Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park to remain closed for another year

Popular swimming spot Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park, which has been closed for almost two years, will not be reopening this dry season.

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A POPULAR Top End swimming and camping spot that has been closed for almost two years will not be reopening this dry season.

The Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park, located about 130km from Katherine and 200km from Darwin, was closed in July 2019.

Speaking on ABC Darwin, NT Parks and Wildlife, Northern Australia Parks director Lincoln Wilson said the park would remain closed this year because of problems with water supply that derived from its ageing bore.

Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park. Picture: Isabella Hood

“We had issues with the bore water pressure serving the camping grounds … it just failed,” he said.

“We’ve had consecutive years of very poor rainfall and ground recharge, and the bore is just a basic bore that was put in the ground in 1986 and (it) relies on natural head pressure coming out of the bore.

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“The distance of travel from that bore to the campground kept reducing pressure, and over time, as the water table drops a bit, in those busy times of year, like July with the school holidays finishing off, we just can’t meet the demand.”

He said any changes to the bore would require consultation with traditional owners, which had been made difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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