March 5, 2026 • 8 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now I'm very pleased to say that joining us live
on the line is the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory,
Leo Finocchio. Good morning to your Chief Minister.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning Katie, and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Now, all eyes on Catherine and the surrounds this morning.
We know that we're expecting a heck of a lot
of rain over the next twenty four to forty eight hours.
What do you know at this point, Chief.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yeah, there certainly has been a lot of rain and
TEMPSI has meant and will be making a recommendation to
me shortly to be closing Catherine High School, McFarlane High
School and Casarina Street Primary schools. We will be asking
parents to come and pick up your kids at around
lunchtime and that will allow us to then turn those
(00:44):
facilities into emergency spaces for people who might need it
over the coming hours. But we are expecting the river
to come up to seventeen point five meters at about
two pm today.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Right, so at about midday today, the schools going to
be closing. The public schools are going to be closing.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
That's correct, and so communications will come out to families.
This is probably the first they've heard of it, Katie,
as I'll be signing that emergency declaration very shortly, and
that will be for an area just south of Bachelor
right through to that big river zone and Catherine, and
let's not forget Beswick as well, and we've been anticipating
(01:24):
this rain for a long time. I want to reassure
territories that our emergency services personnel and police have been
watching this extremely closely, and we've had police in Beswick
prior to them being cut off to make sure that
we've got the right support and resources on the ground.
So things will certainly ramp up today with a lot
(01:44):
more communication to the public, and I just ask everyone
to start to enact their emergency plans if they're in
those impacted areas, and be watching for Secure and Tea
for updates. There will be a press conference at eleven
fifteen are as well, Katie.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
To finistere In terms of that river level being at
seventeen point five meters, I think you said, how does
that sort of compare to previous flooding that we've seen
around Catherine.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, it is substantial and it might not stop at
seventeen point five if it continues to rain. In surrounding areas.
Then the catchment will all flow into the Catherine River
and so it could even peak to eighteen point five
late this afternoon early evening. So we're watching that very closely,
and of course we'll provide accurate information on secure and tea.
(02:34):
But people do need to start thinking about, you know,
do they have water, do they have food, what is
the plan for their pets? You know, they're important documents
things like that. It's not a time to panic. Our
emergency services are very well prepared and for example, later
in Catherine late this afternoon, the community can go to
the Ntes yard at fourteen Chardon Street to be able
(02:57):
to collect sandbags if that's something they would like for
their home or business. And lots of precautionary steps are
taking place, including evacuating thirty four patients from the Catherine Hospital.
We're just going through that process now to make sure
everyone's safe and we're well prepared.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
So Chief Minister, with those thirty four patients that are
going to be evacuated from the Catherine Hospital, are they
going to be airlifted to Darwin.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
It just depends. We actually have the Stuart Highway cut
off at the moment between Amongolan and Pine Creek, so
there won't be any road travel to Darwin, but we
do have other hospitals across the territory and so our
amazing health staff are working through who's safe enough to
be supported at home, who will go to our other hospitals,
(03:41):
and then how we get them there, And that again
is precautionary, just to give comfort to people that all
the right measures are happening at the right time.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I mean, I know the Catherine community are an incredibly
resilient bunch. They are tough as nails, I reckon, you'd
have to say, and are prepared for anything. But it's
so it could get a bit hairy over the next
twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
They are really resilient and unfortunately flood is no stranger
to people in that Catherine and Big Rivers region. But
it's not a time for complacency either, and it's fantastic
that the community, you know, this is a well worn
path for them. As I said, unfortunately, but we need
to just be keeping abreast of the current information, watching
those flood levels and taking the right action at the
(04:26):
right time. But of course all of us are thinking
of everyone impacted, and you know Daily River again will
be impacted, if not today, tomorrow, So there's a lot
of eyes watching all of the flow on impacts from
the weather EVM.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Chief finished, is it possible that the residents of the
Daily may need to be evacuated over coming days, same
as beeswek some of those communities. What are you thinking
at the points?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yes, well, we'll have a more update on that later
this afternoon, but it very well could happen, Katie. And
again we're in a good position to be able to
support people to evacuate should we need to. But again,
I just want to reinforce calm. It's about enacting your
emergency plans, staying very close to the most up to
date official information, and I really can't stress that enough.
