Commander Bruce Porter APM, Region 2 Regional Controller, advises that as a result of on the ground inspections and assessments undertaken by the impact assessment team on Goulburn Island, it has been deemed safe for the people of Warruwi to commence returning home.

By the end of today, the Government will have helped 80 people return home to Warruwi from the temporary evacuation centre at the Foskey Pavilion at the Darwin Showgrounds.

As can be expected, these people are delighted to be returning to their homes.

The remaining members of the community are scheduled to be flown to home to Warruwi by the end of tomorrow.

In order to ensure that the organisation of people onto flights is conducted as smoothly and efficiently as possible, all members of the Warruwi community now in Darwin are encouraged to return to the Foskey Pavilion before midnight tonight (Saturday 21 February) as buses will be on site from 5:00am Sunday to take them to the airport.