Emergency authorisation supports Katherine flood recovery
On 13 March 2026, the Northern Territory Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment issued an Emergency Authorisation to support flood recovery efforts in Katherine, marking the first emergency authorisation ever granted under section 46A of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act 1998.
The emergency authorisation enabled the temporary establishment and operation of a Waste Transfer Station to manage the large volumes of flood‑damaged waste generated by the event. The facility has played a critical role in Katherine’s recovery by allowing municipal waste and listed wastes impacted by flooding to be safely received, managed and consolidated. Consolidated waste is transported for disposal at an appropriate licensed landfill within the Northern Territory, ensuring environmentally responsible handling and compliance with regulatory requirements.
A coordinated, whole‑of‑government approach underpinned the rapid approval process. The department worked closely with:
- Katherine Town Council
- Department of Logistics and Infrastructure
- the Crown Land and Planning divisions of DLPE.
Strong collaboration between coregulators ensured the community had swift access to essential waste management infrastructure, with appropriate safeguards, when it was most urgently needed.
This emergency measure provides a practical and timely solution to:
- support community clean‑up activities
- protect the environment
- assist Katherine’s ongoing recovery following the floods.
