question the omission of operational and maintenance costs in the plan, especially in light of rising council rates and water charges. He, like many others, argued that there are far more pressing concerns for the community's limited resources.

Others described the plan as “fiscally irresponsible,” “tone-deaf,” or “a vanity project,” with several pointing to the town’s long-standing debt and fragile infrastructure as reasons to rethink such an ambitious spend.

Despite these concerns, the council has stated that no ratepayer money would be used, and that external grant funding would be sought. Still, for many locals, this provides little reassurance, especially when the plan would require shovel-readiness—suggesting that considerable resources would still be directed toward preparing the site.

The Coober Pedy Drive-In is more than just a screen and a car park. It’s a piece of our town’s history, culture, and quirky charm. It’s also one of the last remaining drive-ins in the Southern Hemisphere—an icon worth protecting. But protecting it doesn't have to mean “reinventing” it.

The Community Has Spoken. Now What?

In a functioning democracy, public feedback isn’t just a box-ticking exercise—it’s the compass by which decisions are made. And in this case, the compass is pointing clearly away from the current Drive-In Master Plan.

So, can we now put this plan to bed?

Instead of pushing ahead with an overwhelmingly rejected design, it's time to regroup. Let’s start with a community-led conversation about what the drive-in needs—and what it doesn’t.

A smaller, more financially viable plan that preserves the rustic character of the site while addressing safety and accessibility could gain genuine support. There’s no shortage of ideas, passion, or volunteers in Coober Pedy—just a need for the right kind of plan.

Let’s harness that passion. Let’s get together—not just to oppose plans, but to create better ones.

The drive-in belongs to all of us. Let’s make sure its future reflects that.

Lake Eyre is Speaking—Are We Listening?

Posted on: 2025-05-27 14:32:06

In the past two days, two earthquakes have rattled the southern end of the Lake Eyre system—a region long considered geologically stable and far from any known fault lines. These tremors aren't just oddities. They're warnings.

The Lake Eyre Basin sits on one of the oldest and most stable landmasses on Earth. It doesn't move—unless something makes it move. So what’s changed?

Hydraulic Fracturing: A Seismic Suspect

Let’s address the elephant buried deep underground: hydraulic fracturing.

Fracking, the invasive technique used to extract fossil fuels, is infamous around the world for triggering earthquakes in regions that otherwise sit quietly. And under the watch of the Malinauskas government, Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) have been handed out like lolly bags across the Lake Eyre Basin.

Could fracking be responsible for the recent tremors? It's not a stretch.

The timing is suspicious. The location is suspicious. And the silence from those in power is deafening.

Cooper Basin: Australia’s Toxic Tax Loophole

Need more proof of misplaced priorities?

Last year, the same government ignored expert advice and gave Beach Energy and Santos permission to pump millions of tonnes of liquefied CO₂ into the Cooper Basin—which sits beneath Moomba, and is scientifically proven to connect with the Great Artesian Basin (GAB).

Let’s be clear: they’re polluting Australia’s largest artesian water system—the lifeblood of inland Australia—not to help the planet, but to get tax credits.

831 Wells, Zero Transparency

The Lake Eyre Basin spans one-sixth of the continent. Inside it? Over 831 oil and gas wells. That’s not development—it’s systematic exploitation. The fossil fuel industry takes, pollutes, dodges taxes, and leaves behind social and environmental wreckage.

What do Australians get?

Some jobs (that could exist in other industries) and a big fat nothing when it comes to long-term public benefit.

Coober Pedy: A Town Under Siege?

Now let’s talk about the growing unease in Coober Pedy—a town with a proud opal-mining heritage and a population tough enough to thrive in one of the harshest environments on Earth.

But we’re seeing signs of a quiet, deliberate push to kill the town.

There are rumors—and yes, they’re rumors, because secrecy is the name of the game—that our unelected council has been having rolling meetings with the RDA (Regional Development Australia) and the Mines Department.

No transparency. No public consultation. No outcomes reported.

And here's the thing: if it’s not about reviving the struggling opal industry, then what is it about? The opal industry is drowning under fuel prices, supply chain pressures, and a cost of living crisis—yet the government’s focus seems to be elsewhere.

Could it be the petroleum and energy industry has their eyes on the land beneath us—and wants us out?

It’s hard to ignore the pattern. A town stripped of its democratic representation.

A council installed by the state—not elected by locals—has driven us $10 million deeper into debt over the past six years.

Who exactly are they serving?

This Is Your Wake-Up Call, Australia

These earthquakes are more than tremors. They are cracks in the silence.

Cracks in the wall of spin and secrecy.

Cracks in the lie that this is all for our benefit.

We are watching the land move. We are watching the water be poisoned.

We are watching our towns hollowed out—not by nature, but by policy.

It’s time to make a stand.

For Coober Pedy.

For the Lake Eyre Basin.

For the Great Artesian Basin.

For truth, transparency, and our right to exist.

School Canteen Reopens to Huge Welcome at Coober Pedy Area School

Posted on: 2025-05-27 14:31:51

The Coober Pedy Area School canteen officially reopened its doors today after being closed for several years due to COVID-19 restrictions — and it did so with a bang!

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the dedicated parents who make up the School Governing Council, the canteen kitchen has been completely refitted with new equipment, restocked, and refreshed with a brand-new, healthy menu designed to fuel growing minds and bodies.

The reopening was met with overwhelming support from students and families alike, with excited kids lining up at recess and lunch to get their hands on the fresh and tasty offerings. Parents manning the canteen were run off their feet keeping up with the hungry crowd, but the atmosphere was nothing short of electric.

A spokesperson for the Governing Council thanked the Coober Pedy community for their incredible support and said it was heartening to see so many happy faces on day one.

The canteen will now be open every Tuesday and Thursday, serving up a delicious range of options including chicken wraps, hamburgers, blueberry muffins, banana bread, and plenty more to come.

The reopening of the canteen marks a positive new chapter for the school, bringing a much-missed service back to life with a fresh focus on nutritious, affordable food for all students.

Coober Pedy Gears Up for a Spectacular Easter Weekend: Gems, Racing, Shooting, and Cinema Under the Stars

Posted on: 2025-04-15 12:37:20

Coober Pedy is set to dazzle visitors this Easter long weekend (April 18–20) with a packed lineup of events showcasing the town’s vibrant outback culture. From opal traders to motorsport thrills, target shooting, and classic drive-in films, there’s something for everyone this Easter in the opal capital of the world.

💎 Gem Trade Show Returns: Unearth the Outback’s Treasures

The highly anticipated Coober Pedy Gem Trade Show is back and will run on Saturday and Sunday, April 19–20, at the Croatian Club. This event is a must-visit for gem enthusiasts, offering direct access to opals from miners, wholesalers, and jewelers. Whether you're buying, browsing, or just curious, it's a rare opportunity to see the town's dazzling underground economy above ground.

🏁 Double the Speedway Action: Racing and Burnouts

The Coober Pedy Speedway is pulling out all the stops with a double-header event on Saturday and Sunday night. Competitors are travelling from as far as Alice Springs to take part in what promises to be a thrilling weekend of racing and burnout competitions. Spectators can enjoy all the usual favourites like snags and steak sandwiches as they take in the roaring engines and country camaraderie.

🔫 Easter Shoot at the Coober Pedy Shooters Club

For those who prefer trigger precision over throttle, the Coober Pedy Shooters Club is hosting its annual Easter Shoot on Sunday, April 20, kicking off at 9:00 AM. The event will feature 50-metre rifle competitions and IPSC-style shotgun events, welcoming both participants and spectators. A BBQ lunch will also be on offer, making it a great day out for locals and visitors alike.

🎬 Drive-In Delights: Two Nights of Cinema Under the Stars

South Australia's last remaining drive-in theatre, the Coober Pedy Drive-In, will be screening two great films this weekend:

Friday, April 18 – 10 Lives (Family film) | Gates open: 6:30 PM

Saturday, April 19 – Mickey 17 (Sci-fi adventure) | Gates open: 6:30 PM

Bring a blanket, park up, and enjoy an old-school movie night beneath the outback sky.

🌤️ Weather Forecast for Easter Weekend

Friday, April 18: Partly sunny and hot, breezy afternoon. High: 33°C, Low: 20°C

Saturday, April 19: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 28°C, Low: 13°C

Sunday, April 20: Partly sunny and cooler. High: 24°C, Low: 11°C

Whether you're here for the opals, the action, or just a unique outback adventure, Coober Pedy is the place to be this Easter. Check Facebook and cooberpedy.info for more information on events and what to see and do while you're in town.

Author: Jason Wright

Opinion: Stop the Fear – Coober Pedy Isn’t the Crime Capital You Think It Is

Posted on: 2025-04-15 12:09:28

Coober Pedy – known for its opals, underground homes, and outback charm – is sadly being misrepresented by a rising tide of sensationalist storytelling and viral misinformation. Over the past few years, this iconic Aussie outback town has been unfairly painted as some sort of lawless frontier, plagued by crime and chaos. The truth, however, is far from it.

As someone who lives here, works here, and knows this town better than most travel influencers ever could, I want to set the record straight.

A Viral Lie

A recent TikTok video by user @naomiobriennn made the rounds, showing a group of young travellers seated on a bus with the overlay:

“POV: your bus got robbed overnight so now it’s an awkward 7-hour drive through the outback in silence.”

The caption warned viewers:

“If you’re thinking of visiting Coober Pedy, don’t.”

