Cove Peninsula map, NT.
First Nations water security
Location
Gove Peninsula
NT
Estimated cost
$8.9 million
Project status
underway
Funding

The package is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($5.4 million) and the Northern Territory Government ($3.5 million). Australian Government funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.

Cove Peninsula Jordy Bowman, East Arnhem Land NT.

This project will improve water supply for the remote communities of Yirrkala and Gunyangara in northeast Arnhem Land. Image credit: Jordy Bowman, Developing East Arnhem Limited.

Project overview

The Gove Peninsula Water Supply Upgrade project will provide long term water security for Yirrkala and Gunyangara. Both communities experience significant water loss and increasing water demand.

The project will reduce water loss from the ageing water distribution system in Yirrkala by replacing 6 km of pipeline and upgrading connections.

The project will also assess the water supply to Gunyangara. This will identify options to ensure future sustainability.

Reduced water loss will have an immediate environmental benefit through improving water source sustainability. It will also provide longer term economic and social benefits including:

  • encouraging long term planning and investment 
  • promoting new development opportunities in community, including:
    • services, facilities and social housing
  • supporting liveability and amenity measures, including adaption and resilience to climate change.

Key project benefits

First Nations access
Local community
Water efficiency
Water security