Darwin Rural Adelaide River water control district

Water control districts (WCDs) in the Northern Territory (NT) are areas that need increased management of water resources.

In June 2024, the Darwin Rural Area district was extended to include the Adelaide River catchment. This allows the development of an Adelaide River water allocation plan.

The Darwin Rural Adelaide River district covers an area of 10,727 square kilometres and includes:

• Gunn Point
• Howard Springs
• Humpty Doo
• Noonamah
• Berry Springs
• Cox Peninsula and
• the Adelaide River catchment.

The region has complex hydrogeology with 14 significant aquifers and 4 surface water systems. The surface water systems include Darwin River, Elizabeth River and Howard River, with Adelaide River as the most significant.

The most productive groundwater systems are the Koolpinyah Dolostone and the Berry Springs Dolostone, with groundwater use in the Berry Springs area managed by a water allocation plan.

There are approximately 300 licensed water users within the district, most of whom take groundwater.

Water allocation plans

Water allocation plans identify how much water can be taken from groundwater and surface water resources while protecting the resource and environment.

They establish Aboriginal water reserves and enable trade of water entitlements.

The WCD has one water allocation plan covering the Berry Springs Dolostone aquifer. Read more about the Berry Springs water allocation plan.

Adelaide River Catchment

A plan is being prepared for the Adelaide River Catchment. It will be finalised by mid-2026 and is the first for this area.

The plan area covers the entire Adelaide River Catchment from its headwaters in Litchfield National Park to the coastal plains of the Arafura Sea, totalling 7,640 square kilometres.

The plan will manage and regulate the use of surface water across the catchment.

Read more about the Adelaide River Catchment water allocation plan.

Licensing and permits

You need a licence or permit for activities within this district.

Water management rules apply to anyone wanting to access and use water within the district.

This includes applying for:

• water extraction licences to take surface and groundwater
• bore construction permits.

Exemptions

Water for rural stock and domestic use is exempt from licensing under section 11 and 14 of the Water Act 1992.

An exemption also applies if the combined groundwater use from all bores on a parcel of land extracting groundwater is less than 5 megalitres per year. Read Gazette G13 PDF (492.1 KB) of June 2024. This exemption does not apply within the former Darwin Rural district.

Small rural dams and some forms of road and drainage works are exempt PDF (247.8 KB) from needing an interference with a waterway permit.

Contact

If you have any questions about permits or licensing requirements in the area, email water.licensing@nt.gov.au.

For water planning enquires, email waterresources@nt.gov.au.