Flooding across the Victoria-Daly region has been widespread. Photo: NT Chief Minister Facebook.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler has cancelled a planned trip to Japan after remote Territory communities were put on a flood evacuation alert and others are expected to be cut off for days.
While the rain from the start of the wet has moved west towards the Kimberley for now, floodwaters continue to traverse the Territory’s rivers and creeks, and roads remain cut across a wide area of the western Victoria-Daly region. Emergency declarations are still in force for some communities.
Some communities had been put on standby for evacuation on the weekend, but this was rescinded when floodwaters peaked and the rain moved further west.
“Evacuations are currently not needed for Dagaragu, Kalkarindji, Yarralin and Timber Creek, however we are planning with the Defence Force in case this is needed,” Chief Minister Eva Lawler said in a social media post on Sunday (21 January). Some 20 residents of Pigeon Hole were evacuated to Darwin.
“In preparation for evacuations, we have enacted our plans and have stood up the Foskey Pavilion (in Darwin) in case this was needed,” she added. “At this stage we won’t need to evacuate.
“Road and rail access is currently limited,” she added. “The Stuart Highway is closed and we are working to get it opened as soon as possible, and (rail operator) Aurizon are doing the same with the rail.” At least 500 metres of rail line has been washed away between Tennant Creek and Katherine.
The Stuart Highway was closed again on Monday due to damage to the road’s surface caused by floodwaters. SecureNT said the closure extended from the Carpentaria Highway turnoff for about 600 km to the south, and was likely to remain closed most of the week.
In the Victoria River area, flood levels were easing at Kalkarindji, but in the lower reaches they were expected to exceed the record 1991 flood. The Victoria River flooding has seen bridges closed at the Victoria River Roadhouse at Gregory, the Dashwood Crossing and the Coolibah Crossing, while the Williams Crossing of the Wickham River is also closed.
For the latest on road conditions, motorists should check this website, or for other flood related news, this website.
The Victoria River flooding well above the Victoria Highway at Gregory, some 200 km southwest of Katherine. Photo: Victoria River Roadhouse.
The monsoon has seen the Chief Minister cancel her planned trade mission to Japan this week. She said she would instead be staying in the Territory with her focus on making sure all Territorians had access to freight, fuel, accommodation and safety.
“Nothing is more important to me than the safety and wellbeing of Territorians,” she said. “This is why I will be staying in the Territory to ensure we have plans in place to respond to this weather event.
“At this stage our infrastructure corridors are becoming inaccessible. We are working on plans on how we can get supplies into the Territory.
“Territorians are mine and our Government’s number one priority,” she added.
“We will make sure we get our infrastructure corridors back up and running. I will not be going anywhere until I know all Territorians have the supplies and access that they need.”
