A significant investment by both the Federal and Northern Territory Government's has been welcomed by the Northern Land Council, with enhancing water infrastructure considered vital to help address extreme water insecurity in the NT.
The announcement last week, which will see an extra $53.1 million invested in water security projects across the Territory, will include infrastructure upgrades in Maningrida and Yirrkala, assessments in Gunyangara, and planning and investigation work to identify new water sources in Numbulwar.
The Northern Land Council (NLC) which covers the northern mainland of the NT, and encompasses most of the Indigenous population in the Territory, has, along with all the other land councils, long emphasised the need for Aboriginal people to be consulted regarding the prioritising of essential service upgrades in their own communities.
The NLC drove this point home last week when chair Matthew Ryan welcomed the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney, as well as Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour, to meet with the council's 83 members.
Mr Ryan said the water announcement was a positive step, as the works in Maningrida, Yirrkala, Gunyangara and Numbulwar were all urgently needed.
However, a significant amount of work remained, with the NLC prepared to work with both the Federal and Territory government to make this a reality.
"There is still a long way to go to ensuring Aboriginal people have access to the same standards of essential services that non-Aboriginal people have in this country," he said.
"We've had enough of a top-down approach. The government needs to listen to Aboriginal communities if it wants to improve local water, power, and sewerage services."
The NLC agreed, arguing the investment was welcome, but a significantly larger investment was needed to help close the gap in living standards for Indigenous people in the region.
"Despite this progress, the NLC maintains that Closing the Gap - with regards to reaching parity in essential services - is best directed by Aboriginal people," a statement said.
"To meet these targets, more substantial investments totalling into the hundreds-of-millions are required."
The NT government has invested heavily in water infrastructure and supply, arguing it helps create economic and community benefits, as well as offering financial outcomes via tourism and economic development.
Minister for Essential Services, Kate Worden said last week: "Providing secure and reliable water supply to these regional and remote will improve the quality of life for many Aboriginal Territorians".
However, contention remains in some areas over the way water in the Territory is allocated and handled.
The Central Land Council recently appealed a decision by the NT Supreme Court to dismiss a legal challenge to a controversial water licence at Singleton Station, arguing it would see up to 40 gigalitres per year given away for free to irrigate a large fruit farm in the desert terrain of Central Australia.