(05:16):
You know, it is a time of stress for a
lot of people, and a lot of misinformation can spread
very quickly, so stay very close to official channels and
heed the warnings. Obviously, if it's flooded, forget it. You know,
just all of the really sensible behavior needs to happen.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Now, Chief Finiessa, are you able to just repeat for us,
because I know that some people may have just heard
a little bit of what you said about the schools
in Catherine. Can you just repeat for us the schools
that are going to be closing at midday to day
and then what will happen with those schools in terms
of being you know, locations where people can evacuate too
if they need to.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Yeah, happy to Katie. So TENSEI has recommended that I
Catherine High School, McFarlane School and Casuarina Street Primary schools,
and so I will sign that very shortly by lunchtime.
It would be wonderful if parents and cares could come
and collect all of their children from those three schools.
It will then give emergency services and other officials the
(06:19):
opportunity to convert that very quickly into an emergency shelter
should we need it, and of course them providing a
place of respite for the community as we get more
information on the flood levels as they rise over the afternoon.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Chief finished, I know you're incredibly busy this morning. Just
very quickly, do we know if there's been any injuries,
any rescues, anything like that that the police or emergency
services have had to perform in the Katherine region today.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So far everyone has been amazing. I am aware of
one vehicle that was caught up in some floodwater nar
Edith Falls turn off and some people went to try
and rescue them. But no one is injured, as my understanding,
which is terrific news. But we need everyone just really
being very sensible and not trying to cross floodwaters, you
(07:09):
know it just we need all our emergency services really
focused on supporting the communities impacted, and we want to
just make sure everyone gets through this safely and sensibly.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Absolutely, Chief, before I let you go, all eyes on, Catherine,
all eyes you know on the daily and those communities
as well. But what are we thinking for us up
here in Darwin? Is it looking as though we're just
going to get a lot of rain but things will
be fairly calm.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, we are going to get a lot of rain,
and so you know, look, Darwin's not on my radar
in terms of any problems coming through, and if that changes,
of course we'll let people know. But again, everyone just
needs to be sensible, driving to the conditions, not crossing floodwaters.
I was at a school assembly this morning, Katie, and
(07:56):
I made sure I told all the kids, you know,
no swimming in pipes. And it might look fun, but
it's incredibly dangerous with devastating impacts, so it's just about
being sensible and everyone having what they need in order.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaro really really appreciate you having a
quick chat with us this morning to let the residents
of Catherine know what's going on and keep us up
to date with what is unfolding with this wet weather.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Thank you and thank you for the opportunity, and stay
tuned to all the updates if you're in those affected areas,
and take care and stay safe.
Now I'm very pleased to say that joining us live
on the line is the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory,
Leo Finocchio. Good morning to your Chief Minister.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning Katie, and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Now, all eyes on Catherine and the surrounds this morning.
We know that we're expecting a heck of a lot
of rain over the next twenty four to forty eight hours.
What do you know at this point, Chief.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yeah, there certainly has been a lot of rain and
TEMPSI has meant and will be making a recommendation to
me shortly to be closing Catherine High School, McFarlane High
School and Casarina Street Primary schools. We will be asking
parents to come and pick up your kids at around
lunchtime and that will allow us to then turn those
(00:44):
facilities into emergency spaces for people who might need it
over the coming hours. But we are expecting the river
to come up to seventeen point five meters at about
two pm today.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Right, so at about midday today, the schools going to
be closing. The public schools are going to be closing.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
That's correct, and so communications will come out to families.
This is probably the first they've heard of it, Katie,
as I'll be signing that emergency declaration very shortly, and
that will be for an area just south of Bachelor
right through to that big river zone and Catherine, and
let's not forget Beswick as well, and we've been anticipating
(01:24):
this rain for a long time. I want to reassure
territories that our emergency services personnel and police have been
watching this extremely closely, and we've had police in Beswick
prior to them being cut off to make sure that
we've got the right support and resources on the ground.
So things will certainly ramp up today with a lot
(01:44):
more communication to the public, and I just ask everyone
to start to enact their emergency plans if they're in
those impacted areas, and be watching for Secure and Tea
for updates. There will be a press conference at eleven
fifteen are as well, Katie.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
To finistere In terms of that river level being at
seventeen point five meters, I think you said, how does
that sort of compare to previous flooding that we've seen
around Catherine.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, it is substantial and it might not stop at
seventeen point five if it continues to rain. In surrounding areas.
Then the catchment will all flow into the Catherine River
and so it could even peak to eighteen point five
late this afternoon early evening. So we're watching that very closely,
and of course we'll provide accurate information on secure and tea.
(02:34):
But people do need to start thinking about, you know,
do they have water, do they have food, what is
the plan for their pets? You know, they're important documents
things like that. It's not a time to panic. Our
emergency services are very well prepared and for example, later
in Catherine late this afternoon, the community can go to
the Ntes yard at fourteen Chardon Street to be able
(02:57):
to collect sandbags if that's something they would like for
their home or business. And lots of precautionary steps are
taking place, including evacuating thirty four patients from the Catherine Hospital.
