Kalkarindji, Daguragu, Pigeon Hole residents to return home after floods

The first cohort of Kalkarindji residents have returned home, with more to follow soon as the flood recovery ramps up.

Kalkarindji evacuees will begin the journey home after severe flooding forced them from their homes in early March.

Residents from Kalkarindji, Daguragu, Pigeon Hole, and Palumpa were housed at the Howard Springs facility as of March 2.

The side of the Kalkarindji council building after major flood warnings and evacuations in the Victoria Daly region. Picture: Victoria Daly Regional Council

The store in Kalkarindji has been restocked and the health centre and school will reopen tomorrow as about 50 residents return home on Sunday.

More Kalkarindji residents are expected to be repatriated when their homes are repaired.

A vet and livestock inspector are also on the ground in Kalkarindji to treat animals left behind during the evacuation period.

A Waste Management Plan has been approved for implementation in Daguragu, with remediation works underway.

Pigeon Hole cannot be reached by road yet, delaying reparations.

The Pigeon Hole community was inundated by floodwaters.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the NT government was working with community organisations to get evacuees home.

“It will be a staged approach to get evacuees home, we are making sure that power and water is available in the community,” she said.

“The second half of the hardship payments will also be made available once people return home to assist them in purchasing much needed items.”