Improvements bring Darwin waterhole back to life

Work is set to begin on improvements to a popular rural Darwin waterhole.

The Howard Springs Nature Park, which has been closed to swimming for five years due to poor water quality, is to benefit from $3 million in funding from the Northern Territory Government.

The work will see improvements to the eight shallow rock pools along with the addition of a waterfall and aquatic viewing platforms.

Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Minister Karl Hampton explained that "the new aquatic viewing platforms will boost the visitor experience while the new waterfall and rock pools will help visitors cool off on a hot day."

More than 71,500 visitors came to the 300 hectare park, located 35 kilometres south of Darwin, last year.

The park was the first Territory reserve established by the former NT Reserves Board, now the Parks and Wildlife services, in 1957. It protects diverse habitats, including monsoon forest, paperbark swamps and woodland.

The improvement works will be undertaken by Territory company Goodline. 

15th February 2010 - TESTING TIMES FOR NORTHERN TERRITORY SWIM SPOT