Flooding - Tropical Low 030U - April 2025
In mid-April 2025, the Northern Territory (NT) experienced significant flooding caused by a persistent tropical low that impacted the East Arnhem, West Arnhem and Roper Gulf districts.
Tropical Low 030U entered the Gulf of Carpentaria in mid-April and tracked across the affected areas just prior to 23 April 2025. The system brought more than 800mm of rainfall to the East Arnhem Region, with an additional 70mm falling over the long weekend. This continued rainfall severely reduced accessibility across the region.
Sustained rainfall caused major damage to the Central Arnhem Road and resulted in the isolation of several homelands, including those in the Mathakal, Laynhapuy, and Gumatj regions. The Central Arnhem Road was formally closed by the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure on Friday 2 May 2025.
Weekly rainfall has averaged 70mm, with isolated heavy downpours. Although conditions are gradually improving, saturation levels remain critically high.
Across the Laynhapuy Homelands, several smaller outstations self-evacuated to larger homeland communities due to flooding impacts.
The 9 populated Homelands of concern in this catchment are:
- Balma
- Birany Birany
- Dhalinybuy
- Donydji
- Gan Gan
- Garrthalala
- Gurrumuru
- Wandawuy
- Baniyala
These nine communities contain approximately 106 dwellings and are home to an estimated 531 people. An additional 45 dwellings in smaller homelands were also temporarily vacated as residents self-evacuated.
Financial help
Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
Disaster assistance for state agencies and local councils is now open.
Financial support is available for eligible local and state governments affected by the severe weather event.
This support is provided through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and covers the following.
Category B
Counter disaster operations
To help state agencies and councils with the costs associated with delivering exceptional relief and recovery measures within impacted communities which go beyond the capacity of the state or local government. This may include activities to render damaged properties or threatened houses safe and habitable and certain firefighting activities such as the construction of fire breaks to protect residential properties.
State administering agency
Enquiries: tpmr.dli@nt.gov.au or phone 08 89 24 7405
State administering Agency for local governments
Enquiries: lg.grants@nt.gov.au or phone 08 8999 8576
Assistance with restoration of essential public assets
This measure provides financial assistance to help with the costs of restoring or repairing eligible essential public assets or infrastructure damaged as a direct result of a disaster. This assistance also covers emergency and immediate reconstruction works, such as temporary repairs, which are undertaken immediately after a disaster to enable an eligible asset to be operational.
State administering agency
Enquiries: tpmr.dli@nt.gov.au or phone 08 89 24 7405
State administering Agency for local governments
Enquiries: lg.grants@nt.gov.au or phone 08 8999 8576