Dramatic? Yes. True? Not exactly.

Reports from people involved suggest that the bus was left unlocked, and the “robbery” consisted of a few packets of lollies and some cigarettes going missing. Hardly the kind of event worthy of a viral “crime wave” post.

The problem? This kind of sensationalism sticks. Hundreds of thousands see these posts. Most won’t fact-check. And in a single click, a destination like Coober Pedy is unfairly blacklisted in the minds of future travellers.

Local Press Feeding the Fire

It’s not just influencers chasing likes. Our own local newspaper has been playing its part in stoking fear. Headlines often focus disproportionately on isolated incidents, with maximum fear and horror injected into every paragraph. It's a playbook that grabs attention but does nothing to serve the community.

The unintended result? People I’ve spoken to — both in person and online — have told me they deliberately avoid Coober Pedy while travelling along the Stuart Highway due to its “dangerous” reputation. Some cite articles from our local paper as the reason. That’s not just bad PR — that’s economic sabotage.

Let's Talk Real Stats

Are there incidents in Coober Pedy? Of course. Every town has them. But let’s put things into perspective:

Melbourne experiences daily home invasions, car thefts, and gang activity.

Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast all report frequent youth crime and home burglaries.

Coober Pedy? Occasional petty theft. Some isolated incidents. Nothing remotely near the scale of urban centers.

We’re not immune to crime — no place is — but to paint us as the outback’s answer to Gotham City is misleading, lazy, and damaging.

A Call for Responsibility

We are a town built on resilience, hospitality, and wonder. Tourists don’t just come here for opals — they come for the stories, the landscapes, and the people. When fearmongering content deters potential visitors, it hurts local businesses, families, and our reputation.

So here’s my message to influencers and media outlets: Do better. Fact-check before posting. Provide context. Talk to locals. And remember that what you say has consequences.

And to the curious traveller: Don’t let fear decide your route. Coober Pedy is not only safe, it’s unforgettable. Come and see it for yourself.

Have a different take? Want to share your Coober Pedy experience? Email us at info@news.cooberpedy.info

Opinion: Coober Pedy’s Film Future – Hijacked, Forgotten, and Left in the Dust

Posted on: 2025-04-05 07:36:56

Back in 2022, the District Council of Coober Pedy made a promising move: they commissioned a $30,000 feasibility study to explore the idea of a National Outback Film Centre and museum — an idea I proudly championed as then Chair of the Coober Pedy Retail, Business and Tourism Association. The potential? Massive. The execution? A tragic comedy.

The study, prepared by Fyfe Pty Ltd with input from SA Tourism and industry experts, rightly identified Coober Pedy’s unique appeal to filmmakers. It recommended pragmatic steps forward: streamline permits, build a user-friendly website, develop a dedicated admin hub for productions, and embrace our rich filming history. This wasn’t pie-in-the-sky thinking — it was practical, achievable groundwork for positioning Coober Pedy as a film-friendly destination, much like Broken Hill or the Flinders Ranges.

But when it came time for action, the Council completely dropped the ball.

Representatives from Fyfe, the SA Tourism Commission, and the film industry flew in to meet with Council. The Council forgot to show up. Let that sink in — a meeting where key players traveled hundreds of kilometres to plan Coober Pedy’s future… and Council simply didn’t turn up. They later called in a staff member on their day off to cover for them. The impression left on our guests? “If they can’t remember a meeting, how will they ever build a museum?” one remarked. That quote still stings — because it’s true.

The final report, completed in 2023, concluded that while a fully-fledged National Outback Film Centre might not yet be feasible, there was strong support for immediate, lower-cost initiatives. These included establishing a digital platform to attract filmmakers, repurposing an existing building for a media liaison hub, and showcasing our film heritage through walking trails and small-scale exhibits. I offered to help make this happen — to oversee the online presence and promotional tools that would put us on the map. But the Council had other plans.

They hijacked the project, as they tend to do, and — predictably — achieved nothing. The person assigned to drive the initiative left town, and so did the momentum. Two years later, the opportunity has vanished into the desert heat.

Now, in 2025, the “Coober Pedy Together” group has reportedly met with the SA Film Corporation. What came of it? Nobody seems to know — apparently, the group is still “digesting” the outcomes. One wonders if they’re also busy digesting past ideas and repackaging them as their own.

This feels like déjà vu: another group quietly stepping into a space that was already laid out by the community, claiming ownership while failing to acknowledge the groundwork others have done. Is this a new initiative, or is it a clever rebranding of a shelved project they once ignored?

The Fyfe report, for all its ambition, still exists. It’s a public document, and the community has every right to read it. If you’d like a copy, ask the Council — or reach out to me directly. I was there when it mattered.

Coober Pedy still has a chance to claim its rightful place in Australia's film landscape. But unless there’s accountability, continuity, and competent leadership — we’ll keep watching our best ideas get buried under bureaucratic apathy and spin.

Suspicious Shed Fire Under Investigation in Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2025-04-05 06:15:59

Coober Pedy, 5 April 2025 — Police are investigating a suspicious fire that destroyed a shed in Coober Pedy during the early hours of Saturday morning.

Emergency services were called to Cameron Drive at approximately 3:40am following reports of a structure fire. Upon arrival, police and CFS crews found the shed fully engulfed in flames.

The adjoining property was vacant at the time, and thankfully, no injuries were reported. Despite efforts to contain the blaze, the shed was completely destroyed.

Authorities are treating the fire as suspicious, and investigations are ongoing.

Police are urging anyone who witnessed any unusual activity in the area or who may have information that could assist the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestopperssa.com.au.

OPINION: Coober Pedy Together – Or Just Together in Spending?

Posted on: 2025-03-31 12:44:44

In a town struggling with the rising cost of living, dwindling health services, and ongoing education concerns, the community should be asking one very important question: What exactly are we getting in return for the $80,000+ per year we’re spending on a "facilitator" who neither lives in Coober Pedy nor seems to understand it?

The so-called Coober Pedy Together group was formed under the leadership of this fly-in, fly-out facilitator, who has now cost the ratepayers more than $420,000 since the role began. Despite this hefty investment, tangible outcomes remain few and far between — aside from a heavy dose of virtue signalling and photo ops, of course.

Let’s not confuse criticism of the group’s leadership with criticism of the volunteers. Many locals have genuinely tried to bring life to the facilitator’s ideas, but unfortunately, goodwill alone does not equate to meaningful community progress. When measured against outcomes, the question remains: do we really need a $400K+ outsider to guide us through community engagement? Or are we capable of mobilising our own?

Take, for example, the infamous "Dusty Wicket" documentary — initially pitched as a $30,000 exploration of cricket in Coober Pedy. In a town known more for its Eastern European heritage than its cricket fans, the idea was wildly out of touch. Even the supposed documentary partners began reshaping the storyline to "How to Save a Town," prompting Cricket Australia and the Coober Pedy Council to back away from the project entirely. The documentary now allegedly lives on, with a revised fundraising target of $2,000 — of which just $690 has been raised. A fitting metaphor, perhaps, for this entire saga.

Then there’s the recent Fringe Festival effort. Much was made of bringing “Adelaide Fringe” acts to Coober Pedy, some 800km away from the actual festival. What sounded exciting on paper quickly turned into yet another event that underdelivered. Speaking with local accommodation providers revealed no noticeable increase in tourism. It appeared most attendees were prize winners, invitees, or a small circle of locals. While the re-opening of the outdoor movie theatre received a bit of media attention, the actual Fringe events went largely unnoticed — a missed opportunity dressed up as a triumph. One glaring question remains: how much did these acts cost to bring in, and who footed the bill? Were they self-funded, supported by grants, or quietly subsidised with ratepayer dollars? Once again, the community is left in the dark.

And about that movie theatre — its repair was the group’s most visible achievement, but even that came about through a successful tender submitted by a group member. Would that outcome have been any different without the Together Group? It’s fair to ask whether the community needed a facilitator’s involvement at all for that to happen.

Beyond failed projects and lacklustre events, the real concern lies in how this group operates. Is Coober Pedy Together truly representing the broader community? Multiple venues in town — the RSL, John's Pizza Bar, Big Winch 360, the Italian Club — weren’t involved in the Fringe Festival. Were they even approached? Were tour operators consulted or included? Or was this another inward-looking effort for a select few?

This week brings fresh controversy, with the group reportedly granted an audience with the Minister for Education. One member of the group has children at the local school. Were other community members consulted or even notified? There’s no mention of the meeting on their social media. Their website is, as always, devoid of meaningful content. Who is making decisions on our behalf — and why aren't we being told?

The group continues to operate in isolation, never consulting with other community collectives like the Coober Pedy Community Alliance — an organisation consistently drawing concerned locals in search of practical solutions. In contrast, Together Group meetings appear to lack both community engagement and meaningful representation.

It’s time we asked the hard question: Are we paying over $80,000 a year for someone to deliver failed concepts and ignored concerns from 800km away? We’ve already seen — through the repeated failures of fly-in fly-out administrators and CEOs — that this model doesn’t connect leadership with the community or its needs. If the FIFO approach doesn’t work for local government, why would anyone believe it would work for community engagement? Coober Pedy isn’t a fly-in, fly-out kind of town — it needs boots on the ground and leadership that lives, listens, and understands. Couldn’t those funds be better spent addressing the real issues we face — health, education, services, infrastructure?

