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Update 11: Flooding Katherine and Wugularr (Beswick)

6pm  Monday 9 March 2026

Emergency warnings are in place for Katherine Township and Nitmiluk.

Boil Water alerts are in place for Katherine, Wugularr (Beswick) and Tindal.

Residents should be prepared for possible power outages during the flood.

Waste Management

The Katherine Waste Management Facility is currently closed to the public.

Katherine Town Council intends to resume wheelie bin kerbside collection for food waste only.

White goods, furniture and construction-related materials will be managed separately. Skip bins will be placed across impacted areas to support safe disposal of these items, with locations and dates to be confirmed.

Shelters

The following Katherine emergency shelters are open to public.

ShelterLocation
Katherine High School Grevillea Street, Katherine East
MacFarlane Primary School Grevillea Street, Katherine East
Casuarina Street Primary School Corner Casuarina Street and Needham Terrace, Katherine

It's important to know:

  • Shelters are not catered.
  • Bring at least 3 days of food and drinking water, medications and essential supplies.
  • No alcohol, no smoking and no cooking allowed.
  • Bring your own bedding.
  • Do not bring your pets. Leave your pets at home with food and water. Do not tie them up at home.

Where residents do not have access to essential supplies, and cannot access essential supplies from family and friends, the Welfare Group is onsite to assist.

Financial assistance

Disaster assistance has been activated for residents within the Katherine Town Council area following an Emergency Situation declaration and major flooding that has impacted the town.

Heavy rainfall across the region caused the Katherine River to rise above the 2006 flood level, inundating parts of the town, disrupting essential services and forcing residents from their homes.

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

Residents whose homes have been directly impacted may be eligible for Category A Personal Hardship Assistance and Re-establishment Measures.

  • Initial payments are being made to residents whose houses have been inundated 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.

    Eligibility assessment and application process are currently being finalised.

  • 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.

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

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

  • Eligible flood-affected residents in the Katherine Town Council area may receive up to $1,160 per family in means-tested temporary accommodation assistance to help cover the cost of short-term accommodation while they are unable to return home.

Schools and government offices

Schools and government offices in Katherine remain closed.

The following government schools in Katherine are closed from Monday 9 March:

  • Casuarina Street Primary School
  • Clyde Fenton Primary School
  • Katherine High School, including Katherine Flexible Learning Centre
  • Katherine School of the Air
  • Katherine South Primary School
  • Kintore Street School
  • MacFarlane Primary School

The following remote schools across the Big Rivers region are closed from Monday 9 March:

  • Jilkminggan School
  • Mataranka School
  • Nganmarriyanga School - read more about Palumpa
  • Woolianna School - read more about Daly River
  • Wugularr School.

Road update

Stuart Highway update

The Stuart Highway remains CLOSED both north and south of Katherine - between the Pine Creek turn‑off and Emungalan Road, and between the Katherine weighbridge and Central Arnhem Road.

Reopening the highway is a priority, but first crews need to assess the condition of the road and bridges to ensure it is safe for travel. Engineer teams are assessing the Katherine River Bridge and other areas this morning.

Katherine roads updates

Katherine main street remains closed. Detours are in place for local traffic in the CBD.

All levees have been removed. Stuart Highway northbound lane remains closed due to required repair works.

Chambers Drive is open.

The Bicentennial Loop Road is open.

To help keep traffic flowing:

  • If you are travelling from Katherine East to the CBD, please use Bicentennial Loop Road.
  • If you are travelling from the CBD to Katherine East, please use Chambers Drive.

Road users are asked to comply with all traffic management and signage.

Stay updated with the latest advice from SecureNT and the Road Report NT website.

Power and Water

Major flooding has caused extensive disruption to Power and Water services in Katherine and several remote communities.

Restoration begins with large and critical infrastructure repaired first, followed by smaller infrastructure, then individual homes. This means the largest number of people are safely reconnected in the shortest time possible.

If your property has water damage, the service line to your home has come loose or the connection point where the service line joins your property is damaged, you must contact an NT-licensed electrician to check your wiring before Power and Water can reconnect your power.

They will lodge a Certificate of Compliance, which lets crews know your property is safe to reconnect.

You can find further information about service connections and the regulations around compliance PowerWater website.

Boil water alert

Heavy rainfall and flooding in the area may have impacted the water supply system.

The Department of Health has issued a Boil Water Alert for the communities of:

  • Katherine
  • Wugularr (Beswick)
  • Tindal.

Use cooled boiled water or bottled water for:

  • drinking
  • preparing food
  • preparing baby formula
  • brushing teeth.

Medical care in Katherine

NT Health has established a mini Emergency Department at the St John Ambulance headquarters in Katherine located at:

Lot 3159 Chardon Street
Katherine
08 8972 8500

Anyone experiencing a health emergency needs to Call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

For other health related enquiries, contact Health Direct on 1800 022 222.

Katherine District Hospital

All patients from Katherine Hospital have been evacuated to Darwin.

Family and friends of evacuated patients are required to remain in Katherine at a safe place as the Stuart Highway is closed due to flooding on either side of the Katherine township and it is not safe to travel.

NT Health staff will keep you informed of your loved one’s condition and will keep you updated of any changes.

Individuals residing in staff accommodation at the Katherine Hospital precinct have been told to leave the area and go to a safe place.

Staff have emergency plans throughout the wet season and are well placed to make these arrangements.

Plans are in place accommodate and inform locum staff and their agencies about potential flood impacts and to make alternative arrangements.

Sandbags in Katherine

NT Emergency Service crews in Katherine have sandbags for residents to protect their homes and businesses during the flooding.

You can pick up sandbags from 14 Chardon Street, Katherine.

If community members require sandbags, you can attend NTES Katherine or call 132 500.

Page last updated 11 March 2026

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