a community-led storytelling project saying no to the Singleton Station Irrigation Project.
Fortune Agribusiness has been granted one of Australia's largest groundwater licences and the largest groundwater licence in NT history, using up to 40 billion litres of water a year, up to a trillion litres over 30 years - two times all the water in Sydney Harbour.
This development will lower the groundwater table by up to 50 metres, damage and destroy a 50 kilometre stretch of groundwater dependent trees, soaks and wetlands, and threaten up to 40 sacred sites. This development is occurring on Kaytetye Country, 30km west of Ali Curung Community.
Directed by Maureen Jipiyiliya Nampijinpa O’Keefe.
Filmed and edited by Peter Raftos, Minotaur House.
Translation by Maureen Jipiyiliya Nampijinpa O’Keefe and Marie Elena Ellis.
Produced by Running Water Community Press in collaboration with Arid Lands Environment Centre.
Working in partnership with Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre, Ali Curung.
Funded by Groundswell Giving.
The Water Justice Project has featured across various media, such as:
- Television: The 2024 ABC Four Corner's Episode Water Grab, The Drum 2023 Naidoc Week Special, ABC News;
- Written and online media, including the Guardian, SBS, ABC, & ICTV;
- in books Aqua Nullius: First Nations Water Rights in Australia, and Platypus Press Publication Water;
- Conference speeches, including Desert Mob Artist Talks (2025), Australia's Great North Conference (2025) and the State of the Environment Conference (2023);
- Art Exhibitions, including the Cross Arts Project exhibition in Sydney Water is Precious in the Desert;
- as well as engaging with government regulatory processes such as the water licence and environmental approvals for the Singleton development and water grab.
Additional Resources
Four Corners (August 2024) "Water Grab"
The Drum 2023 NAIDOC Special ft. the Water Justice Project
Testimonies
Ali Curung Elders say no to the Singleton Station Water License - Water Justice
Ned Jungarrayi Kelly says no to the Singleton Station Water License - Water Justice
Graham Jupurulla Beasley says no to the Singleton Station Water License - Water Justice
Valerie Nelson Nakamarra says no to the Singleton Station Water License - Water Justice
Peter Jupurulla Corbett says no to the Singleton Station Water License - Water Justice
Stay tuned #waterjusticeproject