Volunteer services, police resources engaged at Howard Springs evacuation centre

Hundreds of remote residents have been uprooted to Darwin following major flooding in their communities. We take you inside the operation at the former Howard Springs quarantine facility.

Inside the flood evacuations at Howard Springs Centre for National Resilience.

Volunteer services and police resources have been engaged at Howard Springs since about 700 evacuees displaced by floods moved in earlier this month.

Residents from the Victoria Daly region, including Kalkarindji, Pigeon Hole and Daguragu, will call Howard Springs home indefinitely until the NT government can assess the level of damage in their home communities and determine when it’s safe for them to return.

Red Cross NT emergency services manager Annette Plowman said her team had been on site 24/7 since the evacuees moved in.

“We’ve provided psychological first aid more than 2800 times over the course of the evacuation,” Ms Plowman said.

“We’ll be here at the facility for as long as we’re needed.

“Red Cross will then continue to provide support to impacted communities on their return home.

“In our experience communities recovering from a disaster often require long-term assistance to rebuild and we’ll be there to help them along the way.”

Hoops4health has been volunteering in the CNR for flood evacuees. Picture: Supplied

Hoops4health leader Timmy Duggan said he hoped his team’s involvement would provide long-term assistance for the affected residents.

“Even though it’s unfortunate circumstances it was still positive in the fact that we had already developed a relationship — it’s about leaving a bit of a legacy and some concept of our programs that communities can use,” he said.

However, amid the positive programs, there is speculation of anti-social behaviour and property damage occuring on site.

Deputy opposition leader Gerard Maley is calling on the government to come clean on what is occurring at the Centre for National Resilience.

“We’ve had confirmation that police have had to set up a presence at the facility and do night patrols — but I’ve also had reports that an on-site domestic violence unit has been set up and parts of the facility will need extensive repair,” he said.

Volunteers are helping support the flood-affected residents staying at the Centre for National Resilience. Picture: Pema Tamang

However, the NT government has denied that any “major instances or disturbances” have been reported in CNR, and say the opposition’s calls are “cheap political shots”.

“The safety and comfort of all evacuees is our priority and any anti-social behaviour at the facility is not tolerated,” Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said.

“Police and security have maintained a presence at the facility since it was stood up.

“The CNR emergency set-up includes a sobering up shelter for anyone who returns to the facility under the influence, there is also multiple dedicated safe spaces for women.”

On Friday, acting assistant commissioner Danny Bacon would not comment on the number of call-outs to the centre but said there were police resources on-site like any other community.

“CNR has three communities in one location, so I’m not here to isolate locations in regards to domestic violence,” he said.

“We need to supply police resources in that community.”

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles speaks to flood-impacted residents at Howard Springs facility near Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang

A spokesman for Territory Families, Housing and Community said alcohol was banned at the facility and “procedures were in place to prevent alcohol entering the site and for returning people affected by alcohol”.

Annette Plowman with NTPFES Community Resilience and Engagement Command. Picture: Supplied

Mr Duggan said his staff had been going in at night and had not experienced any negative incidents since attending the centre.

“Whenever you’re put into an environment like this there’s time for that behaviour to happen, but everyone’s been really helpful, from the staff that's out there to the adults from communities and the young people who are in the program,” he said.