Evacuees move to Batchelor
Flood-affected residents from Palumpa, Naiuyu and Daly River are transitioning to short-term accommodation in Batchelor, supporting recovery with safer, more sustainable living arrangements.
We’re supporting flood-affected residents from Palumpa, Naiuyu and Daly River to move to short-term accommodation in Batchelor this weekend and early next week.
Through the Welfare Functional Group, we are establishing 2 sites in Batchelor to support the transition. Residents from Palumpa are relocating from Marrara Indoor Stadium, while residents from Naiuyu and Daly River will move from Foskey Pavilion.
The new sites at Batchelor Outdoor Education Centre and Batchelor Institute Indigenous Tertiary Education will provide a more stable environment for families who have spent the past two weeks in evacuation centres.
This next step supports families to return to more normal daily routines, with access to kitchens, laundry facilities, education and health services.
We have worked closely with local council to coordinate the move and with community Elders to ensure family groupings and cultural considerations are respected, and to make sure each site supports community wellbeing.
We are also working with key partners, including Australian Red Cross, to support families as they settle into these new accommodation arrangements. Staff and volunteers will be onsite around the clock to provide practical support and a reassuring presence.
This has been a difficult and uncertain time for many families. For some, this is their second evacuation in recent months, and we are committed to supporting them every step of the way.
This move is part of the largest Welfare Functional Group response in the Northern Territory’s history. Alongside managing evacuation centres, we are also processing thousands of disaster relief payments across the Territory.
Across the Northern Territory, we continue to operate multiple evacuation and support sites, including Batchelor, Mataranka, Beswick and Nhulunbuy, with additional centres established in Darwin for Numbulwar residents ahead of Cyclone Narelle, and centres on standby in Katherine if required.
Around 500 evacuees are expected to stay in Batchelor for up to 2 months while flood waters recede and damage assessments are completed.
We thank the affected communities for their strength, and the many staff, volunteers and partners supporting this response. We also thank the Batchelor community for their understanding and support.
For more information about disaster support, visit: SecureNT
