Living in West Daly
The new West Daly Regional Council (WDRC) covers 14,000 square kilometres and has a population of more than 3000 throughout the communities of Wadeye (Port Keats), Peppimenarti (Peppi) and Palumpa.
The roads to the communities are cut by flooding during the wet season from about late November to April/May. During this time travel is limited to air. Murin Travel and Freight service the communities with daily flights to and from Darwin and Wadeye all year round. The mail plane flies to the communities of Peppimenarti and Palumpa on Tuesday's and Friday's for delivery and pick up and charters are also available. There is a weekly barge service for freight.
All indigenous housing is owned, maintained and operated by Territory Housing. There are approximately 120 staff houses at Wadeye, all of which are owned and operated by various agencies, including West Daly Regional Council, Tharmarrurr Development Corporation, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, NT Department of Health, NT Police as well as the local store and Takeaway business.
Wadeye traditional owners negotiated a 40-year lease arrangement with the Australian and Northern Territory governments through the Northern Land Council under the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program to allow for the construction and provision of housing.