Update 1: Flooding – Litchfield and Coomalie

12pm Thursday 12 March 2026.

Financial assistance

Disaster assistance has been activated for eligible residents within the Litchfield and Coomalie Local Government Areas, following major flooding that has impacted areas around the Darwin River Dam.

The Australian and Northern Territory governments are jointly providing support under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to assist residents affected by flooding at the Darwin River Dam.

Residents whose homes have been directly impacted may be eligible for Category A, Personal Hardship and Distress Assistance (Immediate Relief Payments) and Re-establishment Measures.

Eligibility criteria and information on how to apply will be confirmed shortly. In the meantime, ensure you document any inundation (flooding) of your home and do not dispose of damaged items without recording evidence of damage.

Immediate relief payments

Immediate relief payments may be available to eligible residents within the Litchfield and Coomalie Local Government Areas directly affected by floods to:

• assist residents experiencing personal hardship as a result of the flooding
• help with the immediate impacts of flooding.

This includes immediate relief payments of $611 per adult and $309 per child, capped at $1,537 per family, with payments made via a pre-paid debit card.

Payments are subject to eligibility criteria and are not means tested.

Temporary accommodation assistance

Eligible flood‑affected residents in the Litchfield and Coomalie Local Government Areas who were required to vacate their homes due to floods may receive up to $340 per adult and $172 per child, capped at $1,160 per family, to reimburse the cost of short‑term temporary accommodation while they are unable to return home. This assistance is means tested.

Income limits apply

Payments are means-tested, and income thresholds apply. Please see below for income thresholds.

Eligible residents will need to provide:

• a tax receipt for out-of-pocket accommodation expenses in the name of the applicant (including ABN and GST details)
• photo ID (such as drivers’ licence)
• proof of residence (recent rental agreement, rates notice, utilities bill, letter from employer)
• proof of annual income (payslips, tax statements or Centrelink statements).

Re-establishment assistance

Further assistance may also be available to replace essential household items, with eligible households able to receive up to $8,843.

This assistance is means tested and there are limits on claims.

This may include support to repair or replace essential household items, such as:

• beds and bedding
• furniture
• refrigerators
• washing machines
• other whitegoods
• basic household items.

Eligibility assessment and payment options will be finalised once damage assessments can be completed.

To ensure you have the appropriate evidence to support damage and eligibility assessments, you must document (photos and footage) any inundation (flooding) of your home.  Do not dispose of damaged items without recording evidence of the damage.

Government recovery support

The DRFA also supports the NT Government and local authorities to undertake:

• counter-disaster operations
• debris removal
• emergency works
• restoration of essential public infrastructure.