Darlngunaya Community into second day with no water supply

Feb 5 2024. https://nit.com.au/05-02-2024/9630/breaking-darlngunaya-community-into-second-day-with-no-water-supply

A remote Indigenous community in the Fitzroy Valley, in WA’s far north, has gone into day two of having no water supply, locals say.

Resident Natalie Davey said on Monday that the situation had been reported to Department of Communities.

In November last year Ms Davey and others reported that their community continued to have water supply problems after they returned home, having been evacuated to temporary accommodation after the major floods in January.

This week the problems came to a head, with no running water for two days – and counting.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the maximum temperature in Darlngunaya is expected to reach 40 C on Monday.

Because of a historical loophole in the land tenure, Darlngunaya is classified as self-managing its water, which means the state government has avoided responsibility for water issues.

National Indigenous Times contacted the WA Department of Water, WA Water Corporation and WA Department of Communities for comment.

Communities advised National Indigenous Times that responsibility for water and power in remote communities was transferred to Water Corporation and Horizon Power as of June last year.