Floodwaters receding in NT communities while supply chain issues continue

Vulnerable residents from a number of remote Northern Territory communities have been evacuated due to flooding but authorities say no further evacuations are required as floodwaters begin receding across the Top End.  

Emergency declarations remain in place for the communities of Pigeon Hole, Daguragu, Kalkarindji, Yarralin and Timber Creek in the Victoria Daly region. 

Potential evacuations of the communities with the help of the Australian Defence Force were flagged by authorities on Sunday, but Chief Minister Eva Lawler said on Monday they were no longer required. 

“The weather system has moved out of the territory more quickly than we expected,” Ms Lawler said.

“In preparation for evacuations, we have enacted our plans and have stood up the Foskey Pavilion [at the Darwin Showground] in case this was needed … At this stage we won’t need to evacuate.”

Sixty-five medically vulnerable people have been evacuated from Kalkarindji, Timber Creek and Pigeon Hole to Katherine and Darwin.

Residents of Daguragu self-evacuated to Kalkarindji last week, where they remain. 

NT Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Matthew Hollamby said crews were on the ground in the communities and assessing the damage. 

“One of the critical issues for us is to make sure that those houses are habitable and it’s safe for the Daguragu residents to move back into them,” he said.

“My advice is that the floodwaters did not impact housing at Kalkarindji.”

The Victoria River has reached its highest level on record, 24.3 metres, impacting the nearby town of Timber Creek on the border of the NT and WA. 

More than 20 medically vulnerable Timber Creek residents have been evacuated to Darwin, and 20 further residents are sheltering in the local school. 

On Sunday morning, five people had to be evacuated via helicopter from the Victoria River Roadhouse, around 90km east of Timber Creek, due to rising water levels.  

One of them, truck driver Max Henderson, had been stranded at the roadhouse since Tuesday. 

He told ABC Radio’s NT Country Hour that his trucks, trailers and freight had to be left behind. 

“It’s pretty daunting but at the end of the day it’s replaceable. We aren’t,” he said. 

“The thought of being there for another two weeks before anything starts opening up is not doable … so you’ve got to sacrifice your truck. 

“Since the roadhouse shut down we lost all amenities … so we really became isolated.”

He said crocodiles had been spotted in the floodwaters where he and others were trapped. 

“There were a few crocs starting to get around. There was one in the car park,” he said. 

Ms Lawler said the railway between Tennant Creek and Katherine had been significantly damaged, with the track set to remain closed for about two weeks. 

The Stuart Highway — the Northern Territory’s main highway — was closed between Mataranka and Tennant Creek from Friday until Sunday afternoon. 

It was closed again overnight, then temporarily reopened again about midday on Monday. 

“The Stuart Highway is now temporarily open until 6pm tonight. There are detours and strict traffic management in place,” SecureNT wrote in a Facebook post.

“After further assessments and repair works this evening, we expect to open the highway again [on Tuesday].”

Supply issues to remain

The head of the NT’s road transport industry peak body has confirmed it will be another day before more fresh produce arrives to replenish bare shelves in Top End supermarkets, as flooding continues to disrupt freight to the region.

Fresh produce shelves were emptying out in locations including Darwin on Sunday after floodwaters impacted both rail and road access to the Northern Territory’s Top End.

NT Road Transport Association executive officer Louise Bilato told ABC Radio Darwin on Monday morning that “up to 50 road trains … had been caught between Tennant [Creek] and Three Ways” on the Stuart Highway while it was closed over the weekend, before passing through when it reopened from 3pm and 6.30pm on Sunday.

“There were car carriers, general freight, some empty fuel carters … but there was also food [trucks] that are on the way to Darwin,” she said.

However, she said contractors hired by the NT’s Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics (DIPL) had been undertaking repairs on damaged sections of the highway overnight.

“As soon as those trucks roll into Darwin that food will be distributed … onto the shelves as quickly as possible,” she said.

“Probably by [Tuesday], some of that will be on the shelves, and more is coming.”

In a statement, a Coles spokesman said “due to road and rail closures, there are some current challenges getting supplies into the Darwin area”.

“While essential supplies remain available, as soon as the local authorities advise that the roads have been reopened, we will recommence deliveries to our stores,” he said.

Woolworths has also been contacted for comment.

The road and rail closures come as emergency flood warnings have been issued for a number of remote communities in recent days, with some residents from Pigeon Hole — about 700 kilometres south of Darwin — evacuated to the NT’s capital city.

On Monday, Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt also said the Australian Defence Force was on standby to evacuate 450 people from the community of Kalkarindji to Katherine if necessary.

Ms Bilato warned there could be more freight disruptions to come, and urged territorians to be patient.

“There certainly is a queue [of road trains] that will be waiting in Tennant Creek for the road to open this morning. But [there] is going to be periodic closures, and there [is] going to be traffic management in place,” she said.

“We urge everyone to be patient, because it’s better … [managing] any serious risk areas … [and allowing trucks] to be trickled through, than nothing at all.”