Environment Centre NT has launched a legal challenge to protect the iconic Mataranka Springs and Roper River ecosystems.
Massive groundwater extraction threatens to dry up world-famous thermal springs and devastate the communities that rely on the Roper River.
Despite fierce opposition from Traditional Owners, tourism and environment groups, the Finocchiaro government approved the Mataranka Water Allocation Plan in December 2024.
That’s why the Environment Centre NT, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office, is going to the Northern Territory Supreme Court to protect these world-famous springs and communities that rely on the Roper River.
Environment Centre NT has asked the Northern Territory Supreme Court to rule the Mataranka Water Allocation Plan invalid because insufficient water has been allocated to the environment.
The hearing is set down for 10am Tuesday 25 November 2025 before Justice Blokland.
Show your support!
Come along and show your support by attending a photo opportunity at 9:150am on Tuesday 25 November outside the Northern Territory Supreme Court. Bring your Save our Springs banners and signs to show your support for the campaign to save Mataranka and the Roper River.
Kirsty Howey, Executive Director of the Environment Centre NT
National icons at risk
The famous turquoise waters and lush palm forests at Mataranka and Bitter Springs are home to freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, little red flying foxes and agile wallabies.
The Plan allows for up to 62,000 megalitres of water to be extracted annually from the Tindall Limestone Aquifer.
That's enough water to fill more than 24,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools that would, if laid end to end, stretch most of the way from Darwin to Alice Springs.
Yet the plan only allocates 30ML a year to the environment – a figure that does not appear to be based on evidence about what’s needed to sustain these incredible ecosystems.
Scientists have found that the aquifer is already getting drier. Massive amounts of water extraction will only make the problem worse and could damage our iconic springs and the Roper River forever.
We need your help to ensure over extraction of water doesn't turn this oasis into an arid landscape and wipe its tourist industry off the map.
Tourism Economy Threatened
The thermal pools are the region's primary tourist attraction. Local jobs, caravan parks, and businesses depend entirely on visitors coming to experience these unique hot springs, which attract thousands of backpackers and grey nomads.
More than 201,000 people visit Elsey National Park each year and tourism is worth more than $2.2 billion in gross value added to the Territory economy every year.
The Mataranka Water Allocation Plan threatens Bitter Springs (pictured)
Donate
You can help by donating to our work defending the Territory's nature.
Sign the petition
Traditional Owners along the Roper River have made their voice clear – they want to have formal roles in the planning and protection of these rivers
Please stand with Traditional Owners by signing the petition calling for a Commonwealth-funded First Nations-led governance project for the Roper River.
Help us protect Mataranka and the Roper River