• The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has upgraded the Darwin region to a Cyclone Warning.  

• City of Darwin is urging residents to secure bins or remove any loose items around their homes that could become hazardous in strong winds. 

• City of Darwin facilities will close as scheduled today, reopening on Monday, following post-cyclone assessments for public safety. This includes: 

  - Civic Centre, libraries, pools, community centres, parks, ovals, cemeteries, walkways, the pound and public toilets.

  - Dragonfly and West Lane carparks will close at 7:00 pm tonight and will remain closed to the public for weekend – permit holders can still access these facilities. 

• Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility will remain open until 6:00 pm today with extra resources in place. 

  - The facility will be closed over the weekend and remain closed until further notice. Access restrictions may apply to the public upon reopening.

  - City of Darwin prioritises effective waste collection to protect community health and will reinstate any disrupted services as soon as possible.  

The updated advice from the BoM suggests Tropical Cyclone Fina is expected to cause gale force winds to the Darwin region within the next 24 hours. City of Darwin urges the community to prepare now by securing or removing any loose items around their homes that could become hazardous in strong winds.   

CEO Simone Saunders said all City of Darwin facilities will be closed over the weekend aligned with the councils and operator’s comprehensive cyclone plans.  

“All facilities will be closed for the safety of residents and staff and will re-open on Monday, pending appropriate safety assessments. 

“Keep up to date with alerts and check the City of Darwin website or social media pages for updates on facilities and when services will resume,” she added.  

The community is reminded that City of Darwin libraries and carparks are not cyclone shelters and to please familiarise themselves with their closest shelter. Please visit www.pfes.nt.gov.au.  

Emergency contacts: 

• Urgent City of Darwin services and facilities, please call 8980 3603. 

• For life threatening emergencies or serious injuries, call 000. 

• Power, water, or sewerage issues, call Power Water on 1800 245 090. 

• If your call relates to damage to your property, damage to main roads or traffic signals please call the Northern Territory Government on 1800 888 901. 

For additional information on preparing for a tropical cyclone, visit https://securent.nt.gov.au/