Funding for communities of Maningrida and Numbulwar confirmed

14 March 2024

The Australian and Northern Territory Governments are teaming up to plan for and deliver safe and reliable water in 2 more remote First Nations communities in the Northern Territory.

$14.8 million from the Australian Government’ National Water Grid Fund has been confirmed towards water security projects in the remote communities of Maningrida and Numbulwar in Arnhem Land.

Both communities are facing very high and extreme risk of water failure respectively. However, it’s not only future water failure these communities face. People in Numbulwar and Maningrida experience related health, economic, cultural and social impacts every day because they cannot access suitable water.

Delivering on these projects demonstrates our efforts to Close the Gap on essential water services, which can have flow on effects such as supporting liveability, health services, housing and community infrastructure, climate resilience and other outcomes. This funding is part of the Australian Government's $150 million commitment to support First Nations water infrastructure projects.

Maningrida water infrastructure upgrades

In Maningrida, the Australian and Northern Territory Governments are providing $21 million for infrastructure upgrades to increase the reliability of the local water supply network. Works in this upgrade package include:

  • a new water tank to expand storage capacity
  • construction of new pipelines to connect the new tank to the network
  • replacement of old, leaky pipes.

These works will:

  • improve water source sustainability by enabling significant water savings
  • support housing development to reduce overcrowding by expanding water network capacity
  • contribute to the expansion of services and facilities in the community.

Numbulwar Water Security Strategy planning

In Numbulwar, a total of $3.2 million from the Australian and Northern Territory Governments will go towards the planning phase of a water security strategy project. This will provide a plan for long term water security to the community. The planning phase includes investigation work such as:

  • water source surveying for a new water supply
  • investigative drilling to identify the capacity of new water supply
  • new water supply design and planning.

The broader Water Security Strategy will:

  • address significant water loss
  • improve sustainability
  • boost water quality and security
  • support housing development to enhance liveability and alleviate overcrowding.

Outcomes from this planning phase will determine future construction requirements. Planning works will be undertaken in 2024 after the wet season, with investigative drilling to commence in July.

Numbulwar, NT. Image credit: Alec Moylan.
Planning works will be undertaken for water security at Numbulwar. Image credit: Alec Moylan

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