Concerns have been raised about residents being returned to the flood-hit remote Northern Territory community of Nganmarriyanga (Palumpa) despite fears over water quality, medical care, power supply and housing.

Thomas Mayo, a Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander activist, told National Indigenous Times on Sunday evacuated residents accommodated at a local Batchelor Institute campus since the floods had raised their concerns "over the past 36 hours".

"They were evacuated and taken to Batchelor, which is normally a tertiary education campus, and it's been transformed into what's very similar to a detention centre... A number of people have been denied access to even go into the facility to talk to and check on community and maintain relationships," he said.

"But then all of a sudden, people were told that they would be returning home. But there is conflicting advice amongst Northern Territory Government agencies, so my understanding is that NT health has said that it's not safe to return, and people there are still on a boil water notice."

Mr Mayo, who is also assistant national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, said the power supply situation in the community is "very unstable", making it difficult to ensure the tap water is safe to drink.

"People operate on power cards, but there's no store at the moment functioning in that community. To be able to access the power cards, people need a device and internet. Internet is notoriously unstable in that area, and they also would need money," he said.

Mr Mayo noted there had been delays and payments partially withheld from residents.

"If people don't have power at these homes that they're going back to, they're obviously not going to be able to boil the water," he said.

"The food security is a massive issue, with no shop available. And also, people have still been charged rent... So, the time that they've spent in Darwin and their houses have been uninhabitable, the government is still charging them rent."

More than 260 residents were evacuated after flooding inundated homes and critical infrastructure, with around 210 people supported in temporary accommodation during the emergency response.

National Indigenous Times understands flights to Nganmarriyanga (Palumpa) planned for Sunday saw about 30 people return, not the expected 120.

This publication also understands that of the 50 homes at Nganmarriyanga (Palumpa), 19 have been returned to being fit for habitation with another six expected to be ready by Tuesday - leaving a significant shortfall of available housing in the community.

Concerns have also been raised about the condition of the school and the medical clinic in the community, which is closed.

A sign on the clinic door reads:

"DANGER DO NOT ENTER

This building may:

have bad air from mould to make you very sick

be broken where you can't see

be dirty from toilet water

hide dangerous wildlife"

Mr Mayo told National Indigenous Times that while there are people keen to get home because of the "detention style situation" at the Batchelor campus, "many older people in particular, many across the board, but older people in particular, are really worried about the safety and because the clinic is also closed".

"The store and the clinic are both not operating, and there's huge risk after this type of weather event for things like melioidosis... It's very prevalent in the Northern Territory and it affects Aboriginal people disproportionately. There are also all of the harmful things that can come from contaminated drinking water and the risk to being in a remote community that has no medical services," he said.

On Thursday the NT Government announced 29 residents had returned, the first group to do so.

"Key supports are already in place, including food, water and essential supplies delivered three times per week, a pop-up school for children, and a temporary first aid facility supported by onsite ambulance services," the government said in its statement.

"Medically vulnerable residents will not return at this stage and will continue to be supported in appropriate accommodation."

NT Minister for Children and Families, Robyn Cahill said the return home reflected the "significant progress" made in recovery efforts on the ground.

"We've seen a huge whole-of-government effort to restore homes and make it safe for people to return. After weeks away, seeing people step off the plane back onto their community is something really special. We will continue working alongside community to support recovery going forward," she said.

National Indigenous Times has contacted the Northern Territory Government for further comment.