Lands, Planning and Environment NT

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Please note this page is not monitored 24/7 and is for information purposes only.

The Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (DLPE) supports the Northern Territory’s economic development and protection of its natural and cultural assets through integrated planning, evidence-based advice and efficient regulation. Opinions posted by users of this page do not reflect those of the Northern Territory Government or the department. This page is administered by department staff to provide Territorians with information about Northern Territory Government and the department’s activities. We welcome feedback and ideas from all our followers, and try to join the conversation where possible. Monitoring and responding to the site will be undertaken during business hours only. Messages received through Facebook are not considered official correspondence. Official correspondence should be directed to [email protected]

When commenting on this page, we ask that you follow the below guidelines as failure to do so may result in your comment being deleted and/or the account being blocked from this page. Repeat failures to adhere to our guidelines will result in users being blocked from this page immediately. Page Guidelines

- This page is a tool to provide information and promote engagement

- Comments that are misleading or factually inaccurate, or do not clearly distinguish between statements of fact and statements of comment may be removed at our discretion

- Don’t be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, harassing, overtly sexual, discriminatory or hateful to another person, business or Government body - including us

- This is a SPAM FREE ZONE. Any unsolicited ads, links to other pages or repeated posts that are irrelevant to the purpose of the page will be deleted

- If posting on or tagging the department page, permission of the person posting the photo is implied in their posting of photographs. If a person’s photograph appears in a social media post and the person has not provided permission for their picture to be shown on the department’s social media channels, the person should private message the page to request the image be removed

- Please keep posts and comments relevant to the Northern Territory Government page and thread

- While we support open discussion, we reserve the right to delete comments at our discretion

- This page is not the forum to express your political views. The department’s page is a resource for the benefit of all Territorians and we ask that you respect its function. Employees of department are ineligible to enter competitions posted on this page. To get information and news from the department on Facebook, "like" this page.

28/10/2026

ASBESTOS EMU PICK UP - NIGHTCLIFF & RAPID CREEK BEACH

Asbestos Advice: The Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, in partnership with Parks and Wildlife, is undertaking a joint hand pick, also known as an ‘emu pick’, to collect asbestos-containing material (ACM) from Nightcliff Beach and Rapid Creek Beach from Monday 2 November to Friday 6 November 2025, between 8am and 4pm.

Contractors will be working in the area wearing Personal Protective Equipment. No danger to the public is anticipated and visitors to the beach can proceed as usual.

The presence of ACM in this locality is an historic legacy matter arising from the dumping of materials during World War II and Cyclone Tracy. On occasion ACM can dislodge from the cliff face and present in the area, as a result of tidal movements.

The Department has signage in place and undertakes periodic ‘emu picks’ to manage the ACM.

People who find ACM should not remove any material or search through old waste material.

For further information please contact 8999 6143 or email [email protected]

28/10/2026

Postmaster’s Residence – Have Your Say

The Heritage Council invites you to make a submission on the heritage significance of the Postmaster’s Residence, Alice Springs and whether it should be permanently declared a heritage place.
Built in 1932, the Postmasters Residence is of historical significance for its association with the establishment of Alice Springs as the principal administrative and communications centre of Central Australia.

Constructed during a period when government functions were being consolidated within the township, the residence reflects the transfer of administrative, postal and telecommunications services from the Telegraph Station and the emergence of Alice Springs as the region's administrative centre.

To learn more about the Postmaster’s Residence and Have Your Say, go to Postmaster’s Residence, Alice Springs – inviting submissions on heritage significance and declaration | Have Your Say Northern Territory

23/10/2026

🌊 Darwin residents may have noticed a pungent or fishy smell around local beaches recently.

Dr Julia Fortune, Director of Ecosystem Management, says the smell is being caused by a naturally occurring bloom of Trichodesmium, a type of blue-green algae commonly found in tropical and subtropical waters.

Here's what you need to know:

📅 When did it start?
The current bloom was first observed offshore in late September and has remained visible throughout October. These blooms are a regular phenomenon during the build-up when ocean waters are warmer and calmer. The bloom is expected to subside as wet season conditions arrive.

📍 Where is it coming from?
The bloom did not originate in Darwin Harbour. Trichodesmium forms offshore in the Timor and Arafura seas when conditions are favourable, including warm water temperatures, high sunlight, low winds and available nutrients. Large tidal movements and winds can then transport blooms into Darwin Harbour and along the NT coastline.

🌏 Where is it being seen?
Nightcliff and Fannie Bay can be more affected as blooms accumulate in sheltered bays and inlets. Similar blooms occur across northern Australia, from the northwest shelf of Western Australia through to the east coast near Byron Bay, NSW.

👃 Why does it smell?
As the algae washes ashore and decomposes, it can produce a strong fishy or pungent odour.

🔬 Is this unusual?
The Department of Lands, Planning and Environment monitors water and sediment quality annually across Darwin Harbour. Trichodesmium is observed most years during the warmer build-up period, although the amount present can vary depending on offshore climate conditions. Some years the algal load may be low enough that it is not noticeable on local beaches.

