In early 2020, the Northern Territory (NT) Government, in collaboration with the Power and Water Corporation, recognised the urgent need to address long-term water supply and demand challenges in Darwin.
These issues were exacerbated by population growth and climate change. To tackle these challenges, PwC was engaged to develop a Detailed Business Case (DBC) aimed at investigating and evaluating potential water supply augmentations and interventions to meet future demands across industrial, agricultural, horticultural, and urban sectors.
DCWC was pleased to provide cost estimation services for the Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) business case prepared for PwC. The business case proposed two key initiatives: the AROWS project and the Manton Dam Return to Service (RTS) project. These initiatives were identified as the most effective solutions to ensure water security for the Darwin region amid growing concerns about water supply. Once fully operational, both the AROWS and Manton Dam RTS projects are projected to deliver 67 billion liters of water annually to the Darwin region, with an estimated construction cost of $1.45 billion. If approved, the projects could take seven to ten years to complete. This timeline encompasses the development of a water allocation plan for the Adelaide River, conducting environmental impact assessments, and engaging with landholders.
The proposed site for the AROWS project is located approximately 5km north of Lake Bennett, adjacent to the Adelaide River on Wulna Country. Before the NT Government finalise any funding or delivery commitments for the AROWS project, a comprehensive planning and approvals phase is currently underway. This phase, expected to last three to four years, will involve community engagement, detailed studies, and collaboration with regulatory bodies to ensure strict adherence to environmental conditions. This initiative will represent the largest public infrastructure undertaking in the Territory in many years.
Video source: NT Water Security
Image source: Shutterstock
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