When floodwaters began receding from Katherine on Tuesday, residents faced an uncomfortable truth: they were not alone in the town's saturated landscape. Crocodiles, displaced by the surging Katherine River, had moved into territory that usually belongs to people. By the time the waters peaked at 19.2 metres on Saturday, the reptiles were spotted swimming on the inundated oval of Katherine South Football Club and walking down residential streets.
The Katherine River had risen above the 2006 flood level, marking the town's worst flooding since 1998. Flood waters inundated homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, including the evacuation and closure of Katherine Hospital and the loss of power to dozens of properties. Around 700 residents sought emergency shelter as roads were inundated and essential services disrupted, with widespread power outages reported across parts of the town.
Katherine Mayor Joanna Holden told the Australian Associated Press that one crocodile spotted on the football field was substantial in size. "I don't think he was small," she said, adding with dry wit that she "hasn't seen Noah yet so that's a good sign." Holden described the wet conditions: "It's quite damp, I think even the ducks have left town it's that wet."
Police warned of crocodiles "absolutely everywhere" and said they had moved more than 1,000 people across the state into shelter after massive floods. The visibility of reptiles in town streets reflects a biological reality about flooding in the Top End. During major flood events, rising waters can connect waterways and floodplains, allowing predators to move into areas where they are rarely seen, including towns and road networks.
The Northern Territory is home to more than 100,000 saltwater crocodiles, the world's largest population of the species. In the Northern Territory saltwater crocodiles have been linked to around 20 fatal attacks over the past two decades, including the death of a 12-year-old girl in July 2024. Northern Territory Police strongly urged people to stay out of flood waters, saying "The risk of injury, sickness and death are too high – if it's flooded, forget it."
Beyond crocodile danger, the flooding created multiple infrastructure crises. NT Health enacted emergency management plans to evacuate Katherine Hospital, with 21 patients being evacuated. In Darwin, the Katherine River at Katherine Bridge was expected to peak near 19.20 m Saturday evening, with major flooding. The Darwin River Dam's pump station failed under the pressure of unprecedented water, forcing boil water alerts for more than 150,000 Darwin residents. PowerWater said it had "never seen this volume of water" in the Darwin River Dam.
The local Woolworths reopened late Monday after trucks managed to restock, a small symbol of normalcy returning. Clean-up work remained stalled as of Tuesday, with authorities undertaking assessments and repair work where possible. Katherine South Football Club president Madi Hohn told AAP that friends reported seeing freshwater crocodiles wandering around town. "There was a bunch walking down the road and a few in town," she said. "People are watching them from their houses which is quite funny." The dark humour masked a genuine threat: with current flooding and rising river levels in the Big Rivers, crocodiles can move into new and unexpected areas, including creeks, drains, flooded roads and other waterways.
The Albanese and Finocchiaro Governments activated disaster assistance for residents within the Katherine Town Council area following an emergency declaration. For a community that has endured five days of flooding tension, recovery will extend well beyond the retreat of water. Residents face not just the physical cleanup but the slower work of rebuilding systems and infrastructure, all while remaining cautious about wildlife that has temporarily claimed their town.