We're just going through that process now to make sure
everyone's safe and we're well prepared.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
So Chief Minister, with those thirty four patients that are
going to be evacuated from the Catherine Hospital, are they
going to be airlifted to Darwin.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
It just depends. We actually have the Stuart Highway cut
off at the moment between Amongolan and Pine Creek, so
there won't be any road travel to Darwin, but we
do have other hospitals across the territory and so our
amazing health staff are working through who's safe enough to
be supported at home, who will go to our other hospitals,
(03:41):
and then how we get them there, And that again
is precautionary, just to give comfort to people that all
the right measures are happening at the right time.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I mean, I know the Catherine community are an incredibly
resilient bunch. They are tough as nails, I reckon, you'd
have to say, and are prepared for anything. But it's
so it could get a bit hairy over the next
twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
They are really resilient and unfortunately flood is no stranger
to people in that Catherine and Big Rivers region. But
it's not a time for complacency either, and it's fantastic
that the community, you know, this is a well worn
path for them. As I said, unfortunately, but we need
to just be keeping abreast of the current information, watching
those flood levels and taking the right action at the
(04:26):
right time. But of course all of us are thinking
of everyone impacted, and you know Daily River again will
be impacted, if not today, tomorrow, So there's a lot
of eyes watching all of the flow on impacts from
the weather EVM.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Chief finished, is it possible that the residents of the
Daily may need to be evacuated over coming days, same
as beeswek some of those communities. What are you thinking
at the points?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yes, well, we'll have a more update on that later
this afternoon, but it very well could happen, Katie. And
again we're in a good position to be able to
support people to evacuate should we need to. But again,
I just want to reinforce calm. It's about enacting your
emergency plans, staying very close to the most up to
date official information, and I really can't stress that enough.
(05:16):
You know, it is a time of stress for a
lot of people, and a lot of misinformation can spread
very quickly, so stay very close to official channels and
heed the warnings. Obviously, if it's flooded, forget it. You know,
just all of the really sensible behavior needs to happen.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Now, Chief Finiessa, are you able to just repeat for us,
because I know that some people may have just heard
a little bit of what you said about the schools
in Catherine. Can you just repeat for us the schools
that are going to be closing at midday to day
and then what will happen with those schools in terms
of being you know, locations where people can evacuate too
if they need to.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Yeah, happy to Katie. So TENSEI has recommended that I
Catherine High School, McFarlane School and Casuarina Street Primary schools,
and so I will sign that very shortly by lunchtime.
It would be wonderful if parents and cares could come
and collect all of their children from those three schools.
It will then give emergency services and other officials the
(06:19):
opportunity to convert that very quickly into an emergency shelter
should we need it, and of course them providing a
place of respite for the community as we get more
information on the flood levels as they rise over the afternoon.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Chief finished, I know you're incredibly busy this morning. Just
very quickly, do we know if there's been any injuries,
any rescues, anything like that that the police or emergency
services have had to perform in the Katherine region today.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So far everyone has been amazing. I am aware of
one vehicle that was caught up in some floodwater nar
Edith Falls turn off and some people went to try
and rescue them. But no one is injured, as my understanding,
which is terrific news. But we need everyone just really
being very sensible and not trying to cross floodwaters, you
(07:09):
know it just we need all our emergency services really
focused on supporting the communities impacted, and we want to
just make sure everyone gets through this safely and sensibly.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Absolutely, Chief, before I let you go, all eyes on, Catherine,
all eyes you know on the daily and those communities
as well. But what are we thinking for us up
here in Darwin? Is it looking as though we're just
going to get a lot of rain but things will
be fairly calm.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, we are going to get a lot of rain,
and so you know, look, Darwin's not on my radar
in terms of any problems coming through, and if that changes,
of course we'll let people know. But again, everyone just
needs to be sensible, driving to the conditions, not crossing floodwaters.
I was at a school assembly this morning, Katie, and
(07:56):
I made sure I told all the kids, you know,
no swimming in pipes. And it might look fun, but
it's incredibly dangerous with devastating impacts, so it's just about
being sensible and everyone having what they need in order.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaro really really appreciate you having a
quick chat with us this morning to let the residents
of Catherine know what's going on and keep us up
to date with what is unfolding with this wet weather.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Thank you and thank you for the opportunity, and stay
tuned to all the updates if you're in those affected areas,
and take care and stay safe.
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