Wentworth Shire Council’s latest Road Condition Report, issued at 8.40am Monday, 10 August, shows every one of the 33 roads and road sections listed in the report as CLOSED following the recent rain event.
It is a dramatic change from the council’s previous report on 24 July, when the majority of the same roads were open, with only Milkengay Road closed and a handful carrying caution warnings.
The latest closures stretch right across the Shire, affecting roads around Pooncarie, Pomona, Buronga, Rufus, Scotia, Wentworth and the Anabranch.
Among the better known routes currently closed are Arumpo Road, High Darling Road from the end of the bitumen, Low Darling Road from the end of the bitumen, Ivanhoe Road, Renmark Road from the end of the bitumen, Old Broken Hill Road, Pine Camp Road, Rufus River Road and Anabranch Mail Road.
Around Pooncarie, closures include Dockerty Road, Garnpang Road, Gol Gol Road, Karpa Kora Road, Minda Road, Nob Road, both sections of Polia Road, Top Hut Road and Wilkurra Road.
Further west and south, Nanya Road, Springwood Road and Tarawi Road are closed through the Scotia area, while Cal Lal Road, Nulla Road and Tooperoopna Road are among the closures around Rufus.
For anyone tempted to think a dirt road "doesn't look too bad", it is worth remembering that a closed road means exactly that.
Unsealed roads can become extremely vulnerable after decent rain. Even where there isn't water running across the road, vehicles can cut deep wheel tracks into a wet surface and cause damage that remains long after the road has dried.
Wentworth Shire Council warns that people driving on closed roads can face fines and may also be charged for works required to repair damage they cause.
So while the rain is certainly good news for paddocks, dams and the wider district, it comes with the usual Mallee and Far West trade off.
The back roads are going to need a little time to dry out.
Anyone planning to travel outside the sealed road network should check the Wentworth Shire Council Road Condition Report before leaving, as the council says another report will be issued when conditions change.
For major roads and highways, motorists should also check Live Traffic NSW, which provides current information on road closures, flooding, hazards and other changed traffic conditions across the state.
For now, if the sign says closed, probably best not to test just how good the four wheel drive really is.