Flood-affected residents from Palumpa, Naiuyu and Daly River will begin transitioning to alternative accommodation in Batchelor this weekend and early next week, providing safer, more sustainable living arrangements as flood recovery continues.
The Department of Children and Families, through the Welfare Functional Group, is establishing 2 separate sites in Batchelor to support the move, with Palumpa residents relocating from Marrara Indoor Stadium from today, and Naiuyu and Daly River residents moving from Foskey Pavilion from Monday.
Department of Children and Families CEO Brent Warren said the transition marks an important step forward for communities who have already spent weeks in evacuation centres.
"Over the past 2 weeks, families have been living in evacuation centres under very challenging circumstances, while dealing with the impact of flooding on their homes and communities," Mr Warren said.
"This move to Batchelor provides a more stable, comfortable and culturally appropriate environment, with access to essential services and the ability for families to live more independently while they recover."
The Batchelor Outdoor Education Centre and Batchelor Institute Indigenous Tertiary Education sites are being prepared to support alternative accommodation, including access to kitchens, laundry facilities, education and health services.
"These arrangements mean families can cook their own meals, maintain daily routines, and have greater privacy and autonomy, while still receiving the support they need," Mr Warren said.
Deputy Welfare Group Lead Seranie Gamble, coordinating the relocation, said the transition has been carefully planned with both evacuee communities and the Batchelor community in mind.
"We've been working closely with community Elders to ensure family groupings and cultural considerations are respected, and that each site is set up in a way that supports community wellbeing," they said.
"Safety is our priority - for evacuees, staff and the local community. Both sites will have 24/7 Welfare Group staff and volunteers, private security, and restrictions in place including no alcohol, consistent with all evacuation centres."
Australian Red Cross Director for the Northern Territory, William Daw said volunteers and staff would be on the ground supporting evacuees as part of the Welfare Functional Group.
"Our teams are working alongside government and community partners to provide practical support and a reassuring presence for families as they settle into these new accommodation sites," they said.
"Many people have experienced significant disruption and distress, and we're focused on supporting their wellbeing, connection and recovery during this time."
The Welfare Functional Group is also working with key partners to ensure services in Batchelor can support the temporary increase in population.
"Additional health staff are being deployed, local clinics are ready to support evacuees, and contingency plans such as additional ambulance capacity are in place if needed," they said.
"We understand there may be concerns from the local community, and we want to reassure residents that this has been carefully planned with the safety, health and wellbeing of everyone in mind."
Education arrangements are also in place, with Families as First Teachers supporting early years children, and school-aged students attending Batchelor School, Adelaide River School, or on-site learning depending on their community.
For evacuees, the move comes after a difficult period.
"These families have been through a lot - living in large evacuation centres, away from home, while processing the impact of devastating flooding on their homes," Mr Warren said.
"For residents of Naiuyu, this is their second evacuation in recent months. We acknowledge how distressing this can be, and we are committed to supporting them every step of the way."
"This is the single largest Welfare Functional Group response in the Northern Territory's history," he said.
"In addition to managing evacuation centres, our teams are processing thousands of disaster relief payments across the Territory, placing significant demand on our staff and volunteers."
"We couldn't do this work without the strong partnerships across government and with organisations like Red Cross, and the strength of communities themselves, who continue to support each other during this difficult time."
"I encourage all Territorians to show compassion and care for the families affected as they continue their recovery."
Across the Northern Territory, the Welfare Functional Group is currently operating 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.
The Batchelor sites are expected to support evacuees for up to 2 months while planning continues for their safe return to community.
