Leigh Creek
Leigh Creek: the low down |
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The entire town of Leigh Creek was picked up and moved 13km south in 1982, to allow for the expansion of the coal mine beneath it. Why do you care? Well, it illustrates that the Leigh Creek of today is a modern, neat little place – albeit in a remote, rather dry part of South Australia. To battle temperatures regularly rising past 40C in summer, all houses were built facing north and south, 250,000+plus native trees and shrubs were planted and the water supply was secured from the nearby Aroona Dam. Babcock and Brown Power, Australia's largest ASX-listed electricity generation business employing more than 700 people, today operates the Leigh Creek coalfield, producing more than 2.5 million tonnes to fire its power station at Port Augusta and supplying more than 40 per cent of South Australia’s energy needs. Leigh Creek’s 300 residents are primarily involved in the coal mine. Most others either work at the Leigh Creek Area School (catering for about 170 primary and secondary students) or Leigh Creek Hospital, providing 24-hour casualty and emergency facilities. The town (located about 600km north of Adelaide) is bright but basic, with facilities including the Leigh Creek Tavern, the Open Cut Café, a Foodland supermarket, the Saturday-night cinema and the swimming pool operating between October and March. Out back and beyond, the South Australian Outback awaits – from the unforgettable Praire Hotel at Parachilna, to the sublime Flinders Ranges and the quirky little communities along the Oodnadatta and Birdsville tracks. Useful links: |
Ever lived in Leigh Creek? Tell the world... |
