The federal government will provide more than $1 million to support the recovery of Daly River/Nauiyu after the community experienced its worst flooding on record earlier this year.
Residents were evacuated twice by air and boat during the same wet season as floodwaters caused significant damage to homes, community facilities and essential infrastructure.
The flooding left several important services unable to operate, with the new funding set to support locally led recovery work. Administered through the National Indigenous Australians Agency, it will be used to restore essential services, repair community facilities and create local employment opportunities, the government announced on Saturday.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the extent of the damage meant recovery would take time.
"The scale of damage experienced by the community has been immense. Homes, essential services and important community facilities were severely impacted, and recovery will take time," she said.
"These investments will support community-led recovery efforts, helping to restore critical community facilities, strengthen local services and rebuild places that bring people together."
The largest allocation of $450,000 will go to Green River Aboriginal Corporation for the Nauiyu Critical Services Recovery Project.
The project will fund repairs to the aged care facility and staff accommodation, Night Patrol accommodation, power infrastructure at Merrepen Arts Centre, sporting and recreation facilities, the Miriam Rose Foundation activity room and Green River staff accommodation.
Merrepen Arts and Miriam Rose Foundation Aboriginal Corporation will each receive $50,000 to replace equipment and resources damaged by the flooding.
Green River Aboriginal Corporation will also employ four Social and Emotional Wellbeing Officers, while Merrepen Arts will recruit six additional staff members.
A further $50,000 will be provided to the Catholic Education Office to replace educational assets damaged at St Francis Xavier Catholic School.
Nauiyu Nambiyu Aboriginal Corporation will receive $420,000 to establish a demountable kitchen, allowing food services to resume, as well as repair critical fuel infrastructure and flood-damaged accommodation at the Daly River Inn.
Victoria Daly Regional Council will receive $14,500 to restore Community Night Patrol services.
"Nauiyu is a strong and resilient community," Senator McCarthy said. "These projects will help ensure local people are supported not only in recovery but in building a stronger future."
Special Envoy for Remote Communities Marion Scrymgour said the community had shown resilience throughout the flooding and its aftermath.
"These investments will help restore essential services and facilities by supporting organisations to come up local solutions that work best for the community," she said.
"Importantly, these investments will create local jobs that will strengthen the community's economic recovery. We're backing Nauiyu to rebuild a stronger community that is capable of withstanding future devastating weather events."
