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Update 5: Barkly and Central Australia flooding

7:30pm 1 March 2026

A slow-moving tropical low over the Barkly and Simpson districts is causing widespread flooding across southern parts of the Northern Territory.

Because the ground was already very wet, this has led to increased flooding and damage. Homes and businesses have been affected, along with roads and rail lines.

Several major transport routes have been impacted, including parts of the Stuart Highway, Tanami Road and Plenty Highway, and rail services to the Northern Territory have been disrupted.

Some remote communities have been isolated, and residents from Murray Downs have relocated to Ali Curung. Residents on some pastoral properties have also relocated. There were no evacuation orders.

Food supplies are being maintained by truck, with no predicted impact of the supply chain to major centres. Some isolated communities have had essential supplies delivered by air.

Residents and road users are advised to limit movements to essential travel only and to stay up-to-date with road closures at the Road Report NT website.

Alice Springs flash flood risk – be prepared

Although river levels have fallen, the Todd and Charles River catchments are fully saturated.

Water levels may rise quickly if more rain arrives.

Please take a few simple steps early to stay prepared. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Know your flood risk

  • Check whether your home is in a flood-affected or flood-protected area.
  • Water in areas close to the Todd and Charles rivers can rise fast.
  • If your home or street was affected by the recent flooding event, you are considered at higher risk.
  • Alice Springs flood mapping information is available on the Northern Territory Government website.

Shelters

  • To support community safety and preparedness, Centralian Senior college and Centralian Middle School will be closed Monday 2 March 2026 and activated as emergency shelters.
  • Additional shelters will open if needed.
  • Pets are not allowed at emergency shelters. Please plan for them in advance. Do not tie them in your yards or lock them inside where they might be trapped. Leave plenty of dry food and clean water in a high location they can access.
  • Shelters will not be catered, residents will need to bring their own food and bedding – no cooking will be permitted in the shelters.
  • Smoking and alcohol will not be permitted in public shelters.

If you plan to shelter at home

  • Have at least 3 days of food, drinking water, medications and essential supplies.
  • Have torches with spare batteries and ensure you have charged devices and power banks.
  • Keep a battery powered radio ready.
  • Make sure you have enough pet food and water for your pets.
  • Ensure your vehicle has fuel.
  • Fill gas bottles today.
  • Clear gutters and outside areas. Move valuables to higher places inside.
  • Keep your sandbags in place until the weather system has passed.

Travel and safety

  • Avoid unnecessary travel.
  • Never walk or drive through floodwater.
  • Before leaving home, check the Road Report NT website.
  • Stay well away from drains, creeks and riverbanks.
  • Report damaged power infrastructure to Power and Water on 1800 245 092.

Stay informed

  • Monitor SecureNT and ABC Radio.
  • Conditions can change quickly. Please remain alert and follow official instructions.

Sandbag information

Emergency declaration

An emergency situation has been declared under the Emergency Management Act for parts of the Barkly and Central Australia regions due to the impacts of a tropical low.

A Southern Region Emergency Operations Centre has been established in Alice Springs, with Northern Territory Police leading the coordinated response alongside emergency services and partner agencies.

The declaration applies to the Barkly region south of Tennant Creek and the Simpson region, where severe weather conditions are expected to continue posing risks to communities and infrastructure. The declaration enables authorised officers, including NT Police and emergency services personnel, to issue lawful directions such as evacuation orders, restrict access to affected areas, close roads, enter premises where necessary, and take other reasonable actions to prevent or reduce harm. These powers are time-limited and apply only within the declared area.

Read media release

Financial help

  • Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements have been activated.

    Financial support is available for eligible individuals and families, businesses, primary producers, non-profit organisations, and 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

    Repairs to services and infrastructure, freight subsidies to primary producers and assistance to non-profit organisations, and support for local councils and residents to help with clean-up costs and the restoration of essential public assets.

    Assistance for primary producers and non-profit organisations, includes:

    • Up to $5,000 to support freight costs associated with transporting livestock and fodder, replacing or repairing buildings, equipment, machinery or fences. This is initial disaster assistance for those in immediate need and further support may be considered.
    • Non-profit organisations access to one-off grant funding of up to $10,000 to repair or replace an asset.

    Eligibility criteria

    Communities eligible for assistance include the following local government authorities:

    • Alice Springs
    • Barkly
    • Central Desert
    • MacDonnell.

    For information on how to apply for the freight subsidy, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

    For information on how to apply for the non-profit grant funding, go to Grants NT.

    Contact business.programs@nt.gov.au or phone 1800 193 111.

    Information on all disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website.

    Assistance to restore or repair essential public assets

    DRFA assistance has been extended to local government areas in

    • Alice Springs
    • Barkly
    • Central Desert
    • and MacDonnell.

    This extension applies to repair and reconstruction of public assets only; it is not available to individuals or private enterprise.

    The measure provides financial assistance to help government and councils with the costs of restoring or repairing eligible essential public assets or infrastructure damaged as a direct result of the severe weather and floods.

    It 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.

    The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure does restoration works for NT Government assets.

    The funding will assist local governments to undertake restoration and work that is beyond the scope of their operational budgets.

    Repairs by NT Government include:

    • works on major highways and roads that were significantly impacted,
    • repairs to public housing,
    • repairs to other infrastructure assets that were damaged by the weather events.

Impact assessment survey for pastoralists

Pastoral properties and property owners in the flood affected areas can do a self-assessment of their property and assets to provide details to the recovery team.

Properties not impacted by the floods are also asked to register through the survey to enable an understanding of the wider event impacts.

Complete the Northern Territory Disaster Impact Survey.

Stay up to date

Drivers are reminded to refer to Road Report NT website for all the latest road updates as conditions can change quickly.

Contacts

If you require assistance, refer to the information below.

Media releases

Page last updated 13 March 2026

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