Water
Water is essential to life and is one of Australia’s most valuable natural resources. It is a finite and fragile resource subject to a complex range of needs and demands ranging from supporting an increasing population to sustaining ecosystem health and biodiversity.
The Northern Territory’s water resources are generally considered to be under relatively little pressure due to a comparatively small population base and low intensity of land use. This, however, is changing, and as the rest of Australia is experiencing immense pressure on its water resources, the largely intact water resources in the Northern Territory are increasingly becoming subject to higher demands.
To manage the Northern Territory’s water resources sustainably, the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts is responsible for its assessment, monitoring, management, planning, protection and sustainable utilisation.
