Katherine remains under an emergency flood warning, with residents cautioned that despite receding water levels, the town is “not out of the woods yet”. The Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, has confirmed that crucial rail and road routes have been reopened, facilitating the much-needed supply of food across the Top End.
As of Monday afternoon, the Katherine River was measured at 16.9 metres, a level classified as moderate flooding. However, Shenagh Gamble, the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) NT hazard preparedness and response manager, indicated that the ongoing heavy rainfall means the situation will still be treated as a “major flood.” She warned that, given the rainfall experienced, Katherine township could see river levels rise back into the major flood category at Katherine Bridge.
NT Police Incident Controller Shaun Gill urged the community to “stay where you are” as water recedes from the town’s most severe flood in 28 years. He advised residents to remain in their shelters or at home, limiting movement on roads. This is to allow emergency services to assess the situation, survey damage accurately, and restore critical infrastructure, including power.
In Katherine, a town of approximately 10,000 people, around 700 individuals are currently being accommodated in emergency shelters. As of Monday afternoon, power outages affected 400 homes, a significant reduction from the 1,500 homes without power on Sunday. Thirty homes were also without sewerage services. Schools, the hospital, and courts in Katherine were closed on Monday. A temporary emergency department has been established at the St John Ambulance NT headquarters in the town’s industrial area.
Acting Commander Gill described the current phase as “response,” with the immediate priority being the re-establishment of essential services. “It’s about saving lives at the moment, and then we move on to making people comfortable, appropriately resourced and the like,” he stated. While the exact timelines are unclear, the priority is to get schools, government buildings, and essential services operational again. The scale of the operation is immense, with concurrent flooding impacting Katherine, Daly River, Palumpa, Jilkminggan, and other communities. Gill noted that witnessing all these areas experience flooding simultaneously is “unprecedented in my time.”
Daly River/Nauiyu Faces Historic Flood Levels
Meanwhile, residents from Daly River/Nauiyu have been evacuated to Darwin as the community grapples with major flooding exceeding 14.8 metres and continuing to rise. This marks the second time this year the community has endured major flooding, with February’s event peaking at 14.2 metres.
The BOM anticipates the Daly River will “continue rising throughout the week,” with its peak in the community likely to “exceed the 1957 flood level of 15.19 metres.” This 1957 event is the second-largest flood on record for the town. While current levels are not expected to surpass the record flood of 16.25 metres in 1998, it remains a “wait to see” scenario. Ms Gamble explained that the duration of the river remaining above major flood levels, coupled with continued rainfall in the Daly River catchment, will determine the ultimate impact. She also highlighted the river’s slow rise and fall, making it vulnerable to further flooding if more heavy rain occurs.
Daly River residents have once again been evacuated to the Foskey Pavilion at the Darwin showgrounds. Similarly, residents from Palumpa/Nganmarriyanga have been relocated to Darwin, while those from Jilkminggan have been evacuated to Mataranka School.
Disaster Relief and Support
The Chief Minister confirmed that disaster assistance payments for Katherine have been activated with federal government support. While anticipated to be available from Monday, an update on the commencement of these payments was pending. The financial support package includes immediate relief payments of $611 per adult and $309 per child, with a family cap of $1,537. Additionally, a re-establishment payment of $8,843 is available to assist with replacing essential household items.
Restoring Supply Lines: Food and Essentials
Across the Top End, empty supermarket shelves were a common sight over the weekend due to the severe weather. The Chief Minister announced that rail lines reopened on Sunday night, with two food trains reaching Darwin. Approximately three tonnes of goods from these trains have been redirected to Katherine to assist local residents. Katherine’s sole supermarket, Woolworths, which serves an expansive area, announced it would reopen from 2pm to 7pm.
Acting Commander Gill acknowledged earlier complaints from Katherine residents, including those in emergency shelters, regarding water and food shortages. He reported that the police plane had been tasked with delivering non-perishable goods and water while awaiting other supplies.
In addition to the rail network, the southern section of the Stuart Highway is now open for food transportation, after being blocked over the weekend. Strict controls are in place for movements on this section to ensure only essential supplies are permitted. The Stuart Highway north of Katherine was also scheduled to open on Monday morning. Katherine Mayor Joanna Holden noted that several smaller grocery stores in town, such as Eastside Mini Mart and Katherine Fruit and Veg, remained open and stocked throughout the weekend and were expected to continue operating.
Wet Weather’s Impact on Darwin’s Rural Roads
Further north, sustained rainfall has affected roads in the Greater Darwin area. The NT government issued a statement advising of significant water over roads across the Stuart Highway and the broader Darwin road network. With more rain forecast, essential travel only was recommended due to potentially hazardous conditions. Information on road closures was made available through a designated link. School bus services in Darwin’s rural areas were also impacted by rapid river rises. Tim Morgan from the NT’s Department of Education and Training reported that nearly 200 rural students had sheltered at Taminmin College and Berry Springs Primary School. Fortunately, all staff and students were later able to return home safely.
