One of Australia’s most remote indigenous communities has been fighting for over 15 years to secure quality drinking water, but a solution may not be far away, after the federal government recently finally approved an $8.1 million grant for a new borefield at Alpurrurulam. 

The fight for clean drinking water in Alpurrurulam (hyperlink: Case Study 4: The struggle for good quality drinking water in Alpurrurulam - Water360) has been running ever since local First Nations clans were moved from their traditional lands into the community to make way for cattle as Lake Nash Station was created.

But for nearly two decades, that fight has also had the backing of the Central Land Council, which has taken the battle to Darwin and Canberra, and in recent years, has been quietly lobbying the National Indigenous Australians Agency in the capital to fund the project.

The 0872 Report has spoken to several sources across all three levels of government - the council, NT and federal governments, CLC and community members - but none were able to comment due to confidential discussions, and fears talking openly with the media could jeopardise the $8.1 million now on the table.

It also comes after the World Health Organisation updated its international drinking water guidelines almost two years ago, which saw the Territory government trucking bottled water to Alpurrurulam residents, particularly for pregnant women, children and the elderly.

We spoke last week with the head of the NT Government’s Remote water team, Nicole Joy, who has been the only person to talk publicly about the project to date.

The 0872 Report understands a public announcement of the project is sitting on the desk of Cabinet ministers in both the NT and federal government, and is expected later this year.

She said Alpurrurulam was identified as “a priority community” by the NT government, due to the existing water supply constraints, but she was unable to say when the project would start, or be completed.

The 0872 Report has scoured more than 10 years of documents related to ALpurrurulam’s battle for clean, safe drinking water across all levels of government, and those provided to several national parliamentary inquiries.

Grant listings for the Aboriginal Benefits Account-funded project show the government approved the funds to pay for the new infrastructure five years ago.

But it wasn’t until last year that the money was actually transferred from the government to the CLC, and then on to the Power and Water Corporation to actually complete the work.

Under the terms of the grant, if the Alpurrurulam project was delivered on time, which is unlikely due to flooding and ongoing talks with Lake Nash Station over a land access agreement - it would not be completed, at the earliest, until 2028.

In a submission by CLC to a Joint Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into Energy, Water and Food Security in Northern Australia in 2024, the CLC included the problems with Alpurrurulam’s drinking water.

That submission argued the fight for clean water in Alpurrurulam was typical of water being used as a tool of colonisation, which the CLC argued “removed people from (their) clean water source (the Georgina River) and forced people on to less desirable country with very poor quality”.

“Despite significant efforts by the Alpurrurulam community and the Central Land Council in recent years to progress a new bore project that would deliver better quality water from Lake Nash Station the Alpurrurulam community’s fight continues”, the submission reads.

“While ABA funding has been secured with assistance from NIAA the project has stalled over failed land access negotiations with the pastoral lease holders.

“The findings from the US Toxicology Program of the impacts of high fluoride levels on children’s brain developments add a level of urgency to the need to establish a permanent and safe alternative water supply for community residents.”

In all, while the money is now in Power and Water coffers, the CLC, the federal and NT governments are still in talks with the Lake Nash station owners about land access to ensure Alpurrurulam residents can drink water that meets the national standards.

One NT government source told The 0872 Report, on condition of anonymity:

“Water is precious, and whether you live in Darwin, Alice Springs or Alpurrurulam, you should still have the same access to safe, quality drinking water.”

 

This story is part of The 0872 Report’s series of stories about the challenges facing the NT’s remote water system, and what is being done about them, supported by funding from the Local and Independent News Association.


You can listen to the full story, first aired last Friday on 8CCC 10.2.1FM, below, and go to 8ccc.com.au and follow the links to The 0872 Report, to hear all our podcasts on demand.