Community engagement should empower locals, not outsource leadership. Coober Pedy deserves better than a leadership model that appears more performative than productive. The Together Group may still believe they’re making a difference — but until there's actual, measurable impact, we’re left footing the bill for very little in return.

Opinion: Washington Post Got It Wrong on Coober Pedy — Here's the Truth

Posted on: 2025-03-31 07:51:51

On January 31st, the District Council of Coober Pedy shared a post on Facebook inviting locals to speak with The Washington Post, saying the global outlet was preparing a story about “working in the extreme heat.” That was the first misrepresentation. What was promised as a piece on working conditions in a harsh environment quickly unravelled into something else entirely — a politically charged article that misleads its international readership and does a great disservice to the people of this town.

Instead of highlighting resilience or ingenuity, The Washington Post delivered a sensationalist portrayal of Coober Pedy as a racially divided dystopia. A story that began — allegedly — with the intent to discuss the realities of working in heat became a narrative about racial privilege, climate change, and inequality. Sadly, the reporter failed to investigate with integrity or nuance.

One local man, who spoke to the reporter in good faith, is now regrettably featured as a symbol of so-called "white privilege." He explained — truthfully — that when his day’s work becomes too hot, he returns to his dugout home for respite. A simple fact of life in Coober Pedy. But in the final article, this was twisted into a broader and inflammatory comparison, positioning him as a beneficiary of racial advantage, when in fact he was just trying to cool down — something any sensible person would do in 45-degree heat.

This is not journalism — it's agenda-driven storytelling, where complex local realities are cherry-picked to support a predetermined theme.

If the reporter had taken time to ask about this or consult local records, he might have uncovered a more nuanced truth. Instead, he chose the easier route — to frame the Aboriginal community as helpless victims of white colonial infrastructure and climate change.

In truth, Coober Pedy is a town of cultural intersections. While many non-Aboriginal residents live in dugouts, this isn't due to racial preference or privilege — it’s simply practicality. The desert climate here is brutal and underground homes provide year-round relief from the extremes. These homes are not free, easy to build, or even universally desirable. They are costly to dig and maintain, and many locals — regardless of race — do not live underground.

It’s also misleading to assume that Aboriginal people in Coober Pedy, who have adapted to harsh conditions for over 50,000 years, must now adopt the same living methods as miners who arrived just over a century ago. Aboriginal people have their own cultural ways of living, many of which don’t involve going underground. The name "Coober Pedy" itself, derived from “kupa piti,” means “white man in a hole.” That alone should have hinted to the reporter that dugout living is more a settler practice than an Indigenous one.

And yet, rather than exploring this rich cultural distinction, the Washington Post doubled down on a simplistic story of racial division — complete with photos of broken windows, unpaid bills, and sweltering elders — as if poverty and hardship don’t affect all demographics in rural Australia.

Yes, climate change (either man made or natural) is real. And yes, there are serious housing and health challenges in Coober Pedy, as there are in countless remote communities across this country. But what this town doesn’t need is a foreign publication parachuting in, distorting the truth, and turning a complex community into a clickbait headline.

We should always strive to do better for those living in difficult conditions — Aboriginal or otherwise. But improvement begins with honesty and context, not with overseas journalists reducing our community to a caricature for an audience thousands of miles away.

Coober Pedy deserves better than this. And so does journalism.

Sniffer Dog Leads to Major Cannabis Bust in Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2025-03-24 13:38:28

Coober Pedy, SA – March 2025

Police in Coober Pedy have uncovered a significant quantity of illicit drugs thanks to the keen nose of Police Dog Neave, who sniffed out over 4 kilograms of dried cannabis during a targeted operation last week.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rob was “all smiles” following the successful find, which saw 4.2 kilograms of cannabis seized as part of a coordinated effort by SAPOL’s Far North Criminal Investigation Branch and Volume Crime Team. The bust is being hailed as a clear demonstration of South Australia Police's commitment to disrupting the drug trade, even in the most remote regions of the state.

The discovery was one of several successes from Operation Mile, an extensive crackdown on the trafficking of illicit drugs in the Far North. Concluding this week, the operation—spearheaded by Port Augusta detectives—has led to eight arrests and the laying of more than 150 charges of trafficking in a controlled drug since its launch in December 2024.

Key outcomes from the operation include:

Eight arrests for drug trafficking

Five premises searched

Over 200 exhibits seized, including more than 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine

More than $10,000 in cash confiscated

A high-end vehicle seized for potential forfeiture

Recovery of stolen property, including a motorcycle and a valuable guitar linked to recent local break-ins

The following individuals have been arrested and charged:

A 32-year-old man from Whyalla

Two men, aged 68 and 57, and two women, aged 40 and 41, from Whyalla Norrie

A 40-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman from Port Augusta West

A 30-year-old man from Port Augusta

Far North Police say the operation has delivered a strong message to those involved in the illegal drug trade: rural and remote communities are not safe havens for criminal activity.

Police Dog Neave, whose role in the recent Coober Pedy bust was instrumental, has received praise from officers and the local community alike.

Author: Clark Kent

Freak Electrical Storm Strikes Coober Pedy: Community Thanks Linesmen for Swift Power Restoration

Posted on: 2025-03-20 07:53:14

Coober Pedy experienced an intense electrical storm on the afternoon of March 19, 2025, as a sudden and violent weather system swept through the area, delivering multiple lightning strikes across the town.

One particularly powerful strike at approximately 3:40 p.m. caused significant damage to power infrastructure, leaving residents in the southern part of town without electricity for several hours. The outage, which affected homes and businesses, stretched late into the evening, with power not fully restored until around 10 p.m.

In addition to the electrical chaos, the storm brought a sudden downpour, with reports of up to 20mm of rain falling in a very short period. The heavy rainfall led to some isolated local flooding, with water pooling in low-lying areas. However, the rain was short-lived, and conditions improved as the evening progressed.

Despite the challenging conditions, Coober Pedy's dedicated linesmen worked tirelessly to assess the damage and restore power as quickly as possible. Battling difficult terrain, and the unpredictability of further strikes, they pushed through to ensure the community could return to normal.

Local residents have expressed their gratitude for the swift response and dedication of the repair crews. In a town where extreme weather is no stranger, the efforts of these hardworking professionals do not go unnoticed.

"Our linesmen did an incredible job," said one local. "They worked through dangerous conditions to get the power back on, and we can’t thank them enough."

The storm was a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the Outback and the resilience of those who live and work in Coober Pedy. While the lightning strikes caused disruptions, the rapid response of the town's linesmen ensured that power was restored as quickly and safely as possible.

As the dust settles, the community continues to extend its appreciation to those who braved the elements to keep the lights on in Australia’s opal capital.

The Disappearance of Judy

Posted on: 2025-03-13 10:13:34

Judy, 80, was last seen at 7:30 AM on Wednesday, March 12, when she checked out of her accommodation in Coober Pedy. She was driving a white 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander with Northern Territory registration and was expected to arrive in Port Augusta. However, she never reached her destination.

Police have issued a public appeal for information, concerned for her welfare. Her last known movements are likely to have been tracked through her accommodation provider and any recent contact with relatives.

The route between Coober Pedy and Port Augusta is a long, isolated stretch of road, with few stops along the way. Anyone traveling through the area who may have seen Judy or her vehicle is urged to contact the police assistance line at 131 444. The police press release can be found here

As of now, there have been no confirmed sightings since she left Coober Pedy. The circumstances of her disappearance remain unclear, and police are seeking assistance from the public to help locate her.

***UPDATE***: Judy has been found safe and well. Thank you to all

Coober Pedy Woman Among Three Arrested After Firearm and Drug Seizure and Driver caught speeding 60kph over limit

Posted on: 2025-03-06 13:48:47

A Coober Pedy woman is among three people arrested after Northern District police uncovered a loaded firearm and illicit drugs in a vehicle at Munno Para West on Monday morning.

At approximately 11:40 am on March 3, police stopped a man at a business on Curtis Road after identifying him as being wanted on an outstanding matter. Upon searching his vehicle, officers located a loaded firearm and a quantity of GHB, a dangerous sedative drug commonly associated with illicit trafficking.

The three occupants of the vehicle—a 32-year-old man from Elizabeth South, a 29-year-old man from Flinders Park, and a 29-year-old woman from Coober Pedy—were all arrested and charged with multiple offences, including:

Aggravated possession of a firearm without a licence (loaded)

Possession of ammunition without a licence

Trafficking a controlled drug

Possession of a prohibited weapon

Theft

In addition, the 32-year-old man was charged with breaching a firearms prohibition order.

All three individuals were refused bail and are set to appear before the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Authorities continue to crack down on illicit firearm and drug activities in the region, urging the public to report any suspicious behavior to assist in maintaining community safety.

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Coober Pedy Driver Caught Speeding Over 60 km/h Above Limit

Meanwhile, police have reported a severe speeding incident in Coober Pedy, with a driver detected traveling more than 60 km/h over the speed limit on Wednesday afternoon.

At approximately 5:45 pm on March 5, witnesses alerted police to a Toyota sedan speeding dangerously along the Sturt Highway. Officers quickly responded and detected the vehicle traveling at 173 km/h in a 110 km/h zone.

The driver, a 28-year-old man from Newton, was promptly stopped and reported for exceeding the speed limit. He was issued an instant six-month loss of license and will be summoned to appear in court at a later date.