⚠️ Can people and pets enter the water?
While Trichodesmium blooms are a natural part of marine ecosystems, direct contact with the bloom or decaying algae is not recommended. The algae itself can be a mild irritant, and dense decaying mats may harbour harmful bacteria. People and animals should avoid affected areas.

🎣 Is seafood safe to eat?
Shellfish and other seafood collected from areas affected by visible algae slicks should be avoided. Large decaying blooms can occasionally contribute to low oxygen levels in shallow waters and may result in localised fish kills. In Darwin Harbour, these effects are generally short-lived due to tidal flushing.

🌐 To find out more visit: https://ntepa.nt.gov.au/news/2019/what-the-blooming-heck-is-that

23/10/2026

We’re looking for someone to join the Gamba Action Program for the 2026/27 season. 🌱

Based primarily at the Freds Pass Reserve Distribution Centre, you’ll help support members of the community taking part in the program by distributing free herbicide, loaning spraying equipment and providing basic advice on managing gamba grass and other grassy w**ds.

The role also involves collecting participant information, helping coordinate herbicide and equipment, and supporting the day-to-day running of the program.

You’ll need to be comfortable working with people, using basic computer programs and undertaking some physical work in Darwin’s hot and humid conditions.

Please note: this is a casual job opportunity, and not a w**d spraying position.

Please view job description and apply online here: https://jobs.nt.gov.au/Home/JobDetails?rtfId=358976

Applications close: Wednesday 28 October

23/10/2026

Want to know when new development proposals are advertised in your area?

Stay informed about development proposals that matter to you.

Subscribe for email notifications through Planning Notices Online and receive updates straight to your inbox.
✅ Select the types of development applications you're interested in
✅ Choose the locations you want to follow by suburb or local government areas
✅ Be notified when new proposals are publicly exhibited
Stay connected and informed about development activity in your community.

🔗 Sign up today:

20/10/2026

Record wet season drives dry season river flows.

Water Resources recently completed a comprehensive two-week field program measuring end-of-dry-season river flows across the Katherine and Oolloo Water Allocation Plan areas.

Three Water Monitoring teams successfully carried out 30 flow measurements at sites spanning from Katherine to the Daly River Police Station, while also collecting water quality samples at key locations. The teams used Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) technology to accurately measure river flows and deployed the SurfBee, a fully autonomous remote-controlled survey boat, at locations where launching a standard vessel was not possible.

Early results indicate significantly higher dry-season base flows than typically observed, reflecting the region's record wet season and highlighting the strong connection between wet-season rainfall and dry-season river conditions.

The data collected through this monitoring program will contribute to Water Resources' ongoing understanding of river health, water availability and catchment conditions across the Daly region.

A big thank you to the Water Monitoring teams for their hard work, professionalism and commitment to safely delivering this important field program. Interested in exploring the data yourself? Visit the NT Water Data Portal: https://nt.gov.au/environment/water/water-in-the-nt/water-data-portal 💙🌏

12/10/2026

FREE Buffel Grass Control Guide

Looking for practical advice on managing buffel grass?

The Buffel Grass Control Guide is a comprehensive resource covering effective buffel grass identification, control and long-term management.

📖 Download a free copy using the link below
📞 Call 8951 9227 to request a hard copy
📧 Email: w**[email protected] for more information

Need help managing buffel grass? The W**d Management Branch can support you to manage buffel grass with:

✅ Management advice
✅ Free herbicide supply
✅ Spray equipment loans

🌿 Together, we can reduce the impacts of buffel grass and protect the Northern Territory's landscapes.

https://nt.gov.au/environment/w**ds/w**ds-in-the-nt/A-Z-list-of-w**ds-in-the-NT/buffel-grass

**dManagement **ds

07/10/2026

Network Outage Notice

We’re currently experiencing a major NTG network issue affecting phones, emails, and access to our server. This means our usual contact channels are unavailable.

We’ll provide an update and respond to messages as soon as services are restored. Thank you for your patience.

06/10/2026

💧 Out in the field at Jibera South!

Our Water Regulation team recently joined the Petroleum Regulation team for a site inspection, with petroleum well and water bore drilling underway.

The team inspected constructed bores and checked drilling work against permit requirements. Three production bores supply water to a holding tank for drilling, dust suppression and camp use.

📸 Spot the drilling rig behind the team in the group photo!

01/10/2026

📣 Planning Application Signage Update 📣

Following the recent announcement about changes to planning application signage, an implementation date has now been confirmed.

Planning applications commencing public exhibition on or after 9 October 2026 will use the new standard pink exhibition sign.

The new sign provides a consistent design across application types, includes a larger QR code linking directly to Planning Notices Online, and standardises key application information.

For more information visit https://nt.gov.au/property/land-planning-and-development/planning-applications-and-processes/development-application-advertising-requirements/signage-requirements-for-planning-applications

Address

18–20 Cavenagh Street
Darwin, NT
0830

Website

https://environment.nt.gov.au/homepage, https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmentnt/?viewAsMember=true

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