Palmerston is home to two stunning natural reserves - Mitchell Creek and the Palmerston Escarpment, alongside several freshwater man-made lakes.

Palmerston Escarpment

The Palmerston Escarpment is a striking ridge linear reserve spanning Gunn, Bakewell, and Rosebery. Known for its steep terrain, eucalypt bushland, and rocky formations, it offers a scenic 2.7km walking trail from Cunningham Crescent to Buscall Avenue and Lambrick Avenue.
View map of Palmerston Escarpment

Palmerston lakes

Palmerston is home to several lakes perfect for catch and release barramundi fishing, exercise, and picnics. These lakes are an important part of the local ecosystem, providing habitats for fish, birds, and reptiles while functioning as stormwater retention and water treatment basins.

Management and health: learn more in the Palmerston Lakes Management Plan and check the latest Quarterly Lakes Water Quality Report Card for updates on lake health.

Lake locations: 

Mitchell Creek

Mitchell Creek is the primary water catchment system in the Palmerston area, situated east of the city centre. Flowing north of the Stuart Highway and extending east to Fellows Road, it eventually feeds into the Elizabeth River. It is Palmerston's only creek with a defined channel and is home to two notable plant species: Eucalyptus atrovirens and Typhonium praetermissum.

For more information about Mitchell Creek’s unique flora and fauna, view the information sheet.

How to help our lakes and wildlife

  • Take your rubbish home: use our app/website to report illegal dumping.
  • Reporting issues: report issues such as large numbers of dead fish, discoloured or smelly water, or overgrown plants.
  • Managing garden waste: avoid discarding lawn clippings or garden waste in lakes, parks, or natural bush areas, as it creates environmental hazards. Archer Waste Management Facility takes green waste for no cost.
  • Don’t dump your fish: releasing exotic fish and plants can seriously damage the aquatic environment. 

Feeding Wildlife

Feeding wildlife can cause:

  • Dependency: encouraging reliance on humans and disrupting natural foraging behaviour.
  • Health risks: bread lacks nutrition and can cause dietary imbalances, sickness, and deformities.
  • Water contamination: uneaten food can pollute lakes, lowering water quality and endangering both aquatic and terrestrial life.
  • Choose healthy alternatives: lettuce, bird seed, peas, grapes and oats are healthier alternatives for local wildlife. 

Weed Management

Mechanical weed harvesting of the lakes is carried out regularly, on an ‘as needs’ basis.

Salvinia is the main weed that is harvested from the lakes. Other aquatic vegetation and reeds are also harvested occasionally to maintain amenity and lake functions.

Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is the most significant weed that occurs in the lakes. It is an aggressive, fast-growing aquatic weed that forms dense mats over waterways.

Salvinia is managed through mechanical harvesting, weed spraying and biological control. Biological control involves introducing the salvinia weevil (Cyrtobagous salvinia) into the lakes. The weevil eats only salvinia.

Combining these management approaches reduces the impact that salvinia has on the lakes.

Be Crocwise

Take care around our lakes and waterways, any body of water in the Top End may contain large and potentially dangerous crocodiles. The Northern Territory Government manage Crocodiles, if you see a crocodile please report it to their team. 
 
For more information on being 'crocwise', visit becrocwise.nt.gov.au.