Howard Springs to house flood-affected families from Kalkarindji, Pigeon Hole, Daguragu

Evacuated Victoria Daly residents will call Howard Springs home while historic floods rage through their communities. Watch the video here.

Hundreds of people are being evacuated to Howard Springs amid unprecedented flooding in the Victoria Daly region.

About 700 people will be airlifted from the flood-ravaged disaster area some Elders have described as the worst they have seen.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the Howard Springs facility was recommissioned on Thursday and prepared for the influx of residents whose homes have been flooded.

The Australian Defence Force was called in to help evacuate residents, with a Hercules C-130 sent to Kalkarindji to back-up a fleet of light aircraft and helicopters that have worked for 48 hours to transport people.

The ADF deployed Hercules C-130 aircraft to Kalkarindji, 770km southwest of Darwin, on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Picture: Supplied

“We won’t get everyone out of Kalkarindji tonight (Thursday), but we will be able to achieve that tomorrow (Friday),” Ms Fyles said.

“The Daly River has peaked at moderate (levels) and so we’re not anticipating any further flooding from the Daly River at this stage.

“The Victoria River has peaked at a major flood level.”

Pigeon Hole and Daguragu residents were first evacuated to nearby Kalkarindji, with the elderly, sick and disabled given priority status on the flights.

All residents would be taken to Katherine first, then on to Darwin and the Howard Springs facility.

“Daguragu was evacuated to Kalkarindji and has had significant flooding,” Ms Fyles said.

“I’m advised that every building in that community has been impacted.”

Ms Fyles said 17 flights left Kalkarindji on Thursday for Katherine.

She said Territory Families and Infrastructure staff had moved quickly to get the evacuation centres online for the evacuees.

Residents in Kalkarindji at the town's airstrip awaiting evacuation from the flood-ravaged area. People from nearby Pigeon Hole and Damaragu were moved to Kalkarindji on March 1, 2023. Picture: Supplied

Ms Fyles said evacuated children would have access to education while they sheltered in Darwin at Wulagi Primary School, Malak Primary School, and Nightcliff Primary School.

“We’ll also have the Families as First Teachers program running ... for our little ones, so very much providing these people who have you know seen their homes devastated by these floods and getting them to safety and providing them as much support as possible,” she said.

Daguragu residents were evacuated by helicopter to Kalkarindji on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

A Kalkarindji resident, whose home was inundated Wednesday, said the water had receded on Thursday.

But the community remained cut off due to flooding that Elders described as among the worst they had ever seen.

“There was flooding here in 2001 but it was never this bad – this is a whole new level,” the Kalkarindji resident said.

The road between Kalkarindji and Daguragu was damaged amid major flooding in the Victoria Daly region. Picture: Supplied

Despite their ordeal, the Kalkarindji resident said the community was in “good spirits”.

“People were able to get a good night’s sleep and be warm and dry at the school yesterday,” he said.

“Daguragu people have been incredibly resilient when you consider that every house went under, the river was up everywhere.

“I think they’ve been through a lot ... Daguragu mob have been through a lot right now, more than anyone.

“Many Kalkarindji people as well, but Daguragu for the longest because they were cut off for the longest – the river comes up there quicker, and it’s kept them isolated for the longest period of time.”

Birds-eye view of Pigeon Hole after major flood warnings and evacuations in the Victoria Daly region. Picture: Victoria Daly Regional Council

Victoria Daly Regional Council Mayor Brian Pedwell said he was disappointed earlier

action had not been taken to protect Daguragu and Kalkarindji residents.

“If the Northern Territory government had acted immediately, residents would have been evacuated from the community earlier, before the situation got completely out of hand,” Mr Pedwell said.

“Why haven’t they learnt lessons from the very recent disaster in Timber Creek?

“Early action is needed to mitigate such disasters, and instead, everyone waited around until it got to an absolute crisis point.”

The Katherine Circuit Court has also been closed due to flooding.

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

It comes after SecureNT made an emergency declaration for Daguragu, Kalkarindji, Pigeon Hole, Palumpa and Yarralin on Wednesday.

A moderate flood warning for the Victoria River is current.

Shenagh Gamble from the Bureau of Meteorology said a tropical low would continue to move east, taking heavy rain and wind away from the West End into the Barkley region.

“Tennant Creek has had nearly 90mm of rain overnight, but this was more gentle rain over a long time,” she said.

“Some places have had more heavy rain in that area – we expect that over the next few days, the Barkly will get heavier rain as the low moves further east into that area.”

Ms Gamble said a heavy rainfall and damaging winds warning for the Barkly, Gregory, Tanami, and Carpentaria regions was current.