Release of the Territory Water Plan’s first annual progress report

Published 27 June 2024

On Thursday 20 June the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Security, Hon Kate Worden MLA released the first annual progress report of the Territory Water Plan.

One year on from the release of the plan, the 2024 report details how the Northern Territory Government and partner organisations like Power and Water are tracking on implementing 16 priority actions, which aim to set the foundations for a water secure future for the Northern Territory (NT).

Over the last 12 months work has started on all priority actions and the majority of the commitments within these actions are on track to be delivered.

Some key achievements include:

• NT Health has started drafting the Safe Drinking Water Bill.
• A water reform taskforce has been set up and a program for water reform has been published identifying 4 phases for developing a new Water Act by 2026.
• Power and Water is on track to start construction to return Manton Dam to service by 2026.
• Over $84 million in funding has been committed by both NT Government and Australian Government on 8 new National Water Grid Fund projects to give NT communities better access to clean, safe and reliable water.
• Power and Water and Clean TeQ Water won the Infrastructure Project Innovation Regional Award for the Laramba Water Treatment Plant at the 2024 Australian Water Awards.
• The Territory Water Plan was nominated for the Organisational Excellence Award after winning this category at the NT Water Awards.
• A cross-agency remote water team has been established to develop a community engagement program to share information about water supplies, water quality, water security and infrastructure investment in remote Aboriginal communities.
• The Office of Water Security has continued to lead and coordinate water programs and priorities across the NT Government. This includes coordination with the Australian Government on national water reform.

Read the Territory water plan annual progress report 2024 PDF (1.5 MB).

A monitoring and evaluation framework has also been published. This framework details how progress towards the plan’s priority areas and outcomes will be assessed at the end of 2026.

Read the Territory water plan monitoring and evaluation framework PDF (1.1 MB).