Daly River flooding update 7 - 16 February 2026
A Watch and Act flood alert remains in place for the Daly.
Residents in affected areas should activate their emergency plans now.
Victoria Daly region flooding
Residents from Victoria Daly regional communities were evacuated on Wednesday 4 February and the Foskey Pavilion Evacuation Centre opened following flooding caused by widespread rainfall from a slow-moving weather system.
The Daly River reached 14 metres (major flood level) at the Daly River Police Station at 4pm Monday 9 February.
A Watch and Act alert remains in place for the river – which means avoid the area. Conditions are dangerous and intensifying.
For the latest weather forecasts, flood warnings and river level updates for Daly region, go to the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Financial assistance available
Financial assistance is available under joint funding arrangements between the Australian and Northern Territory Governments Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and include:
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Registered evacuees from the Nauiyu and Malak Malak communities who were evacuated are eligible for immediate financial assistance.
How payments work
Payments will be made in 2 stages:
- Stage 1: while residents are evacuated and staying in Darwin
- Stage 2: once residents return home.
Payments help with the cost of basic needs such as food, transport, medical supplies, personal items and clothing for people evacuated during the floods. Payments are issued via a pre-paid debit card.
Payments are issued on a pre-paid card.
How to use your pre-paid card
- Cards expire 30 days after issue and should be treated like cash.
- Cards are not ‘tap-and-go’ and must be swiped
The card cannot be used:
- to buy alcohol or cigarettes
- at licensed venues or drive-throughs
- to withdraw cash
- to purchase adult entertainment
- for any online purchases (regardless of what is being purchased).
Payments available
The total payment depends on your family situation.
Child - $309 total
- First payment $77.25
- Final payment $231.75
Adult - $611 total
- First payment $152.75
- Final payment $458.25
Family (maximum) $1,537 total
- First payment $384.25
- Final payment $1,152.75
Getting your payment
Daly River evacuees (Naiuyu and Malak Malak communities)
To receive your payment, you must be registered at the Foskey Pavilion Evacuation Centre.
Payments will be made from Thursday 12 February from the centre.
Welfare Group members will provide outreach to medically vulnerable evacuees to facilitate payments and pre-paid cards.
Final payments will be made once evacuees return home.
Additional support
Evacuees staying at Foskey Pavilion Evacuation Centre are provided with essential living supplies at no charge, including bedding, toiletries, meals, clothing, nappies, laundry services, transport to school and entertainment activities.
Additional disaster recovery funding may be available to support repairs or replacement of essential household items damaged by the floods.
This funding supports recovery and rebuilding activities and is managed separately to immediate personal hardship payments. More information will be provided as assessments continue, and recovery arrangements are confirmed.
More information and to apply
For more information or to apply, visit the Evacuation Centre at Foskey Pavillion, Darwin Showgrounds,
You will need your ID and be registered at the evacuation centre to verify who you are. If you need help with ID or registration, speak to evacuation centre staff.
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State agencies and local governments responding to and recovering from the event can receive support for counter-disaster operations and the restoration and reconstruction of essential public assets, including emergency works and infrastructure repairs.
If you’re a primary producer based in a disaster-affected local government area, you may be eligible for freight subsidy disaster assistance.
This assistance is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
The Asset Assistance Grant provides not-for-profit organisations in the Daly River Regional Council area with up to $10,000 to repair or replace flood-damaged assets and assist with clean-up, with applications available via GrantsNT.
The Freight Subsidy Disaster Assistance supports primary producers in the Victoria Daly Regional Council area by reimbursing 50 per cent of eligible emergency freight costs up to $5,500, including fodder, livestock movements, fencing, machinery and stock replacement, with applications also made through
GrantsNT. Please see attached the talking points regarding the DRFA grants available.GrantsNT links
- Freight Subsidy: Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements – Freight Subsidy - Victoria Daly Regional Council Floods (AGRN1249)
- Asset Assistance: Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements - Asset Assistance - Victoria Daly Regional Council Floods (AGRN1249)
Useful links
To read the program terms and conditions, go to the Northern Territory Government website.
Contact details
Territory Business Centre
Phone: 1800 193 111
business.programs@nt.gov.au
More information on DRFA
Australian Government Disaster Assistance and Eligibility website.
Evacuation centre
Nearly 300 people are registered at the Foskey Pavilion Evacuation Centre, including over 100 children. A small number of medically vulnerable evacuees and their carers are staying at another facility, where they can receive appropriate medical and care support.
Young people staying at Foskey are attending local Darwin schools until they can return home. Daily transport is provided to support students to attend school.
Activities are being arranged to support the wellbeing of residents and provide opportunities for children and adults to engage in physical activity and other recreational activities.
The Foskey Pavilion Evacuation Centre is an alcohol-free area with 24/7 security onsite to support the safety and security of evacuees, staff and volunteers.
Pets cannot be taken to Foskey Pavilion evacuation centre.
Boil water alert – Daly River Community
Recent heavy rainfall and flooding may have impacted the community water supply.
NT Health advises residents to use bottled water or cooled boiled water for:
- drinking
- preparing food
- preparing baby formula
- brushing teeth.
Medical support for evacuees in Darwin
- For urgent medical emergencies, call 000
- For non‑urgent medical needs, visit the Palmerston Medicare Urgent Care Clinic
- Walk‑in service for urgent, non‑emergency care
- Open 7 days a week, 8am to 6pm
Animal welfare
Pets belonging to residents are being cared for by Police in the community.