View source for Jabiru, Northern Territory

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type     = town
| name     = Jabiru
| state    = nt
| image    = 
| caption  = 
| lga      = [[West Arnhem Region]]
| postcode = 0886
| est      = 
| coordinates = {{coord|12|40|S|132|50|E|display=inline,title}}
| pop      = 1,081 
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}}
| pop_footnotes = <ref name=Census/>
| elevation= 27
| maxtemp  = 34.2
| mintemp  = 22.6
| rainfall = 1586.2
| stategov = [[Electoral division of Arafura|Arafura]]
| fedgov   = [[Division of Lingiari|Lingiari]]
| dist1    = 256
| dir1     =
| location1= [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]]
}}
'''Jabiru''' is a town in the [[Northern Territory]] of [[Australia]]. Built in 1982, the town is completely surrounded by [[Kakadu National Park]]. At the [[2016 Australian census|2016 census]], Jabiru had a population of 1,081. It is named after the [[black-necked stork]] often seen in the wetlands and [[billabong]]s of Kakadu,<ref name=ntplaces>{{cite web|url=https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=23587|title=Town of Jabiru|website=NT Place Names Register|accessdate=20 January 2022}}</ref> which is commonly referred to in Australia as a jabiru. 
[[File:Kakadu 2427.jpg|thumb|180px|Crocodile Hotel at [[Kakadu National Park|Kakadu]]]]

== History and governance==
A township in the [[Alligator Rivers]] region of [[Arnhem Land]] was first proposed in the early 1970s to support a rapid growth in tourism following the construction of the [[Arnhem Highway]].<ref name=foxreport>{{cite web|url=https://www.awe.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/ranger-uranium-environmental-inquiry-fox-report-2.pdf|title=RANGER URANIUM ENVIRONMENTAL INQUIRY: SECOND REPORT|author1=Fox, R.W.|author2=Kelleher, G.G.|author3=Kerr, C.B.|publisher=[[Commonwealth of Australia]]|date=1977|accessdate=20 January 2022}}</ref> A view expressed by some witnesses before the [[Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry]] was that the development of the [[Ranger Uranium Mine]] and its supporting infrastructure would also support growth in the tourism industry. A new town could be established as a regional service centre, providing both homes for workers at the mine and tourist accommodation for visitors to the proposed Kakadu National Park.<ref name=foxreport />

The township of Jabiru began construction in 1982, after a {{convert |13|km2}} area was leased to the Jabiru Town Development Authority (JTDA) in 1981 by the [[Director of National Parks|Director of National Parks and Wildlife]]. Under this agreement, the JTDA controlled development through subleases to the operators of the Ranger Uranium mine, government agencies and private business. Under the conditions of the lease, the town was only to allow permanent residents who were associated with the operation of the mine, government agencies or essential services. The population was not to exceed 3500. These conditions were intended to protect the world heritage site by minimising the footprint of urban development.<ref name=GovUNESCO>{{cite web|url=https://www.awe.gov.au/sites/default/files/env/pages/3f3a19ff-9007-4ce6-8d4f-cd8ade380804/files/fullreport.pdf|title=Australia's Kakadu - Protecting World Heritage|author=Department of the Environment and Heritage|publisher=[[Commonwealth of Australia]]|date=April 1999|accessdate=20 January 2022}}</ref>

The second management plan for the Kakadu National Park in 1986 permitted expansion of the town's role as a tourism service centre, with the development of accommodation and tourism businesses subject to agreement by the traditional land owners and [[Northern Land Council]]. The first such development was the [[Gagudju Crocodile Hotel]], opened in 1988.<ref name=GovUNESCO />

The JTDA delegated local government responsibility to the Jabiru Town Council. The [[Northern Territory Government]] amalgamated [[Jabiru Town Council]] and the [[West Arnhem Shire]] (Region) in 2008.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} Jabiru town services are administered by the [[West Arnhem Regional Council]], whose council chambers are in the town plaza.{{check|date=June 2021}}

The [[Mirrar]] clan were recognised as the [[traditional owners|traditional title holders]] of Jabiru township in November 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-09/mirarr-country-jabiru-native-title-determination-nt/10479708|title=Jabiru native title claim victory for Mirarr traditional owners|last=Damjanovic|first=Dijana|date=8 November 2018|accessdate=9 November 2018|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> but a dispute over the [[native title in Australia|native title]] was drawn out for years. Following the closure of the mine and expiry of the lease, the town was formally handed over to the Mirrar people on 16 June 2021 by the federal [[Minister for the Environment (Australia)|Minister for the Environment]], [[Sussan Ley]], and the [[Minister for Indigenous Australians]], [[Ken Wyatt]], with settlement date fixed at 30 June.<ref>{{cite web  | title=Jabiru handed to Indigenous owners the Mirarr people after long-running native title dispute | website=The Guardian | date=26 June 2021 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/26/jabiru-handed-to-indigenous-owners-the-mirarr-people-after-long-running-native-title-dispute | access-date=28 June 2021}}</ref>

==Population==
According to the [[2016 Australian census|2016 census]] of Population, there were 1,081 people in Jabiru.
* [[Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander]] people made up 24.3% of the population. 
* 68.6% of people were born in Australia.   
* 64.9% of people only spoke English at home. 
* The most common response for religion was "no religion", at 36.8%.<ref name=Census>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC70136|name=Jabiru (State Suburb) |accessdate=20 July 2017|quick=on}}</ref>

