$34.3 million for better bores in 10 communities
In January 2025, the Northern Territory (NT) Government announced a new funding partnership with the Australian Government worth $34.3 million.
This investment will result in better access to essential water supplies in 10 remote communities through water investigations, bore drilling and equipping.
For much of the NT (outside of Darwin), groundwater is the main source of community water supply. Bores and pumps transport water from underground aquifers to the surface. It is then through a network of pipes and tanks that water gets to the tap for people to use.
There is quite a bit of science and effort involved in knowing where to drill a bore to access water. Engineers need to know if it’s good enough quality to drink and how much there is to meet current and future demands. Investigative bore drilling is used to identify and test the viability of new water sources.
For some remote Aboriginal communities, existing water sources are under stress or constrained to current water extraction levels. To build more houses, reduce overcrowding, improve health and expand needed community facilities, additional and better quality, better yielding water sources are needed to be found.
The Better Bores for Communities initiative which includes $6.5 million from the NT Government and $27.8 million from the Australian Water Grid Fund will see water source investigations and bore drilling in:
- Robinson River (Mungoorbada)
- Warruwi
- Yuelamu
- Titjikala
- Finke (Aputula)
- Atitjere (Harts Range) and
- Gapuwiyak.
Additionally, essential equipment (like pumps and pipes) will be installed to connect new water sources to:
- Wugularr (Beswick)
- Haasts Bluff and
- Ntaria (Hermannsburg).
By increasing the amount of water available the projects seek to improve liveability, enable more economic opportunities, and support sustainable growth in these communities.
Power and Water will lead the works with water source exploration scheduled to commence in early 2025. All activities are expected to be completed by 2027.
These projects align with the work of the Territory Water Plan, which is a whole-of-government strategic framework to deliver water security for all Territorians, now and into the future. The Office of Water Security (Department of Lands, Planning and Environment) works across NTG agencies to bring forward priority water security projects for submission to the National Water Grid fund. To date, over $70 million in investment from the Australian Government has been achieved for remote communities’ water security projects across the NT.
This is just one of the many NT projects already being supported through the National Water Grid Fund. NT Government and Power and Water are already working together to deliver water infrastructure projects in Maningrida, Millingimbi, Numbulwar, Yuendumu, Yirrkala and Gunyangara (Gove Peninsula). An assessment of remote community water supplies and prioritisation of infrastructure needs is also being funded.
To read more about these projects go to the National Water Grid website.
