On 11:59pm on Thursday 26 March, remote communities in the Northern Territory (NT) were closed to all non-essential travel in response to concerns about the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

You will not be able to enter a designated area if you have:

• coronavirus (COVID-19) related symptoms at entry
• come into contact or had exposure to anyone suspected to have coronavirus (COVID-19) without adequate personal protective precautions

There are no restrictions on leaving a designated biosecurity area, however, anyone wishing to re-enter must also quarantine for 14 days in an excluded area in the NT prior to re-entering or demonstrate they are an approved remote essential worker.

If you intend to enter a designated area, you will need to fill in the designated area compliance form PDF (418.2 KB) at a biosecurity check point and provide appropriate documents and evidence, as outlined below.

People cannot enter 'designated areas' around Australia except in the following circumstances:

• you are able to complete the traveller health information on the designated area compliance form and:
  • you are an approved remote essential area worker (and hold an approved remote area workers (AREW) ID card) or
  • have an exemption from an authorised person (and can provide evidence of this exemption at the checkpoint) or
  • you are a resident within the designated area, and can provide evidence to prove you have completed 14 days quarantine.

If you cannot provide the required evidence, you will not be allowed to enter the designated area.

Designated areas

These Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the NT are designated areas:

• Tiwi Islands
• West Arnhem
• East Arnhem including:
  • the Town of Nhulunbuy unincorporated LGAs and
  • the Town of Alyangula unincorporated LGAs
• West Daly
• Roper Gulf (excluding Mataranka)
• Victoria Daly (excluding the Pine Creek Ward)
• Barkly (excluding Tennant Creek, and the Corella Creek, Wogayla and Gulunnura Community Living Areas east of Tennant Creek)
• Central Desert
• MacDonnell, including the Town of Yulara unincorporated area.

Maps of designated areas

View the maps of designated biosecurity areas in the NT.

Excluded

The following are excluded from the designated areas:

• pastoral properties
• the Local Government Areas of:
  • Darwin
  • Palmerston
  • Litchfield
  • Coomalie
  • Wagait
  • Belyuen
  • Katherine, as well as the Katherine Gorge accommodation facilities
  • Mataranka
  • Alice Springs, as well as Golden Mile, Amoonguna, and some satellite outstations very close to Alice Springs.

Roads

The Territory’s main roads remain open, including the Stuart, Arnhem, Barkly and Victoria highways.

However, you are strongly urged to restrict all travel and cancel any non-essential travel.

Remote community residents

Community residents (including those people who are residing in a community because they are an approved remote essential worker) are strongly urged to stay in their community to prevent having to quarantine.

After 11:59 pm Thursday 26 March, community residents who leave their designated area must quarantine in an excluded area for 14 days before returning to their community.

This also applies to residents of the Towns of Nhulunbuy and Alyangula.

Travelling inside designated biosecurity areas

Travel for remote community residents is allowed between communities, homelands/outstations and any unincorporated townships (Nhulunbuy and Alyangula only) within their biosecurity area.

Community residents are strongly advised, however, not to travel if they do not have to (i.e. except in an emergency or for medical treatment).

People who reside in a remote community because they are an approved essential worker must only travel to and between the remote communities and/ or homelands for which they are approved and have a permit from the relevant land council.

Regional requirements to access Aboriginal land may also apply to travel inside designated biosecurity areas.

Anindilyakwa and Tiwi regions

The Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC) enforced a two-week cessation of travel to and from the Groote Archipelago between close of business 31 March 2020 and 6am 14 April 2020.

From 14 April 2020, anyone coming to the Groote Archipelago must apply for a Groote Archipelago and Community Access Permit from the ALC or under the Approved Remote Essential Workers Program.

The Tiwi Land Council has declared the closure of all land and seas within the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat until further notice.

Find out more about the permit process for approved remote essential workers in the Anindilyakwa and Tiwi regions.

Approved remote essential workers

Exemption applies to those requiring entry to provide an essential activity.

An exemption must be sought and approved prior to travel.

Aboriginal land councils will be involved in the permissions process.

Find out more about the exemption process for approved remote essential workers.

More information

The Commonwealth has implemented a determination under the Biosecurity Act 2015, prohibiting persons from entering “designated areas”.

To find out more about travel to a remote community in the NT, call the remote travel hotline on 1800 518 189 or email remote.travel@nt.gov.au.

Read about essential air services for remote communities.