Alice Springs and Katherine local news briefing, September 17, 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Here's what's making news in Alice Springs and Katherine today.

Aboriginal Housing NT chief executive Leeanne Caton is stepping down from her role with the peak body, adding to a list of high-profile resignations among Aboriginal leaders in the Northern Territory.

Ms Caton was a driving force behind establishing the organisation in 2018, which has advocated for community-controlled Aboriginal housing organisations and public housing tenants in Aboriginal communities, homelands, town camps and urban areas.

A farewell message described her as a "no-nonsense, straight-talking" chief executive.

She is set to be replaced by Greg Woodroffe.

A social policy researcher says the Labor Party has laid the groundwork to break a 2022 election promise to end compulsory income management in the Northern Territory.

The scheme, introduced as part of the Federal Intervention in remote Indigenous communities in the NT, quarantines half of a person's welfare payments.

It remains in place in the NT despite Labor abolishing the broader Cashless Debit Card elsewhere.

Australian National University researcher Dr Elise Klein said the June changes quietly extended the scheme.

Northern Territory police say an abandoned car has been destroyed by fire in Alice Springs overnight.

Police received multiple reports shortly after midnight of a vehicle engulfed by fire on the riverside of Sturt Terrace opposite Warburton Street in the suburb of East Side.

Acting Senior Sergeant Sandeep Singh said multiple explosions were heard, but no person was seen near the vehicle, and there was no immediate threat to nearby structures or buildings.

Northern Territory fire services attended along with police.

No injuries were reported, and investigators are continuing to look into the cause of the fire.

A new report has found drinking water supplied to 6,500 people in remote communities across the country failed national guidelines at least once over the past two years.

The Water Services Association of Australia examined publicly available drinking water results in 38 Indigenous communities.

It found that water in some communities failed at least one test in which microbiological or chemical levels exceeded Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

The peak water body said that represented about 8.6 per cent of people covered by the report.

It is calling for governments to agree on drinking water measures under the Closing the Gap agreement.

The Northern Territory government says a new sports precinct at Gillen Oval in Alice Springs is expected to be ready next year.

A $14.3 million construction contract has been awarded, but the exact start date has not yet been confirmed.

Sports Minister Jinson Charls said the government was working towards an October 2027 opening when summer season sport in Central Australia starts.

A young Alice Springs boxer says she is nervous but excited over the rare chance to train at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Twelve-year-old Arrernte boxer Leela Lord is in Canberra for the National Indigenous Boxing Development Program.

Participants normally need to be at least 15 years old, but Leela received a special exception.

She said the opportunity felt special.

"Yeah, I'm a bit nervous, but I'm mostly excited," she said.

"This is my first time going to Canberra."