March 8, 2026 • 10 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Sarah here filling in for Katie Wolf this morning. She'll
be back on board tomorrow and it's myself and producer
Kathleen holding down the fort bringing you as many updates
as we can out of Catherine following a huge weekend.
So just a few moments ago, Kathleen did have a
chat with the Member for Catherine, Joe Heersey, to get
(00:24):
that update.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Authorities have begun assessments as floodwaters slowly received across Katherine
and the Big Rivers region. Joining us on the line
now is the Member for Catherine and Education Minister Joe Hersey.
Good morning, Minister, Good morning Kathleen, Good morning listeners. I mean,
it's your birthday today, so happy birthday. But what a
weekend it's been for the town of Catherine and the surrounds.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, what a weekend, and what a week it's been.
The extremely chyme but you know, we're extremely resilient here.
Everyone's just sort of getting on with things. The floodwaters
have receded considerably overnight and I think the river was
down to round about seventeen point two when I checked
(01:11):
earlier on So that's a good thing, and you know,
potentially it might just hold there for the next twenty
four to forty eight hours because we did have seventy
mil of rain overnight at Kyindle.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
How did it feel watching the rivers continue to rise
on Saturday morning, reaching that nineteen point two meters, which
is shy of that ninety eight level? I mean, did
you feel? And being a long term Catherine resident and
others that remember that time, was it a bit worrying
to see it continuing to increase?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Oh? Absolutely, And the fact that just six days ago
I had an operation. I'm very immobile at the moment.
It has been extremely trying and to watch that. I
got my son to take me for a drive it
was Saturday morning, just to go and have a look.
And even just in that hour and a half we
were out, the bridge ended up getting closed. We got
(02:09):
escorted back over to my daughters where I've been in
Catherine East here and the water was just yeah, my
husband stayed at home. It's been you know, for everyone
that's been through their third flood, and there's many of
us here in Catherine. It was pretty devastating on us.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Say, and around seven hundred people in evacuation centers, is
that right? So many many houses were inundated.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, that's correct. My understanding is there's maybe about five
hundred or so here in Katrin. Some of those other
numbers might take him because obviously, as well as Cathern
being flooded, we've also got juke Mengen which have been flooded.
We've got Palumpa, and we've also got Daily So there's
(02:56):
a bit going on with the weather in the territory
at the moment. But I went to the shelter yesterday
with the mayor and we spoke to a lot of
people there, a poor couple from the UK that was
stuck just here on holidays. But we're enjoying a bit
of downtime. But you know, everyone there was people from Kolano,
there was people from other areas in town that I've
(03:19):
known for a long time. Everyone was being well looked after.
The only thing that someone asked for was potentially extra
blankets or a bit more warmth over night. But everyone
was in good spirits and understanding of the emergency situation.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
And you mentioned obviously this being the third significant flood
for the town. I mean, the community really seemed to
band together. I was glued to Trent Dewit's social media
updates of you know, he was doing it Ali or
two Ali and giving some information and writing around the town,
obviously being contacted by others to go look at a
certain area to tell them what was going on. I mean,
(03:59):
has the key community really banded together and you know
now preparing once the waters do receive completely all pitching
in to help out.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Yeah, that's correct, and you know, a huge shout out
to Trent. Not only has he you know, I've run
him and asked for a couple of things to go
and check on because I haven't been over there as well.
He has been. His updates have been really good. I've
been updating what I can from you know, Catherine East
and due to my being incapacitated, but you know, Trent
(04:31):
has done a good job and it's been It's great
to see community come together in this way as we
do here in Catherine, but also just all of the
government agencies working together at the shelters. I want to
give a huge shout out to the education the teachers
here in Catherine from all of the schools that have
(04:53):
all gone to either McFarlane Catherine High School or Casuarina Street,
and you know some of those people are flood affected themselves.