Police have reinforced warnings against reckless driving, emphasizing the risks posed to both drivers and the wider community. They continue to monitor and enforce traffic laws strictly to prevent potential road tragedies in the area.

Author: Clark Kent

Massive Late-Night Explosion Shakes Coober Pedy January 31, 2025 – Coober Pedy, SA

Posted on: 2025-02-05 14:29:11

A powerful explosion rocked Coober Pedy late on the night of January 30 at 11:42 PM, startling residents across the town and sparking widespread speculation about its cause.

Locals, particularly those living above ground, reported feeling the shockwave and hearing a deafening blast that reverberated across the opal-mining town. Among the first to comment was well-known local Yanni [last name withheld], who posted on Facebook, "Geezus that was a loud BANG in town!" Yanni and his father, widely known as the "Bomb Kings" due to their extensive experience with explosives, were just as baffled as everyone else by the unexpected detonation.

His post quickly ignited a flurry of responses, with residents offering a mix of theories, ranging from illegal blasting to meteorite impact. Another local business owner, Jason [last name withheld], added fuel to the fire by posting a CCTV capture of the incident on the community forum. The footage appears to show a massive explosion to the south of town, with a bright flash illuminating the night sky.

Longtime local Terry [last name withheld] shared that authorities have attributed the explosion to fireworks, a claim that many in the community have dismissed after reviewing the footage. "Fireworks? More like mining explosives!" one resident commented. Others speculated that it could have been a reckless stunt.

At this stage, there has been no official confirmation regarding the source of the explosion, and local police have not issued further statements beyond the initial fireworks explanation. Whether this was a routine but unauthorised mining detonation, a prank gone wrong, or something more mysterious remains unclear.

What do you think? Was this simply an overzealous fireworks display, or is something more explosive at play in Coober Pedy?

Author: Clark Kent

Stealth, Secrecy, and Environmental Risk: The Cooper Basin Carbon Storage Scandal

Posted on: 2025-01-31 15:11:12

In an astonishing display of corporate arrogance and government complicity, Santos and Beach Energy have pushed ahead with their controversial carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the Cooper Basin—despite clear recommendations from the federal government's Senate Environment and Communications References Committee advising against such projects in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). This reckless gamble with Australia’s most vital water resource has been conducted under a veil of secrecy, with key decision-makers brushing aside concerns from environmental experts and the wider community.

At a press conference earlier today, Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher exuded smug indifference when confronted about opposition to the project. When asked, “What do you say to the naysayers?”, his dismissive response, “I don’t really need to say much, do I?”, spoke volumes about the unchecked power these corporations wield. He went on to admit, “I was very nervous and we’d given ourselves a bit of time to ramp this project up because we did not want anything going wrong because we knew that would be fuel and ammunition to all the so-called naysayers.”

This statement alone is an admission that the project had no ironclad guarantees of safety. Gallagher himself acknowledged the risks, yet the company proceeded regardless—betting on the hope that the long-term consequences would remain hidden long enough to avoid scrutiny. His words also expose the carefully orchestrated secrecy surrounding the project, a project that was deliberately fast-tracked before public resistance could mount.

The Ignored Scientific Warnings

The Australian Government’s Geological and Bioregional Assessment Program, in its Fact Sheet 8, has already identified a degree of connectivity between the Cooper Basin, the overlying Eromanga Basin, and the Great Artesian Basin aquifers. In other words, leaks from petroleum wells in these basins could contaminate the GAB—the same water source that sustains vast swathes of inland Australia. The report explicitly states, “Early results indicate that there is likely to be a degree of connectivity between the Cooper Basin and the overlying Eromanga Basin (GAB), however the timescale on which such exchanges occur is unknown.”

And yet, in defiance of this evidence, Gallagher proclaimed the project a “success.” Success for whom? Certainly not for the landholders, communities, and ecosystems that rely on the GAB. Given that there is no scientifically available data on how long it takes for contaminants to reach the GAB, Gallagher cannot possibly know whether this project has already caused irreversible damage.

This is not just negligence—it is a reckless roll of the dice with Australia’s water security.

Corporate Expansion at the Cost of Environmental Security

Gallagher further hinted at long-term ambitions, stating that there was an “opportunity to kick on in the region”—a clear indication that this is merely the beginning of a broader expansion plan. The people of South Australia should be deeply concerned.

While Santos claims Australia is a unique leader in CCS, Gallagher’s own words betray a contradiction: “Other countries want to compete with us in CCS.” If Australia is so uniquely suited for this technology, why is it facing international competition? The reality is that CCS is a flawed, unproven, and expensive distraction from real climate solutions. Worse still, it provides a greenwashing shield for fossil fuel giants to continue business as usual under the guise of environmental responsibility.

The State Government’s Complicity

The South Australian government, led by Premier Peter Malinauskas, has been complicit in this environmental vandalism, placing short-term economic gains over long-term sustainability. They will not be here when the full repercussions of this recklessness emerge. They will not face the consequences when leaks inevitably occur. The rural communities, traditional landowners, and future generations will be left to bear the brunt of their irresponsible decisions.

The Time to Act is Now

We cannot allow corporate interests and political expediency to dictate the fate of one of Australia’s most vital natural resources. The community must demand transparency, accountability, and an immediate halt to further CCS expansion in the Cooper Basin.

This is more than just a policy failure—it is a betrayal of the Australian people. If we remain silent, we surrender our water, our land, and our future to the greed of a few. The alarm has been sounded—will we listen?

Why Did the South Australian Government Approve a Carbon Capture Exploration License in the Arckaringa Basin Despite Federal Warnings?

Posted on: 2025-01-23 10:36:36

In a move that raises serious environmental and governance concerns, the South Australian Department of Energy and Mining, under Mr. Benjamin Zammit, recently issued exploration licenses to CCS Arckaringa Pty Ltd for petroleum exploration licenses (PELs) 121, 122, and 123. This decision is deeply troubling, given that the Arckaringa Basin is closely linked to the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), Australia’s largest and most critical groundwater resource. This comes despite a federal government recommendation for a blanket ban on carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects within the GAB due to significant environmental risks.

A Federal Recommendation Ignored

In 2024, the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee delivered a damning inquiry report into Glencore’s proposed CCS project in Queensland’s Surat Basin, a sub-basin of the GAB. The inquiry highlighted numerous risks associated with CCS activities, including groundwater acidification, heavy metal mobilisation, and irreversible damage to aquifers. It also noted that CCS technology has historically struggled to operate at scale and is fraught with technical failures and inefficiencies.

As a result, the Queensland Government legislated a statewide ban on CCS projects in the GAB, citing the basin's strategic importance for water security across drought-prone regions. If the risks of CCS are too great for Queensland, why is South Australia taking such a gamble with the Arckaringa Basin, which is also hydrologically linked to the GAB?

What Are CCS Arckaringa’s Intentions?

The very name of the company—CCS Arckaringa Pty Ltd—leaves little to the imagination. It is clear that their primary focus is carbon capture and storage. So why did the South Australian government grant exploration licenses to a company whose activities could jeopardize the water quality and sustainability of a basin that supports agriculture, regional communities, and biodiversity? This decision appears to disregard the warnings outlined in the federal inquiry.

Lack of Transparency and Accountability

The decision-making process behind these licenses also raises questions about transparency and stakeholder engagement. Were Indigenous landholders, farmers, and environmental groups consulted? Did the Department of Energy and Mining thoroughly assess the potential risks to groundwater, as required under environmental law? Given the dire consequences of CCS failures, South Australians deserve to know whether these considerations were properly weighed.

Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts

The Arckaringa Basin, much like the GAB, is a lifeline for agriculture and regional communities in South Australia. Any contamination or degradation of this resource would have catastrophic consequences for farmers, businesses, and ecosystems dependent on clean, sustainable groundwater. Moreover, approving CCS projects in such sensitive areas sets a dangerous precedent for future proposals, undermining efforts to protect Australia’s precious water resources.

South Australia’s Role in Climate Mitigation: At What Cost?

Proponents of CCS often frame the technology as a key tool in Australia’s climate change mitigation strategy. However, the federal inquiry revealed that CCS projects have consistently underperformed and are plagued by high costs and technical failures. Worse still, many CCS projects are tied to fossil fuel companies seeking to extend the life of their coal and gas operations. Is South Australia genuinely pursuing climate solutions, or is this just another case of greenwashing?

Demanding Answers

Mr. Zammit and the South Australian government owe the public an explanation. Why were these licenses issued despite the clear risks? How does this align with federal recommendations and environmental protection laws? Most importantly, what safeguards are in place to ensure that CCS activities do not harm the Arckaringa Basin and the communities that depend on it?

South Australians cannot afford to remain silent. The government must prioritise the protection of critical water resources over the interests of corporations with dubious environmental track records. It is time to hold decision-makers accountable before irreversible damage is done to one of Australia’s most vital natural assets.

The Arckaringa Basin: A Treasure Worth Protecting from Carbon Capture Storage Risks

Posted on: 2025-01-22 16:13:31

The Arckaringa Basin, nestled beneath the iconic outback town of Coober Pedy, is much more than an expanse of land. It is a vital resource that sustains the fragile desert ecosystem and provides lifeblood to its human and wildlife inhabitants. Yet, its stability and future are under threat once again, this time not from oil fracking but from the controversial practice of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

A Troubled History with SAPEX

Years ago, the town of Coober Pedy faced a battle with SAPEX, a company owned by the multinational Tristar Oil and Gas. Armed with exploration permits, including PEL 122 and PEL 123, SAPEX sought to exploit what they touted as trillions of dollars worth of oil beneath the basin. However, local residents stood firm, raising concerns about the stability of the region’s water supply and geological structure. Their resistance was unwavering, emphasising that the well-being of their community and environment far outweighed corporate profits.

