Spencer Gulf Searoad is stepping up to support South Australia’s grain growers with a new drought relief initiative. This program offers a 20% freight discount on all truck movements booked between now and June 2025, providing much-needed financial relief to growers across the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas.
Operating daily (except Christmas Day), Spencer Gulf Searoad connects Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula with Lucky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. The Aurora V provides a fast and efficient 2.5-hour ferry service, accommodating cars, caravans, boats, trailers, B-Doubles, trucks, farm machinery, and up to 200 passengers. Onboard, passengers enjoy an observation deck, a café with barista-made coffee and snacks, free Wi-Fi, and comfortable indoor seating. During peak holiday seasons, additional services operate on Mondays and Fridays.
Drought Relief Freight Program
Spencer Gulf Searoad understands the challenges grain growers face during prolonged drought conditions and is committed to easing the burden with significant transport cost reductions.
Key Program Details:
Advance Bookings: To guarantee deck space, bookings must be made at least four weeks in advance. While last-minute requests will be accommodated when possible, availability cannot be guaranteed.
Flexible Scheduling: Based on demand, extra ferry crossings may be added. Costs and logistics will be coordinated individually with growers to ensure the best solutions.
Economic and Community Benefits: Lowering transport costs helps keep growers financially stable, encourages increased ferry use, and strengthens long-term regional economic growth.
Cost Savings and Environmental Benefits
Using the ferry service dramatically reduces road travel distances for heavy vehicles, cutting costs and emissions. For example, a grower transporting goods from Cummins to Adelaide via road travels 636 km one way, totaling 1,272 km for a round trip. At current freight rates of $9.50 per kilometre for a fully loaded B-Double (61 tonnes), this trip costs approximately $6,013 one way and $9,893 for the full journey.
By using the ferry, the road distance drops to just 323 km one way and 646 km round trip—nearly halving the overland route. This results in significant savings:
$1,855 saved on the outbound journey
$805 saved on the return trip
A per-tonne one-way saving of over $25
Beyond financial benefits, the reduced road distance means lower fuel consumption, fewer emissions, and decreased road congestion, making the ferry a more sustainable choice for transport.
Tailored Pricing and Custom Freight Solutions
Recognizing that every grower calculates transport costs differently, Spencer Gulf Searoad works directly with each customer to determine the most cost-effective solution. Because ferry pricing is based on linear metres rather than weight, discussing options upfront ensures growers get the best value while optimizing logistics.
Supporting South Australia’s Grain Industry
South Australia’s grain sector plays a critical role in the state’s economy, generating billions in exports and supporting thousands of jobs. By offering this drought relief program, Spencer Gulf Searoad is reinforcing its commitment to local growers, ensuring they have affordable, reliable transport solutions during challenging times.
Book Now and Save! Growers are encouraged to take advantage of this limited-time offer by booking early to secure their space.
For more information or to reserve your freight space, call Spencer Gulf Searoad at 08 8823 0777 or visit www.spencergulfsearoad.com.