I know at Casarina Street, you know, the principle and
the staff there, they've been affected and so you know,
whilst they're supporting others in the community, they still have
(05:14):
to go back at some stage and clean up their own.
But you know, Police Fire, Emergency Services, we've got the
ambulance station being as the emergency department. Everyone is doing
everything they can to continue on and support the community.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And it's been such an enormous logistical effort to even
evacuate those remote communities as well. It wasn't there over
a dozen helicopters and up to nine fixed wing planes
to evacuate Plumpa and Daily River and the other areas.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Yeah, that's correct. It's probably been a you know, thankfully
that's my job, but I think it's been a logistical
feat right across the territory. And I know yesterday here
in Catherine, you know, there's been helicopters that have gone
out and dropped food to outlying communities that haven't been
(06:08):
able to access food. And some of those missions were
aborted yesterday because of bad weather that came in at
the very last minute. They had to land in the
elders Car Park or on Florina Road or you know
wherever they could land just because the weather got so bad.
And then you know, our police commander was I think
(06:30):
he was rescued by a boat going to get him
because they landed on Florina Road. So it has been
you know, ever said, everyone is working to the best
they can with the weather condition and just soldiering on,
which is really good to see.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
And so the Catherine River itself is at the moderate
flood level. Now what is the next steps over the
next twenty four forty eight hours. I understand the Stuart
Highway north of Catherine is going to be open to
all transport and now south will only be open to
essential services and food to get that supplies in through
(07:09):
the top end.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
So yesterday there was an assessment done on the Edith
River Bridge and then there is a lot of work
being done on the actual road on the pavement. There
was significant damage there and so as soon as that
is finished, the Edith River Bridge will be open. And
in Catherine Township itself, there is a huge effort to
(07:37):
get the power back onto the CBD, and that is
that it's very frustrating for residents because I know I've
got people messaging me even now from Gorge Road and
you know it is frustrating for them because people have
not had power there for a few days. The main
concern is to get the CBD up and running and
(07:58):
then it will be domess s. I don't have any
further update from that, but it is about getting those
es central services up and running in the main CBD area,
just so that you know, we can get back to normal.
The woolwork shop can open, the butcher's in the main
street can open. You know, Town and Country have teamed
(08:20):
up with blue Hole in Crawford Street and because they
haven't had power and so they've transported all their meat
out to blue Hole, and you know there's a bit
of a competition on for a joint name for the
next week while they work in together. So but you
know there have been places in Crawford Street that have
been open for fruit and bedge and for meat and
(08:42):
also Catherine Mini Shop. But it just gets back to
this is another instance where one supermarket in our community
is you know, we do really need to look at
food security in the future. It's a very timely reminder
we do need another supermarket here or at least an
(09:03):
Ida or something out of the flood area.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
And I know there would have been so many people
like myself in Darwin watching what was in Catherine. It
might be too early, but you know, for anyone up
here who wants to lend a hand or do anything,
would you have any advice yet for them as to
how they can help out.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Yeah, So there's been plenty of people, and I thank
all those people that have reached out for support, whether
it be in donations or you know, giving a lending
hand themselves. But we're just not at that point at
the moment. We're still waiting for the floodwaters to recede,
and you know, then there will be a big cleanup,
(09:45):
and so then there's places like Salvation Army, places like
Red Cross. I mean, my office doesn't have powering the CBD.
There's probably from about maybe second Street back they have power,
but the main CBD on the Stuart Highway doesn't have
(10:06):
power just at the moment. So we're waiting for that
power to come back on so that we can all
get back into work. And then you know, potentially people
can either get in contact with my office or the
Salvation Army or Red Cross at the moment, so.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Just still earlier, yes, ye, all right, well I know
that you've got a very busy day today, minister. Thank
you so much for your time, and Katie will be
back on deck tomorrow so we will no doubt reach
out again and check in on how everyone's going down there.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, no worries, okay, thanks very much and thanks listeners.
