Clean up under way for waterways in Darwin and Palmerston

Birdwatchers and fishos are about to benefit from a $3m investment in creeks around Darwin and Palmerston. Read what is happening and where.

Larrakia Rangers Bradley Stokes and James Quenoy with Landcare NT Chair Annie Andrews and Solomon MP Luke Gosling. Picture: Supplied

Waterways in the Top End are about to get a whole lot cleaner thanks to a $3.28m federal investment.

The Darwin Harbour Catchment Waterways Project will focus on improving the quality of creeks in Darwin and Palmerston, including Rapid Creek, Mitchell Creek, Ludmilla Creek and Sandy Creek.

The funding will go towards the clean up of the creeks as well as planting native plants and building wetlands to help improve water quality.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling met with Larrakia Rangers and the Landcare group to announce the funding.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling with Larrakia Rangers Alan Mummeo and Bradley Stokes. Picture: Supplied

“The Urban Rivers and Catchments Program delivers on the Australian government’s $200m election commitment to restore the health of our urban waterways for native plants and animals, and local communities,” he said.

Mr Gosling said tending to the creeks would benefit Territorians for years to come.

“This funding is crucial to restoring our waterways in Darwin and Palmerston so our kids and their kids can continue to enjoy this beautiful part of our local community,” he said.

“With this $3.82m investment, we’ll clean up the water flowing into Darwin Harbour from Rapid Creek, Mitchell Creek, Ludmilla Creek and Sandy Creek, improving water quality to protect mangrove forests and seagrass meadows; critical nurseries for fish.”

Ranger Ben Smith said the project would help Larrakia Nation have ownership over the waterways on their land.

“We’ve been working in and around most of these creeks for many years on different levels,” he said.

“Some are probably managed better than others, but with the funding from this project we’ll be able to cohesively tie all of that work together and hopefully have a better outcome across all the creeks and rivers in the area.”