Since the all-clear was announced on Saturday 17 March 2018, hundreds of personnel from government and non-government agencies and volunteers have worked around the clock to re-establish service delivery across the greater Darwin region.
Operating under difficult conditions, Power and Water deployed 29 crews (including crews from Katherine, Alice Springs) and contractor crews including two from interstate to re-connect the community as quickly and as safely as possible.
Over 26,000 customers who subsequently lost power, less than 20 remain without electricity due to issues with their individual connection between the power pole and their home. These households will be reconnected once a qualified electrician has issued a Certificate of Compliance and Power and Water crews can reconnect safely. Residents who still don’t have power but neighbours do, are urged to check the letter box for a connection card or contact Power and Water on 1800 245 092.
More than 400 ground and operations centre responders from Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield councils have been deployed daily to concentrate on making their respective communities safe and clear of debris.
To date, upwards of 50,000 cubic metres of green waste has been collected and disposed of by government and council personnel over the last two weeks, some of which was collected in the 110 skip bins placed around the areas of highest impact and filled by residents. This would not have been possible without the assistance of more than 800 military personnel who were deployed on a daily basis.
The impact Cyclone Marcus has had on people is relatively high, and Territory Families has had 60 outreach personnel working in the community on a daily basis, with a further 40 staff manning the Recovery Hotline phones.
The recovery effort has progressed exceptionally well, however full restoration and clean-up operations will take at least another six weeks to complete. Many of those involved in the recovery process are taking a well-earned break this weekend to remove debris and make safe their own homes and will resume the ongoing clean-up effort next week.
Easter weekend green-waste disposal
From this afternoon, the 110 skip bins will be relocated to new sites across the northern suburbs, where they will remain until Tuesday morning. Please ensure only green waste is placed into the bins. No household rubbish or construction material please.
Green waste bin locations:
Alawa
Jingili
Leanyer
Nakara
Tiwi
Wanguri
Media contact - 0447 041 722
Additional recovery information
Welfare Recovery Centres and Immediate Relief Payments
The Anula and Coolalinga Welfare Recovery Centres will cease operations at 5pm today. Immediate Relief Payment applications for eligible households can be submitted by downloading the form from SecureNT and emailing to TF.welfareassessment@nt.gov.au. Applications close at the end of April.
The Recovery Assistance hotline will be closed between 8.00pm today until 8am Tuesday 3 April when normal operating hours from 8am to 8pm daily resume.
Please note the Immediate Relief Payment of $250 is being processed as a priority at this stage with the additional $400 being processed automatically.
Health and Safety
A meliodosis alert remains current. It is recommended that protective clothing is worn when outside, including masks if using high pressure cleaners.
While out and about over the long weekend, please take care on the roads and remember that normal wet season rainfall can cause flash flooding. Roads have been cleared and made safe.
People are reminded to exercise caution in suburban streets where many footpaths are blocked, forcing pedestrians and cyclist to use the roadways.
Boating Safety
Be safe on the water, go to the Dinah Beach Boat ramp 31 March 2018, for a free boat safety check ahead of the Easter break, and go into the draw to win a $500 boating accessories voucher. It’s important for all operators to familiarise themselves with safety equipment requirements and ensure that all equipment is in good condition, complies with regulations and is readily available when needed.
Do not put yourself and others at risk by operating a boat in an unsafe manner. Plan ahead, make sure you check the tides and road closures; you can check road closures across the Territory at roadreport.nt.gov.au.
Please also be on the lookout for floating and submerged debris, whether out on the ocean or up a creek as debris may become dislodged with tidal movements.
Military personnel
Members of the Australian Defence Force and the US Marines have been helping with the clean-up efforts and on behalf of the community, we extend our thanks. Without their assistance, it would not have been possible to clean-up the greater Darwin region so quickly.