Daly River Nears Record Flood Levels as Top End Battles On
The remote Northern Territory community of Daly River is on the brink of experiencing one of its most severe flood events on record. As of Friday morning, the water level at the Daly River Police Station gauge had reached a staggering 16.23 metres, a mere whisper away from the all-time high of 16.25 metres recorded back in 1998.
[Datawrapper: Daly River graph updated]
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a major flood warning, indicating that moderate rainfall is still expected to drench the region in the coming days. James Ashley from the BOM stated that there is a strong possibility the Daly River’s floodwaters will not only match the 1998 record but could potentially surpass it by a few centimetres. This isn’t expected to be a fleeting event; residents are bracing for a prolonged period of major flooding, with the area likely to remain inundated for at least another week, if not longer.
The residents of Daly River, also known as Nauiyu, were evacuated from their homes on Saturday and have since been sheltering at the Foskey Pavilion at the Darwin Showgrounds. This marks the second time this year that the community has been forced to flee due to major flooding, with previous water levels peaking at 14.2 metres.
Floodwaters Subside in Katherine, but Damage Assessed
In contrast to the escalating situation in Daly River, the flood threat in Katherine has significantly eased. Water levels in the town have now dropped below the flood threshold, currently sitting at 14.25 metres. However, the impact of the recent inundation is still being felt. As of Thursday, approximately half of the homes in Katherine and the neighbouring community of Beswick had been assessed, with a concerning 25 properties declared severely damaged.
Emergency services are reiterating their urgent plea for residents to exercise extreme caution and avoid driving through floodwaters. Incident controller Emma Carter highlighted the hidden dangers, stating, “Floodwaters can hide damaged roads, debris and other hazards, and in the territory they also present a very real crocodile threat.”
Broader Flood Warnings Across the Top End
While Daly River is the primary focus of major flood concerns, other areas are also under watch. A major flood warning remains in effect for the Georgina River and Eyre Creek, which could impact properties along the border between the Northern Territory and Queensland. However, the BOM has indicated that no significant rainfall is anticipated for this particular region in the immediate future.
Further north, a minor flood warning has been issued for the Victoria River, affecting communities like Kalkarindji. This comes after overnight rainfall totals of up to 115 millimetres. Mr Ashley advised that the region can expect heavier falls over the next 24 hours, with the BOM warning of possible minor flooding at Kalkarindji. As of Friday morning, the gauge at Kalkarindji registered 2.87 metres and was rising, with minor flooding in the area defined as starting at 9 metres.
The Victoria Highway has been temporarily closed to allow engineers to inspect bridges and roads for safety. Acting Commander Carter urged motorists to anticipate delays and to consult the Road Report before planning any travel.
In the remote community of Beswick, located 113 kilometres from Katherine, the BOM has issued its final flood warning. Water levels at the Beswick Bridge gauge are now below flood level. Despite this, the BOM has flagged the possibility of renewed river rises due to forecasted rainfall in the coming days.
Relief Efforts and Power Restoration Underway
Eight days after the latest flooding event began impacting the Top End, Acting Commander Emma Carter reported that over 800 individuals are still residing in evacuation centres across Katherine, Mataranka, and Darwin. Despite this, a gradual return to normalcy is being observed, with essential services like the supermarket and pharmacy in Katherine now operational.
Assistance payments are being distributed to those affected by the flooding, with over 1,110 payments already issued to residents in Katherine. This follows a temporary setback on Thursday due to a burst sewerage main near the distribution centre, which caused delays in payment access. Additional staff have been deployed to Katherine to expedite the process, and the payment centre will operate with extended hours over the weekend. Details for these extended hours are available on the Secure NT website.
Darwin Dam Pumps and Power Supply
Work to restore the critical pumping equipment at Darwin’s main dam is ongoing. The pumps, which were overwhelmed by flooding on Monday, leading to a boil water alert and calls for water conservation, are gradually coming back online. As of Thursday afternoon, two pumps were operating via temporary generators.
John Pease, acting chief executive of Power and Water Corporation (PWC), expressed optimism that all four pumps would be reconnected to the main overhead power supply by the close of business on Friday. Precautionary measures, including sandbagging around the pump room and deploying a sump pump, have been implemented to prevent future inundation.
In Katherine, the number of households without power has significantly decreased. At the peak of the flooding, approximately 2,800 homes were affected; this figure had fallen to 196 by Friday morning. However, many of these residents will require an electrician to inspect their home’s wiring and provide a certificate of compliance once floodwaters recede before power can be safely restored. PWC has received 220 certificates of compliance and is processing them within a 24-hour timeframe. A boil water alert remains in place for Katherine, although the town’s water supply remains unaffected.