I'll talk to you soon all about thanks Cathleene. Cheers,
Sarah here filling in for Katie Wolf this morning. She'll
be back on board tomorrow and it's myself and producer
Kathleen holding down the fort bringing you as many updates
as we can out of Catherine following a huge weekend.
So just a few moments ago, Kathleen did have a
chat with the Member for Catherine, Joe Heersey, to get
(00:24):
that update.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Authorities have begun assessments as floodwaters slowly received across Katherine
and the Big Rivers region. Joining us on the line
now is the Member for Catherine and Education Minister Joe Hersey.
Good morning, Minister, Good morning Kathleen, Good morning listeners. I mean,
it's your birthday today, so happy birthday. But what a
weekend it's been for the town of Catherine and the surrounds.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, what a weekend, and what a week it's been.
The extremely chyme but you know, we're extremely resilient here.
Everyone's just sort of getting on with things. The floodwaters
have receded considerably overnight and I think the river was
down to round about seventeen point two when I checked
(01:11):
earlier on So that's a good thing, and you know,
potentially it might just hold there for the next twenty
four to forty eight hours because we did have seventy
mil of rain overnight at Kyindle.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
How did it feel watching the rivers continue to rise
on Saturday morning, reaching that nineteen point two meters, which
is shy of that ninety eight level? I mean, did
you feel? And being a long term Catherine resident and
others that remember that time, was it a bit worrying
to see it continuing to increase?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Oh? Absolutely, And the fact that just six days ago
I had an operation. I'm very immobile at the moment.
It has been extremely trying and to watch that. I
got my son to take me for a drive it
was Saturday morning, just to go and have a look.
And even just in that hour and a half we
were out, the bridge ended up getting closed. We got
(02:09):
escorted back over to my daughters where I've been in
Catherine East here and the water was just yeah, my
husband stayed at home. It's been you know, for everyone
that's been through their third flood, and there's many of
us here in Catherine. It was pretty devastating on us.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Say, and around seven hundred people in evacuation centers, is
that right? So many many houses were inundated.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, that's correct. My understanding is there's maybe about five
hundred or so here in Katrin. Some of those other
numbers might take him because obviously, as well as Cathern
being flooded, we've also got juke Mengen which have been flooded.
We've got Palumpa, and we've also got Daily So there's
(02:56):
a bit going on with the weather in the territory
at the moment. But I went to the shelter yesterday
with the mayor and we spoke to a lot of
people there, a poor couple from the UK that was
stuck just here on holidays. But we're enjoying a bit
of downtime. But you know, everyone there was people from Kolano,
there was people from other areas in town that I've
(03:19):
known for a long time. Everyone was being well looked after.
The only thing that someone asked for was potentially extra
blankets or a bit more warmth over night. But everyone
was in good spirits and understanding of the emergency situation.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
And you mentioned obviously this being the third significant flood
for the town. I mean, the community really seemed to
band together. I was glued to Trent Dewit's social media
updates of you know, he was doing it Ali or
two Ali and giving some information and writing around the town,
obviously being contacted by others to go look at a
certain area to tell them what was going on. I mean,
(03:59):
has the key community really banded together and you know
now preparing once the waters do receive completely all pitching
in to help out.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Yeah, that's correct, and you know, a huge shout out
to Trent. Not only has he you know, I've run
him and asked for a couple of things to go
and check on because I haven't been over there as well.
He has been. His updates have been really good. I've
been updating what I can from you know, Catherine East
and due to my being incapacitated, but you know, Trent
(04:31):
has done a good job and it's been It's great
to see community come together in this way as we
do here in Catherine, but also just all of the
government agencies working together at the shelters. I want to
give a huge shout out to the education the teachers
here in Catherine from all of the schools that have
(04:53):
all gone to either McFarlane Catherine High School or Casuarina Street,
and you know some of those people are flood affected themselves.
I know at Casarina Street, you know, the principle and
the staff there, they've been affected and so you know,
whilst they're supporting others in the community, they still have
(05:14):
to go back at some stage and clean up their own.
