News & Publications
Arnhem Land water supply improvements a positive step
Mar 15, 2024
The NLC welcomes the Federal and Northern Territory governments’ joint commitment to important water infrastructure upgrades in Maningrida, Numbulwar, Yirrkala, and Gunyangara.
Submission to the Productivity Commission on National Water Reform 2024
Mar 15, 2024
The Northern Land Council provided a submission to the Productivity Commission on National Water Reform 2024. The submission reiterated 23 recommendations made in the NLC’s 2020 submission to the Commission and also highlighted significant components of the 2004 Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative that had either not yet been implemented or were not currently being adhered to in the Northern Territory. The submission concluded with recommendations to underpin and update the National Water Initiative given the substantial rights and interests of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.
Submission to the Northern Territory Government on the Draft Surface Water Take – Wet Season Flows Policy and the Draft Interference with a Waterway Guideline
Jan 10, 2023
The Northern Land Council provided a response to the NT Government’s Draft Surface Water Take – Wet Season Flows Policy and the Draft Interference with a Waterway Guideline. The purpose of the draft policy is to establish the allocation rules for quantifying wet season water flow volumes available for consumptive use from a river basin, while maintaining free flowing rivers and important environmental and cultural values. The NLC supports the policy purpose, however the draft policy and guideline do not enable to the purpose to be achieved. The documents do not include adequate protection of the rights and interests of Aboriginal people in the NLC region, and do not provide adequate actions to ensure cultural values are protected. Therefore, the NLC does not support the draft policy or guideline in their current forms. The draft documents require substantial change and should be updated in accordance with the recommendations made in this submission.
Submission to the Northern Territory Government on the Draft Georgina Wiso Water Allocation Plan
Jan 6, 2023
The Northern Land Council provided a response to the Draft Georgina Wiso Water Allocation Plan, finding that the draft water allocation plan documents do not provide adequate information for the NLC to have confidence in the proposed water management arrangements for the Georgina Wiso area. The draft plan does not integrate the management of all water resources in the region; adequately address risks and identify mitigation responses; or put effective water management arrangements in place. The NLC calls for the documents be withdrawn and an interim water allocation plan of up to three years duration be redrafted; that the NLC is part of an advisory group to undertake a streamlined, fast‐tracked water planning process in early 2023; and that as part of the redrafting process, advice be sought from relevant authorities to ensure that a redrafted interim water plan meets the requirements of the National Water Initiative.
Submission to the Northern Territory Government on the Draft Territory Water Plan
Jan 6, 2023
The Northern Land Council provided a submission in response to the NT Government’s Draft Territory Water Plan. In our submission, the NLC calls for true recognition of Traditional Owner’s rights and responsibilities for all aspects of water resource management; the protection of culturally important and sacred sites; and for Aboriginal people to have access and the ability to use water as they see fit. In the NT we need an innovative and progressive Water Plan that adheres with the national water reform agenda and meets community expectations for best practice water management. The Water Plan provides an opportunity to put in place mechanisms to protect water for Country and culture; to ensure there is sufficient water of appropriate quality for people and services across the NT; and to enable economic development. We are asking the Government to not waste this opportunity as they finalise the Water Plan.
Submission to the Productivity Commission on the National Water Reform
Jan 6, 2023
The Northern Land Council provided a submission to the Productivity Commission in response to their draft report on National Water Reform 2020. The submission made 23 recommendations for the Commission to consider in finalising its advice to the Commonwealth Government. Our submission also highlighted significant components of the 2004 Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative that have not been implemented or adhered to in the Northern Territory, but that need to be addressed as part of a future water reform agenda.
Northern Land Council statement on passage of the NT Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Nov 24, 2022
The Northern Land Council welcomes the passage of the Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 in the NT Legislative Assembly overnight as the first milestone in the proposed legislative changes.
Northern Land Council: we need water management systems for this century, not the last one
Jan 21, 2022
The NLC calls on the NT government to bring its water management system into the 21st century and in line with its commitments to Aboriginal Territorians.
Submission on the NT Government’s Strategic Water Plan Directions Paper
Jan 21, 2022
The NLC has made a submission to the NT Government on the Strategic Water Plan Directions Paper, calling for Aboriginal people to be taken seriously in water management arrangements across the NT. Feedback from the community and stakeholders on the Directions Paper will be used by the Government to develop the Strategic Water Plan which will set the agenda for water management through to 2050.
Blue Mud Bay: NLC welcomes historic Nitmiluk agreement between first nations peoples, fishing industry and government
Jun 26, 2019
For the first time since the Blue Mud Bay Decision by the High Court of Australia in 2008, a vision to resolve Blue Mud Bay has been realised in a Heads of Agreement signed today at the 120th Full Council meeting of the Northern Land Council at Nitmiluk near Katherine in the Northern Territory.
