February Updates on Northern Territory Water Planning

Water allocation planning in the Territory has commenced relatively recently in comparison with other states, with plans declared for Alice Springs and Ti Tree in Central Australia. Thus far, water allocation plans in the Territory have been primarily for groundwater resources.

In the Top End, there is limited surface water development due to wet season flooding, and groundwater resources are critical to the maintenance of river flows during the dry season. In Central Australia, rainfall is infrequent, making groundwater the primary source of reliable water. The water allocation plan for the Tindall Limestone aquifer (Katherine) is nearing finalisation. Opportunities for community feedback on this plan closed on the 30th January, and it is anticipated that the final Water Allocation Plan for the Katherine region will be released by the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage in April 2009.

Plans for Darwin region aquifers, the Oolloo aquifer in the Daly region, the Tindall aquifer in the Mataranka region and the Tiwi Islands are now underway. Over the coming years, it is intended that plans will be commenced for Berry Springs, Western Davenport, Tennant Creek, the Northern Territory portion of the Great Artesian Basin and the remainder of aquifers and surface waters in the Daly region.

More information on water planning in the Northern Territory is available here.