Power and Water’s not-for-profit subsidiary, Indigenous Essential Services (IES), supports 72 remote communities across the Territory, from the deserts of Central Australia to islands off our tropical north coast.
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With multiple sources of power and water across vast distances, we work proactively to maintain and improve essential services in remote regions. We invest significantly in remote projects and programs to ensure electricity, water and sewerage services continue to meet growing demand.
Remote projects and programs
Improving water security in remote communities
In February 2023 the Australian Government announced a commitment of $150 million over four years through the National Water Grid Fund (NWGF) to support water infrastructure for First Nations communities in regional and remote Australia.
Power and Water Corporation is committed to collaborating with the Australian Government and Northern Territory Government partners to improve water security in remote communities and closing the Gap on essential water services.
Yuendumu Water Security Strategy
The project is a construction package of 3 water infrastructure projects, which will provide greater water security. Work includes:
- water service line replacement to reduce existing leaks and likelihood of future leaks
- equipping 2 existing drilled bores and construction of associated rising mains and overhead powerlines to improve water security
- replacement of an end-of-life 150mm rising main to ensure water can be taken from a pump upwards and delivered where needed.
The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($11.1 million) and the Northern Territory Government ($4.2 million). Australian Government funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
Milingimbi Water Security Strategy
The package will:
- equip 2 existing drilled bores to increase supply, and construct an associated 3 km rising main and overhead powerline.
- drill 4 new production bores and up to 6 monitoring bores. The monitoring bores will be necessary to enable effective management by monitoring sustainable groundwater extraction.
- installing equipment in up to 4 new production bores and 6 monitoring bores to improve water sustainability and resilience.
The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($6.4 million) and the Northern Territory Government ($5 million). Australian Government funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
Maningrida Water Supply Upgrade Strategy
Will improve the reliability of the Maningrida community’s water network. Works in the upgrade package include:
- a new 2 ML water tank to expand storage capacity and support economic development over a 30 year planning horizon
- construction of 3 km of 225 mm pipeline to connect the new tank to the network and improve water supply resiliency and redundancy
- replacement of old, leaky pipes within the community and replacement with higher quality fittings.
The package is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($13 million) and the Northern Territory Government ($8 million). Australian Government funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
Yulara Water Supply Project
Construction of new water infrastructure to improve the township’s long-term water security:
- Stage 1 – New bore and rising main
- Stage 2 – Construction of a new water treatment compound and untreated water tank
- Stage 3 – Construction of a second untreated water tank
- Stage 4 – Construction of a new water treatment plant.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($13.2 million), the Northern Territory Power and Water Corporation ($5 million) and other partners ($5 million).
Australian Government funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
Numbulwar Water Security
A 2 phase approach to develop long term water security.
The phase 1 package is a set of planning works to inform future phase 2 construction works.
Phase 1 includes:
- 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 package is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($1.8 million) and the Northern Territory Government ($1.4 million).
Australian Government funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
Gove Peninsula Water Supply Upgrade – Phase 1
To provide long term water security for Yirrkala and Gunyangara. Both communities experience significant water loss and increasing water demand. Works include:
- replacing 6 km of pipeline at Yirrkala and upgrading connections to reduce water loss from the ageing water distribution system
- assessing the water supply to Gunyangara to identify options to ensure future sustainability, immediate environmental benefit and provide longer term economic and social benefits.
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.
NT Community Infrastructure Assessments and Prioritisation
This project will provide an engineering analysis of essential water infrastructure for 55 remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. It will assist in better understanding the essential services assets in these communities. It will also inform solutions to secure water supplies and availability that support liveability and resilience to climate change while unlocking community growth and development opportunities.
The package is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($5.4 million) and the Northern Territory Government ($2.6 million). Australian Government funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
Laramba water treatment plant
The $6.8 million Laramba water treatment plant was officially opened on 26 April 2023.The new treatment plant uses ion-exchange technology to reduce the levels of naturally occurring uranium in the groundwater source that supplies Laramba’s drinking water.
The project was funded from the $28 million commitment by the Northern Territory Government to address critical water supply infrastructure needs in remote Aboriginal communities experiencing water quality issues and security stress.
Angurugu sewerage reticulation upgrade
This was a $5.6 million project involving approximately three kilometres of new sewerage reticulation and new sewer connections to approximately 90 allotments.
During the project 34 per cent Aboriginal employment was achieved. The project involved replacing a high risk section of existing asbestos cement effluent drainage that was prone to failure. Future investment will be required to upgrade the rest of the community with a new sewerage reticulation system.
Ngukurr new water source equipping
Completion of a $3.7 million project including one new bore and construction of six kilometres of rising main and six kilometres of overhead power line at Ngukurr. The project achieved 14 per cent Aboriginal employment and has provided the community with additional water source capacity.
Robinson River new water source equipping
Completion of a $1.97 million project equipping four new bores and constructing 500 metres of rising mains and 800 metres of overhead powerlines. The project achieved 40 per cent Aboriginal employment and has provided the community with additional water source capacity.
Barunga new water source equipping
Completion of a $3 million project to equip new production bores in Barunga to provide the community with a secure, safe water source. The project was completed in December 2017 and achieved 18 per cent Aboriginal employment.
Wadeye asbestos cement main replacement
Completion of a $2 million project at Wadeye to replace the failing old asbestos cement water main. The project was completed in December 2017 and achieved more than 30 per cent Aboriginal employment.
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