After intense public opposition and objections voiced at meetings involving SAPEX, locals, and the South Australian Government’s Department of Energy and Mining, the government placed a moratorium on SAPEX’s licenses. The suspension lasted for years. Eventually SAPEX was delisted from the Australian Stock Exchange and relisted in Singapore. At the time, it seemed like a victory for the people and the environment.

A New Threat Emerges

However, recent developments have reignited concerns. According to a memorandum released by the Department of Energy and Mining (Source) SAPEX has handed over 100% of its license holding, PEL 121, PEL 122, and PEL 123, to CCS Arckaringa Pty Ltd, a company specialising in Carbon Capture and Storage. This handover signals a significant shift in the basin’s future, as CCS Arckaringa appears to be exploring the feasibility of using the Arckaringa Basin for carbon storage. Their intentions are further supported by a website, acvault.com.au, which boasts about leveraging the basin for this purpose.

The Dangers of Carbon Capture and Storage

While CCS is often touted as a solution to combat climate change by capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions underground, the risks associated with this technology are well-documented and deeply troubling. These include:
1. Groundwater Contamination: The injection of carbon dioxide into deep geological formations poses a significant risk to aquifers. CO2 can react with minerals, creating acidic conditions that may leach harmful substances into the water supply. For a region as arid as Coober Pedy, where water is a precious and scarce resource, this risk cannot be understated.
2. Seismic Activity: The pressurization of underground formations during CO2 injection can induce seismic activity. Even minor earthquakes can destabilise storage sites, causing leaks and jeopardising the safety of surrounding areas.
3. Health Risks to Humans and Wildlife: Leaks from CCS sites can release concentrated CO2, which is heavier than air. Such leaks can lead to oxygen displacement, causing heart malfunctions, respiratory issues, and, in severe cases, death. Wildlife, already vulnerable in the harsh outback environment, faces an increased threat from such incidents.
4. Long-Term Liability: The permanence of CO2 storage cannot be guaranteed. Over time, geological shifts and the degradation of storage materials can result in leaks, undoing any climate benefits and creating environmental disasters for future generations.
5. Economic Costs vs. Environmental Risks: The immense costs of CCS projects often divert resources from more sustainable and proven solutions like renewable energy development. Moreover, these projects’ financial feasibility is often prioritised over rigorous environmental and community safeguards.

The Call to Protect the Arckaringa Basin

The people of Coober Pedy have already demonstrated their commitment to protecting the Arckaringa Basin from exploitation. Allowing CCS exploration—let alone implementation—threatens to undermine these efforts and place the region at immense risk.
Instead of pursuing high-risk technological experiments, the government and industry should focus on fostering sustainable initiatives that respect the basin’s ecological and cultural significance. Groundwater stability, community safety, and the preservation of the unique geological structure must take precedence over corporate interests.

A United Stand

The people of Coober Pedy, environmentalists, and all who cherish the Arckaringa Basin must once again unite to protect it. The lessons learned from the SAPEX debacle are clear: corporate interests will not hesitate to sacrifice long-term environmental health for short-term gains. By raising awareness, demanding transparency, and holding decision-makers accountable, we can ensure that the Arckaringa Basin remains a treasure for generations to come.

Take Action

Together, let’s make our voices heard and protect what matters most—our land, water, and future.

Unexplained Lights Over Coober Pedy: Military Testing or Something Else?

Posted on: 2025-01-10 06:29:33

Coober Pedy, SA – Last night, the skies to the southwest of Coober Pedy came alive with mysterious aerial displays, leaving residents and amateur skywatchers alike perplexed. The lights, appearing at irregular intervals, ranged from single glowing orbs to formations of three, darting and weaving across the night sky. At times, their movements suggested a playful chase, yet they followed an almost rhythmic pattern—though not consistent enough to definitively call it a circuit.

Having over 30 years of amateur astronomy experience, I feel confident stating that these lights were not self-illuminating. Instead, they appeared to be reflecting sunlight, likely explaining their presence only in a specific portion of the sky. This observation raises more questions than answers about their origin and purpose.

Before we dive into speculation, let’s address the inevitable: aliens. While UFO sightings often ignite extraterrestrial theories, one must consider the logic—or lack thereof—behind such assumptions. If intelligent alien life has developed the technology to reach Earth, it seems implausible they’d be detected by us. Why would beings with advanced capabilities reveal themselves over the sparsely populated Woomera Prohibited Area, known for its desolate expanse and history as a military testing ground? If they were interested in covertly observing Earth, one imagines they’d possess technology far beyond human detection.

That brings us to a more plausible theory: advanced military aircraft.

The idea of gravitic propulsion systems—once confined to science fiction—may no longer be out of reach. History has shown us time and again that the military operates decades ahead of publicly available technology. Consider the SR-71 Blackbird, a marvel of aviation engineering developed in the 1960s but kept secret until the 1980s. If such groundbreaking technology could remain hidden for decades, what else might be under development today?

The Woomera Prohibited Area, stretching across thousands of square kilometers, has long been a hub for experimental testing. Could these lights represent cutting-edge military craft? Perhaps prototypes employing propulsion systems that defy our current understanding of aerodynamics and physics?

At this point, we can only speculate. The irregular but seemingly intentional movements of the lights suggest a degree of control—more than mere atmospheric phenomena or satellite reflections. And while the term "UAV" might conjure images of conventional drones, these objects seem to operate on an entirely different level.

For now, the lights over Coober Pedy remain an enigma. Whether they represent a glimpse into the future of human technology or simply an unexplained natural phenomenon, one thing is clear: they’ve captured the imagination of those who witnessed them.

As this reporter reflects on the sighting, I leave you with this thought: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Until we have more data, the most reasonable explanation is likely the simplest—military testing. But with mysteries like this, the truth often hovers just out of reach, much like the lights themselves.

Have You Seen the Lights?

If you’ve witnessed similar phenomena or have insights into last night’s display, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to our newsroom at info@cooberpedy.info. Together, let’s uncover the truth.

Mysterious UAP Sightings Spark Global and Local Curiosity

Posted on: 2024-12-25 12:26:10

Over recent months, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), commonly referred to as UFOs, have captured the world’s imagination and fuelled speculation. These enigmatic objects have been spotted near military installations across the globe, with the United States seeing a surge in reports. More recently, similar sightings have been documented over installations in Europe and Canada, adding to the intrigue.

The most recent incident occurred in Canada on Christmas Eve, when a UAP sighting coincided with an unexplained power outage. This event sent shockwaves through the global UAP community. Now, the mystery has taken a decidedly local twist—with Coober Pedy becoming the latest hotspot.

On Christmas Eve, Coober Pedy experienced a sudden power outage. During the blackout, reports of unusual "activity" in the southern sky were suggested. Local resident Teena Rosewarne posted to a forum, asking, "When the power went out last night, did you see all the movement in the sky south of Coober?"

The area in question holds particular significance: south of Coober Pedy lies the Woomera Proving Ground, a vast, remote expanse used by the Australian military for weapons testing since 1947. This connection has fuelled speculation about whether the phenomena are linked to secretive military projects or something even more extraordinary.

The timing and location of these sightings have sparked a flood of questions. Are we witnessing a natural, earthbound phenomenon, or is this evidence of something otherworldly? Could these incidents be tied to advanced technological experiments, or do they signify the presence of visitors from beyond our planet?

Adding a potentially darker dimension to the mystery, some theorists suggest these UAPs could be surveillance probes from nations with hostile intentions. With global tensions running high, this possibility has prompted further investigation into the nature of these sightings.

For now, the skies above Coober Pedy hold their secrets, but one thing is certain: the questions these sightings raise continue to captivate and unsettle those who look up and wonder, "What if?"

Opinion Piece: The Real Story Behind SA’s “Dangerous Country Crime Hotspots”

Posted on: 2024-12-15 12:16:12

Today, South Australians were treated to a front-page fear campaign courtesy of The Advertiser. Their headline, “Exposed: SA’s Most Dangerous Country Crime Hotspots,” aimed to stir panic and apprehension about regional crime rates. But a closer look at the facts—and the government’s role in this so-called crisis—reveals a narrative far more complex and inconvenient than the one presented by the paper.

A Failure to Contextualise

The glaring omission in The Advertiser's piece is the lack of comprehensive data to back up their claims. Where are the comparative statistics? Where are the graphs showing how regional crime trends stack up against those in metropolitan areas? When we examine these figures—readily available through sources like RedSuburbs.com.au—we find that crime rates in regional areas often mirror the trends seen in cities. Most significantly, the national crime rate was actually in decline until 2020. What changed in 2020? The government’s heavy-handed response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID Legacy: A Perfect Storm

Lockdowns, business closures, job losses, and economic uncertainty created a socioeconomic powder keg. While Coober Pedy stands out as a stark example of crime surging post-pandemic, most Australian towns and cities have not been immune. The fallout has been amplified in regional areas where reduced government investment in policing and essential services has left communities vulnerable. Regional South Australia’s struggles are not isolated incidents; they’re symptoms of systemic neglect.