One of Australia&rsquo;s most remote indigenous communities has been fighting for over 15 years to secure quality drinking water, but a solution may not be far away, after the federal government recently finally approved an $8.1 million grant for a new borefield at Alpurrurulam.&nbsp;
The fight for clean drinking water in Alpurrurulam (hyperlink: <a href="https://water360.com.au/case-study/case-study-4-the-struggle-for-good-quality-drinking-water-in-alpurrurulam/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Case Study 4: The struggle for good quality drinking water in Alpurrurulam - Water360</a>) has been running ever since local First Nations clans were moved from their traditional lands into the community to make way for cattle as Lake Nash Station was created.
But for nearly two decades, that fight has also had the backing of the Central Land Council, which has taken the battle to Darwin and Canberra, and in recent years, has been quietly lobbying the National Indigenous Australians Agency in the capital to fund the project.
The 0872 Report has spoken to several sources across all three levels of government - the council, NT and federal governments, CLC and community members - but none were able to comment due to confidential discussions, and fears talking openly with the media could jeopardise the $8.1 million now on the table.
It also comes after the World Health Organisation updated its international drinking water guidelines almost two years ago, which saw the Territory government trucking bottled water to Alpurrurulam residents, particularly for pregnant women, children and the elderly.
We spoke last week with the head of the NT Government&rsquo;s Remote water team, Nicole Joy, who has been the only person to talk publicly about the project to date.
The 0872 Report understands a public announcement of the project is sitting on the desk of Cabinet ministers in both the NT and federal government, and is expected later this year.
She said Alpurrurulam was identified as &ldquo;a priority community&rdquo; by the NT government, due to the existing water supply constraints, but she was unable to say when the project would start, or be completed.
The 0872 Report has scoured more than 10 years of documents related to ALpurrurulam&rsquo;s battle for clean, safe drinking water across all levels of government, and those provided to several national parliamentary inquiries.
Grant listings for the Aboriginal Benefits Account-funded project show the government approved the funds to pay for the new infrastructure five years ago.
But it wasn&rsquo;t until last year that the money was actually transferred from the government to the CLC, and then on to the Power and Water Corporation to actually complete the work.
Under the terms of the grant, if the Alpurrurulam project was delivered on time, which is unlikely due to flooding and ongoing talks with Lake Nash Station over a land access agreement - it would not be completed, at the earliest, until 2028.
In a submission by CLC to a Joint Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into Energy, Water and Food Security in Northern Australia in 2024, the CLC included the problems with Alpurrurulam&rsquo;s drinking water.
That submission argued the fight for clean water in Alpurrurulam was typical of water being used as a tool of colonisation, which the CLC argued &ldquo;removed people from (their) clean water source (the Georgina River) and forced people on to less desirable country with very poor quality&rdquo;.
&ldquo;Despite significant efforts by the Alpurrurulam community and the Central Land Council in recent years to progress a new bore project that would deliver better quality water from Lake Nash Station the Alpurrurulam community&rsquo;s fight continues&rdquo;, the submission reads.
&ldquo;While ABA funding has been secured with assistance from NIAA the project has stalled over failed land access negotiations with the pastoral lease holders.
&ldquo;The findings from the US Toxicology Program of the impacts of high fluoride levels on children&rsquo;s brain developments add a level of urgency to the need to establish a permanent and safe alternative water supply for community residents.&rdquo;
In all, while the money is now in Power and Water coffers, the CLC, the federal and NT governments are still in talks with the Lake Nash station owners about land access to ensure Alpurrurulam residents can drink water that meets the national standards.
One NT government source told The 0872 Report, on condition of anonymity:
&ldquo;Water is precious, and whether you live in Darwin, Alice Springs or Alpurrurulam, you should still have the same access to safe, quality drinking water.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
This story is part of The 0872 Report&rsquo;s series of stories about the challenges facing the NT&rsquo;s remote water system, and what is being done about them, supported by funding from the Local and Independent News Association.
 You can listen to the full story, first aired last Friday on 8CCC 10.2.1FM, below, and go to <a href="http://8ccc.com.au/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">8ccc.com.au</a> and follow the links to The 0872 Report, to hear all our podcasts on demand.

The 0872 Report is a new, independent half-hour of local community news and current affairs all about life in the largest, most remote postcode in the country.

 

Every Friday at 9am, we will examine the issues facing people living in the 0872 postcode and celebrate inspiring local solutions and community wins across Central Australia and the Barkly.

 

Have you got a story to tell? We’d love it if you got in touch.

The 0872 Report is a new, independent half-hour of local community news and current affairs all about life in the largest, most remote postcode in the country.
&nbsp;
Every Friday at 9am, we will examine the issues facing people living in the 0872 postcode and celebrate inspiring local solutions and community wins across Central Australia and the Barkly.
&nbsp;
Have you got a story to tell? We&rsquo;d love it if you got in touch.