The largest water storage infrastructure project in Northern Australia has taken another significant step forward.

A $6 million contract has been awarded to SMEC Australia to deliver the final concept design for the Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) project.

SMEC Australia have been delivering projects in the Territory for more than 4 decades. The company brings strong experience, capability and highly specialised skills to deliver this critical component of the AROWS project.

SMEC Australia Area Manager, Jocelyn Ellero said, “AROWS will become an iconic project in the NT, I am not only looking forward to delivering a project of such high technical calibre but the impact we will have on the community and future growth of Greater Darwin.”

AROWS is part of the Darwin Region Water Supply Program, which includes Manton Dam Return to Service: stage 1 of the program has received over $300 million in investment from the Australian Government.

AROWS will secure Greater Darwin’s long-term water supply and will be a critical enabler for agricultural and industrial growth, including the proposed Lambells Lagoon Agribusiness precinct and the Middle Arm Sustainable Development precinct.

The innovative and sustainable large scale water storage project takes full advantage of the natural features of its location to capture and store water. As such, there will be no dam infrastructure built across the river as you would typically see in in-stream dams, minimising environmental impact.

The design is expected to take approximately 12 to 18 months to complete, with construction expected to start in 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and an investment decision.

Source: Department of Tourism, Industry & Trade