The Government’s Role

Let’s not mince words: the rise in crime is a direct consequence of government policies. During the pandemic, decisions were made to shutter businesses and restrict livelihoods without adequately addressing the long-term consequences. As the dust settles, it’s evident that these policies have disproportionately affected the most vulnerable—particularly in regional areas where economic diversity and social support systems were already lacking.

Adding insult to injury, cuts to policing and essential services in regional South Australia have compounded the issue. Crime thrives where opportunity dies. When governments strip communities of resources, they lay the groundwork for the very issues now being sensationalised by the media.

A Media Complicit in Fearmongering

It’s difficult to ignore the synergy between government failings and media narratives. By running stories like today’s, The Advertiser not only distracts from the root causes of the crime surge but also perpetuates fear that deters people from visiting regional areas. This, in turn, further damages local economies, creating a vicious cycle of decline.

One can’t help but wonder: is this merely bureaucratic bumbling, or something more deliberate? If one were inclined toward conspiracy theories, it might look like a calculated attempt to centralise populations and resources while leaving regional areas to wither. At the very least, the government benefits from a media landscape that directs public anger toward scapegoats rather than policymakers.

Breaking the Cycle

It’s time to stop consuming the fear porn served up by media outlets like The Advertiser. Instead, we need to focus on supporting regional communities and addressing the real drivers of crime: socioeconomic inequality, lack of resources, and government mismanagement. The solutions aren’t easy, but they are clear: reinvest in regional policing and services, create sustainable economic opportunities, and ensure that no community is left behind.

South Australians deserve better than sensational headlines and fear campaigns. We deserve the truth. It’s high time the media held our government accountable instead of playing into its hands. Let’s demand better—for our regions, for our state, and for the truth.

Driver Caught Six Times Over Legal Alcohol Limit in Port Augusta

Posted on: 2024-12-12 14:16:15

A 48-year-old Davenport man has been arrested after being caught driving with a blood alcohol reading almost six times the legal limit.
The incident occurred at about 2:30 pm on Wednesday, December 11, when police stopped a Holden sedan on Stirling Road, Port Augusta. A breath test allegedly revealed the man’s blood alcohol concentration to be a staggering 0.284. Further checks uncovered that the driver was disqualified from driving and that his vehicle was unregistered.
The man was arrested and charged with drink driving, driving while disqualified, and driving an unregistered motor vehicle. He was also issued an immediate 12-month license disqualification and has been bailed to appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on January 20.
As the holiday season approaches, authorities are urging all road users to prioritise safety and avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It's not worth your life. It's not worth your license.
Drivers are reminded that high-range drink driving not only endangers the offender but also risks the lives of others. Police will be out in force over the festive period to ensure everyone can travel safely.

-Clark Kent

Coober Pedy: Voted One of South Australia’s Friendliest Towns by World Atlas

Posted on: 2024-12-11 17:00:21

Coober Pedy has earned a glowing accolade as one of South Australia’s top 10 friendliest towns, according to World Atlas. This recognition celebrates the warmth, hospitality, and unique charm of our small, tight-knit community—qualities that set us apart in an era where larger towns and cities are often grappling with rising crime and social challenges.

Nestled in the arid desert landscape of the Australian Outback, Coober Pedy’s remote location is only part of its allure. Known as the “opal capital of the world,” our town boasts a fascinating underground lifestyle that has captivated visitors from across the globe. From subterranean churches and homes to underground shops and museums, Coober Pedy offers a unique and quirky experience that makes everyone feel at home.

A Warm Welcome Awaits Visitors

Visitors to Coober Pedy are often struck by the friendliness of our locals, who are always ready to share stories of our rich history and vibrant culture. The town’s population of around 1,500 is as diverse as its landscape, with residents coming from all corners of the world to live and work here—many drawn by the dream of striking it rich in the opal mines. This melting pot of cultures has created a community spirit that is as colourful as the opals we mine.

Unique Attractions and Experiences

World Atlas highlights some of Coober Pedy’s top attractions, including the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, which offers a curated glimpse into our mining heritage and Indigenous culture. The Old Timers Mine is another must-see destination for history enthusiasts, showcasing the ingenuity and determination of our pioneering opal miners. Whilst not mentioned, no one could go past the unique experience of Riba’s Underground camping as well as our unique underground churches.

For those seeking relaxation after a day of exploring, the Big Winch 360 provides stunning views and a refreshing cold drink, while the Opal Fields Golf Club offers a unique twist on the sport—no grass, just a rugged desert course!

More Than Just Friendly

Beyond its welcoming atmosphere, Coober Pedy is a testament to human resilience and creativity. Our underground lifestyle—developed to escape the blistering heat—has become an iconic feature of the town. From underground hotels to restaurants, our way of life continues to intrigue and inspire visitors.

The legacy of our opal miners is another point of pride. Coober Pedy’s opals are renowned worldwide, and our miners’ hard work and innovation have left a lasting mark on the global gemstone industry. The town’s name itself, derived from the Indigenous words “kupa piti” (meaning “white man in a hole”), reflects this deep connection to the land and its treasures.

A Must-Visit Destination

Coober Pedy’s combination of friendliness, uniqueness, and history makes it an unmissable destination for tourists. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a glimpse into a truly distinctive way of life, Coober Pedy has something for everyone. So, pack your bags, and come experience why our little outback town has earned its place among South Australia’s friendliest communities.

Water Birds in Coober Pedy: A Sign of Big Things to Come?

Posted on: 2024-12-10 11:07:36

Coober Pedy had several unusual visitors gracing our desert town today: water birds! A number of vibrant kingfishers were spotted across various locations, and a solitary cormorant captured attention as it perched serenely on a light pole at the town's entrance for much of the morning.

These sightings are rare and remarkable. Water birds typically thrive near wetlands, making their presence in the heart of the Outback a special occurrence. Such appearances have often been taken as nature’s way of signalling that water is on its way—potentially to Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda).

The last time Lake Eyre filled was in 2019, transforming the vast salt lake into a shimmering oasis that drew wildlife and tourists alike. The result was a tourism boom that Coober Pedy hasn’t seen the likes of in years. Could these feathered visitors be hinting at a repeat performance in 2025?

“If the birds know something we don’t, we could be in for an incredible season,” remarked a local. “It’s a reminder of how connected we are to the rhythms of nature.”

Tourists are encouraged to start planning their trips now to avoid missing out. In 2019, the influx of visitors was so great that many were turned away due to limited accommodation. With water birds making their presence known, this could be the perfect time to prepare for what promises to be another breathtaking chapter in Coober Pedy’s story.

Could a shimmering Lake Eyre and bustling Coober Pedy be just around the corner? Only time will tell, but today’s sightings are a reason to be hopeful—and maybe even start packing!

Coober Pedy Police Station to See Improved Front Counter Hours

Posted on: 2024-12-09 09:53:52

For years, Coober Pedy residents visiting the local police station during business hours often found it closed. Although the station has traditionally operated on 9-to-5 hours, this hasn't always meant the counter was manned.

South Australia Police (SAPOL) has announced a standardisation of regional station hours, with Coober Pedy among those increasing front counter accessibility. Starting Monday, December 23, 2024, police stations will offer face-to-face services Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (excluding public holidays). Weekend stations will operate reduced hours from 9am to 3:30pm.

This move is part of a broader effort to maximise police resources, allowing officers to focus on patrols and frontline duties rather than desk work during low-traffic periods. SAPOL Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott reassured residents that public safety remains the priority, with officers focused on being visible and responsive where needed most.

Could these changes mean Coober Pedy will finally see consistently manned front counter services during standard hours? Locals hope so.

Council's CP30 Plan: Ambition Deferred, A Community Betrayed

Posted on: 2024-12-06 11:02:51

The 2019 CP30 Town Plan, once hailed as a visionary roadmap for Coober Pedy's future, now stands as a stark testament to council's failure to deliver on its promises. Instead of guiding the town toward revitalisation and prosperity, the plan has become a catalogue of unmet goals, wasted opportunities, and squandered resources.

An Ambitious Plan, Left to Gather Dust

The CP30 action plan was comprehensive and bold, addressing critical needs such as education, economic revitalisation, and community cohesion. Yet, in the five years since its inception, the council's efforts have been marked by inaction and mismanagement.

Take education as an example: The plan aimed for a modest but meaningful 1% annual increase in school enrolments. In 2020, Coober Pedy Area School had 248 students enrolled. Fast forward to today, and enrolments have plummeted to around 156 students—a dramatic decline that underscores the council's failure to prioritise or support local education. Attendance has mirrored this downward spiral, creating a dire situation for the town's youth. [Source: MySchool.edu.au]

Revitalizing the opal mining industry— a cornerstone of Coober Pedy's identity—was another key objective. Instead, miners face mounting economic pressures, with the soaring cost of diesel making operations increasingly unviable. Promised marketing strategies to reinvigorate the industry have yet to materialize, leaving the town's primary economic driver languishing.

A Handball to Nowhere

Rather than taking ownership of the CP30 plan, the council outsourced its implementation to a contractor under the banner of "Coober Pedy Together." What was once an all-encompassing vision has been watered down to disjointed initiatives, many of which are laughably out of touch with the community's needs.

The contractor, operating from outside the community, has achieved little of substance despite sucking an estimated $420,000 from ratepayer funds. To date, the group's only tangible accomplishments have been the construction of a children's play area and organising annual Christmas parties. These efforts, while appreciated, pale in comparison to the scope of CP30's original ambitions.

