EVALUATION COMPLETE
Investment in diverse and climate-resilient water sources to maintain urban water security across Australia is a national priority. Darwin’s existing water supply sources are currently operating at maximum capacity, with the demand for water expected to exceed the greater Darwin region’s water supply by 2031. The proposal will improve redundancy and enable growth and economic development in the Darwin region over the long-term. The proposal aligns with objectives of the updated National Water Agreement to ensure water planning is risk-based and adaptive to respond to increasing demand and climate variability and maintain urban water security.
PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION
The Darwin Region Water Supply program involves two key components with upgrades to existing infrastructure and additional water infrastructure:
- Returning Manton Dam to service – increasing water supply for the short term (from 2025-2027)
- The Adelaide River Off-stream Water Storage (AROWS) scheme – increasing medium to long term water supply.
INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATION
The Australian Government should consider prioritising the proposal for planning investment, supporting detailed planning activities to investigate the AROWS scheme.
The Australian Government has committed $300.6 million through the National Water Grid Fund to Darwin Region Water Supply Program Stage 1, returning the Manton Dam to service.
OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES
This proposal has the potential to:
- Support water security – increasing water supply in urban and rural areas would support long-term water security for the greater Darwin region.
- Support the renewable energy transition – improved water supply would support the development of industrial activities, including critical minerals and hydrogen, supporting Australia’s transition to a net zero economy.
- Support productivity – secure and reliable water supply would enable growth in industrial and agricultural water demand, supporting broader economic growth and development in the Northern Territory.
- Support liveability – improving Darwin’s water supply to meet the needs of a growing population would improve the city’s current and future liveability.
NEXT STEPS
Proponent to develop a Final Business Case (Stage 3 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework) for AROWS, including:
- confirming demand and revenue profiles for both residential and industrial users
- advancing design development
- undertaking detailed cost and risk activities, and environmental impact assessment
- undertaking constructability reviews and geotechnical surveys.
