Strengthening Darwin's water future
28 August 2026
Construction of the Manton Dam Return to Service project is complete, marking a major milestone for Darwin’s future water supply, with commissioning now underway.
Delivered under Stage 1 of the Darwin Region Water Supply Infrastructure Program, and supported by local business Exact Contracting, the project was completed on time and
$15 million under budget.
The Darwin Region Water Supply Infrastructure Program is an innovative and sustainable water supply solution, led by the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure, being delivered in stages to supply safe drinking water for Territorians to support our growing population and economy.
The project sees the return to service of Manton Dam as a drinking water source for the Darwin region, making an additional 7,300 megalitres of water available each year and strengthening the resilience of Darwin’s water supply as the region grows.
The completed works include significant upgrades to the existing intake tower at Manton Dam, a new pump station and 22 kilometres of pipeline, and construction of the new Strauss Water Treatment Plant.
The treatment plant will provide comprehensive water treatment to ensure water sourced from Manton Dam meets stringent drinking water quality requirements before entering the Darwin region water supply network.
Power and Water’s Chief Executive Officer Djuna Pollard said completing construction was an important achievement for the project team and the Territory.
‘Manton Dam has an important place in the history of Darwin’s water supply, and the completion of this project marks the beginning of a new chapter for this critical water source,’ she said.
‘Bringing Manton Dam back into service will provide an additional 7,300 megalitres of water each year, helping us meet growing demand and strengthening the resilience of Darwin’s water supply for decades to come.
‘The project has also delivered significant benefits for the local economy. More than 100 employees and 500 contractors were engaged over the past two years, supporting Territory jobs, businesses and capability.’
With construction now complete, commissioning of the Strauss Water Treatment Plant is underway. Power and Water is undertaking rigorous testing and verification of the new infrastructure and treatment processes before water from Manton Dam is introduced into the Darwin region water supply network later this year.
The project forms part of the $327.6 million Stage 1 of the Darwin Region Water Supply Infrastructure Program, jointly funded by the Australian Government, through the National Water Grid Fund, and the Northern Territory Government.
Photo: Power and Water CEO Djuna Pollard with Exact Contracting Project Manager Terri Jones.
Photo: L-R Power and Water team members David Rossi, Ahmad Mazloum, Liam Early, Trevor Durling and Wayne Sharp.
Photo: Aerial image of Strauss Water Treatment Plant. |
