Adelaide River Water Advisory Committee committed to progressing the Adelaide River Water Allocation Plan
At the fifth Adelaide River Water Advisory Committee (committee) meeting in May, members requested ‘deep dives’ into much of the science presented across the five meetings. Here’s a reminder of the outcomes of the fifth meeting - https://environment.nt.gov.au/news/2025/adelaide-river-water-advisory-committee-meeting-5.
The committee has subsequently attended three out-of-session meetings, in June, July and September, aiming for deeper understanding of several topics that will inform the Adelaide River Water Allocation Plan (water plan).
Each meeting has included presentations from the Department on the hydrological and hydraulic modelling to inform the water plan. Multiple presentations from different perspectives helped to advance the committee’s understanding of, and comfort in, the water science. The outcomes of the modelling of floodplain inundation extent reveal, for most years, greater changes from year-to-year based on differences in rainfall, than any changes in extent from potential future water extraction.
The Northern Land Council presented the findings detailed in its final Cultural Values report. The report identifies culturally and socially important assets across the catchment. The committee will contribute to identifying implementation actions to integrate these cultural values into the plan.
After two previous workshops and several discussions on the committee’s shared values in the catchment, the committee has finalised its Values Statement to be included in the water plan. The values statement will steer the committee in its advice to the Minster for Water Resources on the draft water plan.
The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure, and Power and Water Corporation, presented their aspirations for surface water extraction for the Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS). A thorough presentation was well received by the committee.
The sixth committee meeting is scheduled for November 2025.
Don’t forget to stay informed on the water plan at the Water Security website.
Recap on the progress of the water advisory committee at Adelaide River Water advisory committee meetings.
To be kept informed about the plan, including the public comment period, please email waterresources.dlpe@nt.gov.au to be added to the mail-out list.
