First nations

APY Lands water supply revitalisation

Project overview

This project will improve water security in 8 Aboriginal communities in the South Australian APY Lands:

  • Amata
  • Kalka
  • Kaltjiti (Fregon)
  • Mimili
  • Pipalyatjara
  • Pukatja (Ernabella)
  • Umuwa
  • Yunyarinyi (Kenmore). 

These communities could lose access to water if ageing infrastructure is not improved. The project will maximise the use of existing bores through upgrades. It will also support new water needs in a changing climate. 

The project includes: 

Securing critical water needs for self-supplied remote First Nations communities

Project overview

This project will deliver water supply, quality and access solutions. These have been agreed to with the Aboriginal homelands of:

  • Iga Warta
  • Leigh Creek Station
  • Kakalpurannha
  • Yappala.

Residents are facing unacceptable conditions if risk factors are not addressed. These risks relate to water availability and quality, infrastructure failure and changing demand.

The solutions include: 

Woorabinda water supply improvement

Project overview

This project will provide water infrastructure for safe and reliable water in Woorabinda, Queensland. The project will ensure water meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. 

The Woorabinda Aboriginal community currently experiences:

  • water shortages
  • water quality issues
  • a high risk of water supply failure. 

The project will upgrade the existing:

Halls Creek water security upgrade

Project overview

The project will provide a more reliable groundwater supply for the town of Halls Creek. The work will take place on Ngarrawanji Country in the East Kimberley region, Western Australia.

The demand for water in Halls Creek exceeds the current supply arrangements. The existing borefields are operating at around 111% capacity. 

Galiwin’ku network upgrade and water quality planning strategy

Project overview

The project will replace ageing infrastructure to improve the water supply in Galiwin'ku, Northern Territory. It will also investigate options to address corrosive water and its effects on the condition of the infrastructure network.

The Galiwin’ku water network is in poor condition with significant water leakage. More than 80% of the extracted groundwater in the system is being lost, or 28 litres per second. This puts the Aboriginal community at risk of water supply failure.

Gove Peninsula water supply upgrade – Gunyangara (phase 2)

Project overview

The Gove Peninsula water supply upgrade (phase 2) will unlock water for community development in Gunyangara. The Aboriginal community loses large amounts of water before it reaches their taps. This occurs due to ageing infrastructure.

Limited water availability has stopped the community from taking up development opportunities. The project will provide water security to support future development.

The project will:

Truwana / Cape Barren Island water resilience

Project overview

The Truwana / Cape Barren Island water resilience project will address water security issues on Cape Barren Island, Tasmania. This is Tasmania’s only discrete Aboriginal community.

Limited existing water infrastructure has caused severe water security issues in recent years. The community has experienced total water loss during dry periods.

Previous critically low water levels on the Island have required emergency water imports. At times, the community has also had to resort to pumping water from a freshwater beach seep.

Gerard Water Security project

Project overview

The Gerard Water Security project will restore safe and reliable water access for the community.

It will restore and upgrade the local water treatment plant. The project includes:

  • installing an ultrafiltration membrane treatment unit
  • repairing degraded treatment systems
  • installing water demand and quality monitoring systems.

This will bring the community’s water supply in line with the national water guidelines and remove the need for water carting.

Better Bores for Communities Phase 1

Project overview

The Better Bores for Communities – Phase 1 package will provide better access to safe and reliable water in 10 NT First Nations communities. This will support the health of these remote communities and improve liveability. Ultimately the projects will support First Nations people to remain living on Country.

This package includes bore drilling or equipping projects in the following Northern Territory communities: