NEWS: Water Rights Question a Secure Water Supply for Inhabitants

What will happen if the water runs dry?

The fate of the NT’s largest ever groundwater extraction licence is distressing traditional owners of Ali Curung in the Barkley Region, NT.

In April 2021, the NT government granted its largest ever groundwater extraction licence to a private company to extract up to 40,000 megalitres of water a year for agriculture. Traditional owners and residents of neighbouring Ali Curung community question the effectiveness of the Northern Territory’s water laws, and are fearful of what will happen to their health and community if the water runs dry.

Residents voice concerns – ABC article

A secure, reliable and functioning water supply is fundamental to 5 of the 9 Healthy Living Practices: washing people, washing clothes and bedding, removing waste water, nutrition and reducing crowding.  Any threat to this must be managed extremely carefully to ensure the health of the community is unaffected.  A recent ABC article explores community concerns further.