Water Management
The Northern Territory Government is committed to the long-term sustainable management of its water resources. The Northern Territory Water Act 1992(External link) allows effective water resource management through water allocation plannings within designated water control districts. Water allocation plans are developed using technical and scientific assessments, and extensive community participation and consultations.
Find out more about:
- Declared water control districts(External link)
- Current water allocation plans(External link)
- About water allocation planning(External link)
The Department of Lands Planning and Environment is consulting on a 10-year water plan for Katherine (2026-2036). Public consultations will run from 13 October to 10 November 2025.
This is your opportunity to have your say on how water will be managed in the Katherine region over the next decade.
-
Take Survey
The town of Katherine is located on the Tindall Limestone Aquifer, which stores large volumes of water. The water in this aquifer supports livelihoods, community wellbeing, recreation and is culturally important to Aboriginal people of Katherine. As the Territory’s third largest town, with expected population growth and economic development, securing the water supply for the diverse range of sectors, industries and values that rely on water is important. Therefore, a water plan has been in place for Katherine since 2009.
Water allocation plans within Daly Roper Beetaloo water control district The current Katherine Tindall Limestone Aquifer Water Allocation Plan 2024–2026 will expire on 16 February 2026.
The Department of Lands, Planning and Environment is developing a new 10-year water plan for Katherine (2026–2036), which will be declared by the Minister for Water Resources in 2026. This will be the fifth iteration of the Katherine water plan.
A draft of the new plan has been prepared with input from the Daly River Water Advisory Committee. The Committee includes representatives from agriculture, tourism, recreational fisheries, Aboriginal communities, and commerce.
Wider public consultation will run from 13 October to 10 November 2025, giving you the opportunity to have your say.
The draft Katherine water allocation plan is made up of three core documents:
Katherine water plan 2026–2036
- Establishes the Estimated Sustainable Yield (ESY) for the plan area
- Defines the rules for managing water
Katherine water plan 2026-2036: Background report
- Explains the science, data, and processes that informed the plan
- Summarises the environmental values that depend on water, as well as the social and development context, including current and projected water use
Katherine water plan 2026-2036: Implementation actions
- Outlines a work program to build knowledge and support adaptive water management over the 10-year term of the plan.
- Details the program for continuous assessment of the region’s water resources, including monitoring, data collection, and analysis of water quantity, quality, and use throughout the life of the plan
Share Draft Katherine water allocation plan 2026-2036 on Facebook Share Draft Katherine water allocation plan 2026-2036 on Twitter Share Draft Katherine water allocation plan 2026-2036 on Linkedin Email Draft Katherine water allocation plan 2026-2036 link