Meanwhile, notable failures include tone-deaf schemes like hosting a party for the governor, which did little to address the town's pressing challenges. Social media commentary and local chatter reveal growing dissatisfaction, with many residents feeling that the contractor's efforts have sown division rather than unity.

Good Intentions, Misguided Execution

To be clear, this critique is not aimed at the community volunteers who have poured their hearts into Coober Pedy Together. These individuals joined with noble intentions, driven by a desire to improve their town. However, their efforts have been hamstrung by poor facilitation, a lack of direction, and the council's abdication of its leadership responsibilities.

The friction between supporters and critics of Coober Pedy Together underscores the deeper issue: the council's failure to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the community. By outsourcing its responsibilities, the council has alienated residents and exacerbated divisions.

Time to Listen, Time to Act

It is past time for the council to take accountability and return to the drawing board. The original CP30 action plan, if implemented properly, could still serve as a blueprint for a brighter future. But this requires leadership—real leadership.

The council must:

• Engage directly with the community, listening to their concerns and aspirations.

• Facilitate grant applications and provide support for grassroots initiatives.

• Reallocate funds toward projects that genuinely benefit Coober Pedy, rather than lining the pockets of outside contractors.

Imagine what $420,000 could have achieved if invested wisely over the past five years. Infrastructure improvements? Support for local businesses? Youth programs? These are the kinds of investments that build a stronger, more cohesive community—not empty promises and wasted resources.

Moving Forward

Coober Pedy deserves better. It deserves a council that prioritises its people over convenience, action over excuses, and unity over division. The CP30 plan may have faltered, but it's not too late to pick up the pieces and start anew. The question is: Will the council rise to the occasion, or will it continue to fail the town it was appointed to serve?

Freak Summer Storm Brings Flash Flooding and Lightning to Coober Pedy

Posted on: 2024-12-05 11:41:52

A freak summer storm swept through Coober Pedy today, drenching the desert town with an intense downpour and lighting up the skies with an electrical storm that left residents reeling. The official rainfall measurement up to 10:30 AM stood at 16mm, but several locals have reported receiving nearly double that amount in some areas, overwhelming the town's natural drainage systems and causing flash flooding.
The rain, a rarity for this arid region, fell in torrents, turning usually dry streets into gushing streams and creating temporary pools in the famed opal-mining town. Residents scrambled to secure their homes and businesses, while tourists sought shelter in underground accommodations, a hallmark of Coober Pedy's unique lifestyle.
The storm wasn’t limited to rain. A dramatic electrical display accompanied the downpour, with numerous lightning strikes reported across the town. One particularly close call occurred at the local school, where a lightning bolt struck a nearby structure. Witnesses described a deafening crack followed by the entire town losing power. Fortunately, the council power team had power restored within an hour but reports are suggesting there are still problems. While no injuries were reported, the incident has sparked conversations about the town’s preparedness for such extreme weather events.
The flooding caused by the storm left several roads impassable and it is advised that tourists seek information from the department of infrastructure and road’s web site, before attempting any unsealed road in the far north region.
While the weather eased later in the morning, the aftermath of the storm is set to linger. Mud and debris were left strewn across the town, and the cleanup effort is already underway. Despite the chaos, many residents saw the storm as a strange blessing, bringing much-needed water to the parched landscape.
With a chance of further rain forecasted later in the week, locals are keeping a wary eye on the sky while working together to recover from a morning that few in Coober Pedy will forget anytime soon.

Coober Pedy: A Town Under Siege by State-Appointed Administration

Posted on: 2024-11-30 18:51:12

In 2019, Coober Pedy witnessed the beginning of a state-led intervention that was supposed to save the town from financial ruin. Instead, nearly six years later, residents find themselves burdened with ever-mounting debt and relentless increases in essential service costs—all under the stewardship of state-appointed administrators. This story exposes the glaring failures of the South Australian government's handling of Coober Pedy's administration and raises serious questions about accountability and governance.

*The Timeline of Administrative Failures

When the District Council of Coober Pedy was sacked in 2019, Tim Jackson was appointed as the town’s first administrator to address claims of maladministration. At the time, the council was reported to be in $9 million debt—a significant but potentially manageable figure. Yet, during Mr. Jackson’s tenure and a subsequent interim administrator’s term, the debt continued to balloon.
By the time the state government appointed a team of three administrators—head administrator Mr. Geoff Sheridan, supported by Ms. Erika Vickery and Mr. John Moyle—the council's debt had climbed to over $13 million. Now, under the newly appointed administrator, Mr. Patrick Conlon, the debt has reportedly exceeded $19 million, as suggested during a recent Coober Pedy Alliance group meeting. These figures paint a damning picture of administrative mismanagement and a lack of effective intervention by the state government.

*A Burden Placed on Locals

Coober Pedy’s residents have endured relentless hikes in rates, power, and water costs—essential services critical to survival in this remote town. These increases have forced some locals to abandon their homes and even leave the community. Despite repeated pleas from residents to reconsider these punitive measures, administrators have pushed forward, seemingly indifferent to the hardship they inflict.
Mr. Conlon’s reported statement at a recent meeting encapsulates this attitude: “You will not like some things I carry out or things that need to be done, but I am not here to be liked or make friends.” Such rhetoric highlights the disconnect between state-appointed administrators and the community they claim to serve. These administrators are not beholden to the people of Coober Pedy, nor do they face the electoral accountability that would motivate local councilors to act in their constituents' best interests.

*The State Government’s Role

The South Australian government cannot absolve itself of responsibility for this fiscal mess. Local government, enshrined in the state constitution despite two national referendums rejecting its establishment, remains under the purview of the state government. It was under their watch that Coober Pedy’s council accrued its initial debt, and it is under their appointed administrators that the debt has more than doubled.
The question must be asked: Why has the state government allowed this crisis to deepen? Why have they failed to implement measures that provide relief to the town's residents rather than exacerbate their struggles? The evidence suggests a profound failure of oversight and a lack of commitment to resolving the underlying issues.

*A Call to Action

This reporter urges the people of Coober Pedy to redirect their focus. It is clear that state-appointed administrators are not the solution; they are part of the problem. They have no stake in the town's future and no accountability to its residents. Instead, it is time to lobby the state government—the body ultimately responsible for this crisis.
Engage your family and friends across South Australia. Make them aware of Coober Pedy’s plight and the state government’s role in perpetuating it. Use your collective voices to demand change and hold the government accountable for its promises. With nearly six years of evidence, it is indisputable that the current system is failing. It is time for the South Australian government to act decisively to fix the mess they created.
Coober Pedy deserves better. Its residents deserve better. The time for action is now.

- Clark Kent

Coober Pedy Primary Graduates Celebrate Milestone at Big Winch 360

Posted on: 2024-11-29 11:16:02

The Coober Pedy Area School hosted a graduation ceremony for its Year 6 students at the iconic Big Winch 360. These bright young students are set to embark on their high school journey next year, marking the end of their primary education with a night of reflection, recognition, and camaraderie displayed in the final slide show that had been put together by Mr Spencer.

The evening featured proud moments, including a touching speech delivered by a couple of the students. The boys confidently expressed their gratitude toward teachers and classmates in a sincere message of appreciation. Their words highlighted the strong bonds formed during their primary years and set a positive tone for the evening.

A standout feature of the night was the custom-designed selfie frame, which proved to be a hit among the students. Designed by Xavier Wright, the frame brought joy and laughter as students captured their final moments as Year 6 classmates. Xavier’s design was chosen from a pool of submissions, showcasing the creativity and talent of Coober Pedy’s young minds.

While the event had its share of charm, there was a sense of missed opportunity for a more personal connection between teachers and students. In years past, heartfelt handshakes and personal comments from teachers added a meaningful touch to the proceedings. This year’s ceremony would have been elevated by such interactions, which many parents and students quietly missed.

The food and seating arrangements were functional but understated, and there is hope that future graduations will enhance these aspects to match the significance of the occasion. Nonetheless, the evening remained a celebration of the students' accomplishments and their bright futures.

As the Coober Pedy community looks ahead, there’s an opportunity to build upon this year’s experience, ensuring future graduations reflect not only the students' achievements but also the strong support and recognition from their educators. For now, the spotlight remains on the Class of 2024, whose resilience and creativity promise an exciting journey ahead.

Coober Pedy Christmas Cheer: Join the Town’s festive celebrations

Posted on: 2024-11-26 11:20:42

As the festive season approaches, the unassuming dusty town of Coober Pedy is gearing up for Christmas celebrations. Nestled in the vast expanse of South Australia’s outback, this unique town, renowned for its remarkable underground homes and stunning gem-quality opal, draws visitors from far and wide to express its unique charm. With the holiday spirit in the air, residents and visitors alike are invited to mark their calendars for a truly unforgettable experience, as Santa makes a special stop in Coober Pedy!
On November 30th 2024, families and friends will gather at the town oval for a magical evening filled with festivities, where heartwarming interactions with Santa will create cherished memories. But the holiday cheer doesn't stop there! Just a week later, on December 7, 2024, the festivities continue at the Italian Club, promising an afternoon brimming with joy and community spirit. Residents and tourists are encouraged to join both events and embrace the warmth of the season. With a variety of festive food choices and exciting activities suitable for all ages, Coober Pedy is ready to to create lasting memories this Christmas. Join us as we delve into the upcoming events and the spirit of togetherness bringing the community together in the warm glow of holiday spirit.

