Full water allocations announced for this year
Every year on 1 May, the Controller of Water Resources announces how much water an NT licence holder can use for the upcoming year.
For water management in the Top End, the water year runs from 1 May to 30 April. These announcements are called announced allocations and form part of the NT’s approach to sustainable water resource management.
Announced allocations is an adaptive management tool that enables licence allocations to be adjusted annually in high demand areas in response to forecast water availability for the upcoming water year. The announcement specifies how much of a licensed entitlement may be used, based on a modelled assessment of the affected water resource. Modelling considers wet season rainfall, groundwater levels, domestic water rights, and licensed water extraction. Predicted end of dry season river flows determine whether minimum environmental thresholds are met; if not, water licence entitlements may be reduced.
From January to March, Katherine, Oolloo and Mataranka each received significantly higher than average rainfall after a very wet Wet Season in the Top End. Wet season groundwater levels are also significantly higher than at the same time last year.
The Controller of Water Resources has reviewed the modelling and is satisfied that minimum environmental thresholds will be met, as set out in the Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer, Mataranka, and draft Katherine water allocation plan, as well as under the Water Allocation Planning Framework for resources outside plan boundaries within the Daly Roper Beetaloo Water Control District.
As a result, water extraction licence holders are permitted to extract up to 100% of their authorised entitlements for the 2026–2027 water accounting year.
Announced allocation notices are published on the Northern Territory Government website.
The Darwin Rural Adelaide River water control district is currently excluded from the announced allocations while transitional licensing arrangements are being implemented.
