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AUD 34 million to tackle water challenges in Australia’s remote Northern Territory communities

  • AUD 34 million to tackle water challenges in Australia’s remote Northern Territory communities
    Glen Helen gorge, Northern Territory, Australia.
    Toby Hudson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

About the entity

The Australian and Northern Territory Governments have announced a AUD 34.3 million (about $21 million) initiative to enhance water security and infrastructure across ten remote Northern Territory (NT) communities. The program, called Better Bores for Communities, aims to improve water quality and supply while fostering growth and development by ensuring reliable access to water.

The Australian Government is contributing AUD 27.8 million through the National Water Grid Fund, with the Northern Territory Government providing AUD 6.5 million. The program will conduct water source investigations and bore drilling in Robinson River, Warruwi, Yuelamu, Titjikala, Finke, Atitjere, and Gapuwiyak. It will also connect new water sources in Wugularr, Haasts Bluff, and Ntaria (Hermannsburg). Power and Water Corporation will lead the works, starting in early 2025 and aiming for completion by 2027.

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “Every Australian should be able to drink water from the tap, no matter where they live." She added that the project aligns with efforts to "Close the Gap on water security" in First Nations communities.

Minister for Indigenous Australians and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy highlighted the dire need for clean and reliable water in remote areas, noting, “Too many First Nations communities in the Northern Territory don’t have access to clean and reliable water.”

The initiative will address critical challenges, including aquifers with limited capacity and water with naturally occurring minerals that can render it unsafe. NT Minister for Housing Steve Edgington pointed out the broader impact of water shortages, stating, “Water availability is often the main obstacle to new housing and community infrastructure development.”

Federal Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, lauded the initiative as a means to provide safe, reliable water while enhancing self-sufficiency and resilience in remote communities. This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward improving living conditions and supporting sustainable growth in the NT’s most vulnerable areas.

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