- Anon [Email Supplied]

Request for Information: Missing Vehicle

Posted on: 2024-11-26 11:10:13

I am seeking assistance in locating my vehicle, which was loaned to a friend and is now missing. The car, a white Holden Commodore station wagon with registration S 835 AKZ, broke down and was left by the roadside. Unfortunately, my friend, who suffers from mental health issues, cannot recall where the vehicle was left.
The disappearance of the car has been reported to the police. However, I am appealing to the community for help. If you spot the vehicle, please contact me directly at 0427 815 561.
I remain in possession of the keys. Your help in locating the vehicle would be greatly appreciated.
[No photo supplied]

- Gary Atkins

Speedway Season Finale Thrills Crowd with 12-Year-Old Xavier's Debut Behind the Wheel

Posted on: 2024-11-26 09:23:40

Coober Speedway bid farewell to the 2024 racing season with a night of high-octane action and unforgettable performances. Local legends Mick Farkas and Verdun Myatt battled fiercely as usual, delivering the kind of hard-fought competition fans have come to expect. Marcus Reynolds gave it everything in his rugged red-dirt Holden Commodore, while Jackson Stormoth took an aggressive line in his eye-catching Paw Patrol Falcon.
Lukey Woods always get’s the crowd going with his legendary burnouts and the last meet was no exception. There are rumours floating around that Greta Thunberg was pretty disgusted with the amount of smoke Luke generates but it didn’t seem to bother the crowd.
Bradly Porter wrangling every ounce of performance from Jay's LX Torana with both the boys overcoming a number of issues to keep the car on the track and entertaining. Out-of-towner Axle Greening, who made the long journey from Alice Springs, was warmly welcomed and added even more excitement to the event. It was sad that Jason Hill couldn’t make an appearance after making the long trek from down south, last month, only to arrive to a cancelled event. We are excited to see so much interest from non local competitors.
But the biggest story of the night—and perhaps the season—was 12-year-old Xavier Wright, who stunned the crowd with a jaw-dropping debut in his "Axolotl Racing RX7." Xavier tore through the competition, making mince meat of the track and proving he’s a talent to watch in the years ahead. Xavier also wanted to say a huge thank you to all of his sponsors but in particular to John’s Pizza Bar, Old Timers Mine and Hello Signs.
As the dust settles, fans can look forward to the 2025 season, which is expected to kick off in March. Be sure to follow Coober Speedway’s Facebook page for updates and news about the next thrilling chapter of outback racing. Attending the end of year Christmas party on the 14th of December at Coober Pedy RSL is another great ay of supporting the club!
[Photo: Left, Jason Wright. Middle, Xoé Wright. Right, Xavier Wright]

Coober Pedy’s Drive-In Revival: A Big Screen Comeback!

Posted on: 2024-11-26 06:22:07

Coober Pedy’s beloved drive-in movie screen, an iconic symbol of community and entertainment, is finally on its way back after a number of unexpected setbacks earlier this year. Yesterday, the local council announced that the long-awaited repair project is now officially out to tender, marking a significant milestone in the screen’s journey to restoration.
The original screen, which stood proudly for decades as a beacon of togetherness for locals and a unique attraction for visitors, was tragically lost in November 2023 when 120kph winds swept it away. Since then, the town has patiently endured months of council bureaucracy and insurance negotiations. But now, with a renewed push to bring this cherished feature back to life, the dream is closer than ever to becoming reality.
None of this progress would have been possible without the tireless efforts of Chantelle Bamford, who has volunteered countless hours to champion the drive-in’s restoration. Chantelle’s unwavering dedication, creative problem-solving in enlisting the assistance of CPT, and ability to rally support have been instrumental in pushing the project forward, even in the face of unnecessary criticism. Her perseverance and love for Coober Pedy have ensured that this beloved community feature is on track to make its triumphant return.
For Coober Pedy, the drive-in isn’t just a place to watch movies; it’s a slice of community spirit, a space for families to gather under the open sky, and a nostalgic nod to a time when drive-ins were the heart of small-town entertainment. Locals fondly remember evenings spent watching classic films, sharing snacks, and enjoying the camaraderie of friends and neighbours. Miners probably remember the odd cheeky Tuesday night special also, if I’m not mistaken. Tourists, too, have long admired the novelty of this outback attraction, which perfectly encapsulates the charm and resilience of Coober Pedy.
The timing couldn’t be better. With the repairs set to move forward, the town eagerly anticipates welcoming back the drive-in screen for the 2025 tourist season. A revitalized drive-in will not only delight locals but also serve as a drawcard for visitors seeking authentic and memorable experiences in the opal capital of the world.
The return of the drive-in screen is a testament to Coober Pedy’s determination and community spirit. As the plans move into action, there’s a renewed buzz in the air—a sense that something special is about to be reclaimed. The drive-in will once again light up the nights, becoming a centrepiece of fun and nostalgia, and offering a warm welcome to all who visit this extraordinary outback town.
Anyone interested in tendering should do so quickly, with all relevant details available at https://www.tenders.sa.gov.au/tender/view?id=280403
Here’s to Coober Pedy’s next big blockbuster moment, both on-screen and off!

-Clark Kent

Coober Pedy Looks to Brighter Horizons Amid Tourism Challenges

Posted on: 2024-11-24 15:54:52

Coober Pedy, South Australia’s iconic opal capital, has faced a tough tourism season this year, with numbers down by at least 30%—some suggesting as high as 40%. The downturn, caused largely by rising living costs and high fuel prices, has had a profound financial impact on the town. Despite these challenges, Coober Pedy is determined to turn things around and is encouraging visitors to start planning their trips for next season, running from March through September, when the climate is at its most welcoming.
A Season of Struggles
The challenges this season have not been unique to Coober Pedy, with towns across Australia feeling the squeeze of economic pressures. However, Coober Pedy has been hit particularly hard, as its two primary industries—tourism and opal mining—both face additional obstacles. High diesel costs, essential for the caravanning tourists and mining equipment alike, have remained stubbornly high in Coober Pedy, even as they’ve eased in other parts of the country.
Adding to the strain, Coober Pedy’s ongoing financial struggles have been compounded by state administration, leaving the town with a significant debt burden that was not created by its residents but by mismanagement.
A Unique Destination Ready for Your Bucket List
Despite these hurdles, Coober Pedy remains one of the most unique and fascinating destinations in the world. From its iconic underground homes and churches to its surreal desert landscapes, the town offers an adventure like no other.
As the high season draws to a close, now is the perfect time to start planning your visit for next year. Between March and September, Coober Pedy boasts its best weather, making it the ideal time to explore the Breakaways, experience a stunning desert sunset, or try your luck fossicking for opals.
A Call for Support
The town’s resilience is unwavering, but community leaders are asking for support from visitors and policymakers alike:
1. Plan Your Next Adventure: Booking your visit for the next high season is one of the most direct ways to help Coober Pedy thrive. By choosing to spend your travel dollars here, you’ll not only enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience but also support the local businesses and families that depend on tourism.
2. Advocate for Fairness: Call on the South Australian government to provide financial relief for the debt accrued under their local government and state administration. Coober Pedy’s residents shouldn’t bear the burden of mismanagement, especially when other struggling towns like Leigh Creek have received substantial government support.
3. Demand Fuel Price Equity: High fuel prices are a major deterrent for travellers and a strain on the town’s mining industry. Advocacy for fair fuel pricing in Coober Pedy could make a tangible difference for locals and visitors alike.
Looking Ahead
Coober Pedy’s struggles reflect broader challenges faced by remote communities, but the town’s enduring charm and uniqueness ensure it remains a bucket-list destination. By planning your visit for next season and lending your voice to advocate for fair treatment, you can play a part in securing a brighter future for this incredible town.
Coober Pedy isn’t just a stop on the map—it’s a community with a story worth sharing and a destination worth experiencing. Next season promises better days, and Coober Pedy will be ready to welcome you.

- Clark Kent

Coober Pedy's New Digital News Service: A Voice for Locals, By Locals

Posted on: 2024-11-23 16:41:38

Coober Pedy has unveiled an exciting new digital news platform, offering locals the chance to share their stories, report on events, and contribute to the rich tapestry of life in our iconic outback town. Fully online and easy to use, this service is set to become the go-to destination for the latest news, community insights, and historical stories.

Aspiring journalists and storytellers have a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience while building their portfolios. For those who prefer to keep a low profile, there’s the option to publish stories anonymously, ensuring every voice can be heard without hesitation.

The platform is designed for simplicity, making it easy for both readers and contributors to engage with the content. A search function allows users to dig into the archives, uncovering fascinating historical stories or revisiting important moments in Coober Pedy’s past. The more stories submitted, the richer this database will become—so there’s no better time to get started!

For contributors, including a photo alongside your story is highly encouraged, as it significantly boosts the interest and engagement your piece will receive. Whether it’s a shot of the iconic landscape, a local event, or a personal moment that ties to your narrative, visuals help bring stories to life.

Before submitting, be sure to review the site’s disclaimer to understand the guidelines and rules for publication. This new platform is more than just a news service—it’s a space for community connection, a hub of local insights, and a launchpad for budding journalists looking to make their mark.

Don’t wait—the sooner you start contributing, the sooner this exciting new archive of Coober Pedy’s stories will grow. Be part of something special and help shape the narrative of our incredible town!

The Bush Telegraph | Coober Pedy News Service

Stories, updates, and insights from Coober Pedy.