Flood-weary town considers relocating after cyclone
By LLOYD JONES
An outback community flooded out by back-to-back weather systems could soon decide on relocating to higher ground amid fears they will be inundated again.
The Northern Territory community of Daly River, also known as Nauiyu, was moved to an emergency shelter at a Darwin Showgrounds pavilion in early March, only to be evacuated again two weeks after returning home.
The community of several hundred people has since been moved to quarters at an educational institute at Batchelor, south of Darwin, but it could be some time before they are allowed back to their homes.
They face a massive clean-up of houses that have been submerged for weeks, with everything inside ruined and needing to be thrown out, along with waterlogged cars left behind.
The Catholic Church has offered to donate land on higher ground to help the community rebuild.
Given the recent flooding of the Daly River by two storm systems, including ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle dropping huge quantities of rain on the catchment, there is no guarantee the town won’t be inundated again.
Rebuilding on higher ground would be a big planning and logistics operation involving the federal, NT and local governments.
More consultation needed
The Catholic Church is a big presence in Daly River and Bishop Charles Gauci has offered to donate church land on higher ground to rebuild on if the community so desires.
Federal MP for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, said more consultation was needed with the community about their needs and whether they wanted to be moved.
Federal MP Marion Scrymgour says moving the Daly River community would be a complex challenge. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
“Not everyone will want to leave their homes. That is an understandable human reaction,” she told AAP.
“We know our climate is changing and it’s not going to be enough to evacuate entire communities every wet season.”
Ms Scrymgour welcomed the bishop’s offer of land but said that was just one component in a complex decision.
Daly River has a Catholic church, convent, presbytery and school that were also impacted by the flooding.
Daly River has been battered by repeated storm systems and could face more inundation.
Bishop Gauci said whatever the community decided the church wanted to support them.
“If it means that they want to rebuild their town on our land, we are happy for them to do that,” he told AAP.
“I will not be holding onto the land, I will give it to them.”
Inspection crews are on the ground in Daly River, assessing flood damage ahead of restoring essential services such as electricity, water and sewerage.
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