But you know, Police Fire, Emergency Services, we've got the
ambulance station being as the emergency department. Everyone is doing
everything they can to continue on and support the community.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And it's been such an enormous logistical effort to even
evacuate those remote communities as well. It wasn't there over
a dozen helicopters and up to nine fixed wing planes
to evacuate Plumpa and Daily River and the other areas.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Yeah, that's correct. It's probably been a you know, thankfully
that's my job, but I think it's been a logistical
feat right across the territory. And I know yesterday here
in Catherine, you know, there's been helicopters that have gone
out and dropped food to outlying communities that haven't been
(06:08):
able to access food. And some of those missions were
aborted yesterday because of bad weather that came in at
the very last minute. They had to land in the
elders Car Park or on Florina Road or you know
wherever they could land just because the weather got so bad.
And then you know, our police commander was I think
(06:30):
he was rescued by a boat going to get him
because they landed on Florina Road. So it has been
you know, ever said, everyone is working to the best
they can with the weather condition and just soldiering on,
which is really good to see.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
And so the Catherine River itself is at the moderate
flood level. Now what is the next steps over the
next twenty four forty eight hours. I understand the Stuart
Highway north of Catherine is going to be open to
all transport and now south will only be open to
essential services and food to get that supplies in through
(07:09):
the top end.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
So yesterday there was an assessment done on the Edith
River Bridge and then there is a lot of work
being done on the actual road on the pavement. There
was significant damage there and so as soon as that
is finished, the Edith River Bridge will be open. And
in Catherine Township itself, there is a huge effort to
(07:37):
get the power back onto the CBD, and that is
that it's very frustrating for residents because I know I've
got people messaging me even now from Gorge Road and
you know it is frustrating for them because people have
not had power there for a few days. The main
concern is to get the CBD up and running and
(07:58):
then it will be domess s. I don't have any
further update from that, but it is about getting those
es central services up and running in the main CBD area,
just so that you know, we can get back to normal.
The woolwork shop can open, the butcher's in the main
street can open. You know, Town and Country have teamed
(08:20):
up with blue Hole in Crawford Street and because they
haven't had power and so they've transported all their meat
out to blue Hole, and you know there's a bit
of a competition on for a joint name for the
next week while they work in together. So but you
know there have been places in Crawford Street that have
been open for fruit and bedge and for meat and
(08:42):
also Catherine Mini Shop. But it just gets back to
this is another instance where one supermarket in our community
is you know, we do really need to look at
food security in the future. It's a very timely reminder
we do need another supermarket here or at least an
(09:03):
Ida or something out of the flood area.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
And I know there would have been so many people
like myself in Darwin watching what was in Catherine. It
might be too early, but you know, for anyone up
here who wants to lend a hand or do anything,
would you have any advice yet for them as to
how they can help out.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Yeah, So there's been plenty of people, and I thank
all those people that have reached out for support, whether
it be in donations or you know, giving a lending
hand themselves. But we're just not at that point at
the moment. We're still waiting for the floodwaters to recede,
and you know, then there will be a big cleanup,
(09:45):
and so then there's places like Salvation Army, places like
Red Cross. I mean, my office doesn't have powering the CBD.
There's probably from about maybe second Street back they have power,
but the main CBD on the Stuart Highway doesn't have
(10:06):
power just at the moment. So we're waiting for that
power to come back on so that we can all
get back into work. And then you know, potentially people
can either get in contact with my office or the
Salvation Army or Red Cross at the moment, so.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Just still earlier, yes, ye, all right, well I know
that you've got a very busy day today, minister. Thank
you so much for your time, and Katie will be
back on deck tomorrow so we will no doubt reach
out again and check in on how everyone's going down there.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, no worries, okay, thanks very much and thanks listeners.
I'll talk to you soon all about thanks Cathleene. Cheers,
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