==Description and facilities==
Apart from the Ranger mine, Jabiru's most notable industries are tourism, being the commercial and accommodation hub of Kakadu National Park, and [[Aboriginal Australian|Aboriginal]] arts and culture. Jabiru features a small town plaza that includes government offices, magistrate's court and emergency services.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Recreational facilities include the Jabiru town lake (picnic areas and barbecues), freshwater fishing for [[barramundi]] (a local specialty), the Yellow Water cruise, day-trips to [[Ubirr]] Rock, [[Twin Falls, Australia|Twin Falls]] and other natural features of Kakadu National Park.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

There is a sports and social club, an [[Olympic-size swimming pool]] (the only place guaranteed safe from crocodiles to swim), cricket ovals where cricket and [[Australian rules football]] are played. Magela Field in Jabiru is home to the Jabiru Bushratz RUFC. There is also a 9-hole golf course which is the only licensed premises for takeaway alcohol; however only members can buy takeaway alcohol there. Visitors can consume alcohol in opened containers on licensed premises.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

West Arnhem Regional Council, with the support of Library & Archives NT, delivers public library and information services in Jabiru, which are free to all residents of the region, with options also being available to short-term residents and visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Government|first=Northern Territory|date=2021-02-23|title=Find a library in the NT|url=https://nt.gov.au/leisure/arts-culture-heritage/libraries-and-records/find-a-library-in-the-nt|access-date=2021-05-24| website=nt.gov.au|language=en}}</ref> The library aims to provide a culture-rich environment with a focus on collecting materials, in all formats, with a focus on the Kakadu and West Arnhem region.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Library Services & Languages {{!}} West Arnhem Regional Council|url=https://www.westarnhem.nt.gov.au/our-services/community-services/library-services-languages|access-date=2021-05-24|website=westarnhem.nt.gov.au}}</ref>

== Climate ==
Jabiru has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Aw]]), typical of most of the [[Top End]]. Jabiru experiences heavy rain that often results in widespread flooding along the [[Arnhem Highway]] and [[Kakadu Highway]]. During 2006–07 Jabiru had its biggest wet season on record cutting both highways after almost {{convert|2|m}} of rain fell over a 3-month period. The Arnhem Highway was cut off for several weeks as the West Alligator bridge was severely damaged. Temperatures can drop below {{convert|10|°C|°F}} in the winter/dry season from May to August and peak at over {{convert|40|°C|°F}} during the buildup season from September to November. Spectacular electrical storms are also frequent during this period, before the prolonged rains of the wet season arrive. The wet season is usually associated with the monsoon rains and [[tropical cyclones]] and it occurs between December and March (the southern hemisphere summer), when thunderstorms are common and afternoon relative humidity averages over 70 percent during the wettest months.
{{Weather box
|location = Jabiru, Northern Territory, Australia (1991-2020 normals, extremes and sunshine 1971–present)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|width = auto

|Jan record high C = 38.4
|Feb record high C = 37.7
|Mar record high C = 38.0
|Apr record high C = 38.0
|May record high C = 37.6
|Jun record high C = 36.7
|Jul record high C = 37.0
|Aug record high C = 38.5
|Sep record high C = 40.4
|Oct record high C = 42.3
|Nov record high C = 42.4
|Dec record high C = 41.6
|Jan high C = 33.8
|Feb high C = 33.6
|Mar high C = 34.2
|Apr high C = 34.7
|May high C = 33.7
|Jun high C = 32.2
|Jul high C = 32.5
|Aug high C = 34.0
|Sep high C = 36.7
|Oct high C = 37.9
|Nov high C = 37.4
|Dec high C = 35.3
|Jan mean C = 29.3
|Feb mean C = 29.2
|Mar mean C = 29.5
|Apr mean C = 29.3
|May mean C = 28.0
|Jun mean C = 26.1
|Jul mean C = 25.8
|Aug mean C = 26.6
|Sep mean C = 28.3
|Oct mean C = 31.0
|Nov mean C = 31.3
|Dec mean C = 30.3
|Jan low C = 24.8
|Feb low C = 24.7
|Mar low C = 24.7
|Apr low C = 23.9
|May low C = 22.2
|Jun low C = 19.9
|Jul low C = 19.1
|Aug low C = 19.2
|Sep low C = 21.7
|Oct low C = 24.1
|Nov low C = 25.1
|Dec low C = 25.2
|Jan record low C = 20.3
|Feb record low C = 20.6
|Mar record low C = 19.5
|Apr record low C = 16.0
|May record low C = 13.9
|Jun record low C = 9.9
|Jul record low C = 8.8
|Aug record low C = 12.0
|Sep record low C = 12.0
|Oct record low C = 13.7
|Nov record low C = 19.0
|Dec record low C = 21.1
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 370.2
|Feb rain mm = 369.0
|Mar rain mm = 297.0
|Apr rain mm = 108.8
|May rain mm = 20.7
|Jun rain mm = 1.3
|Jul rain mm = 3.3
|Aug rain mm = 1.4
|Sep rain mm = 13.6
|Oct rain mm = 49.4
|Nov rain mm = 123.2
|Dec rain mm = 230.6
|Jan rain days = 19.1
|Feb rain days = 17.8
|Mar rain days = 16.4
|Apr rain days = 6.4
|May rain days = 1.7
|Jun rain days = 0.3
|Jul rain days = 0.2
|Aug rain days = 0.1
|Sep rain days = 0.5
|Oct rain days = 3.0
|Nov rain days = 9.0
|Dec rain days = 14.6
|unit rain days = 1 mm
|Jan afthumidity = 66
|Feb afthumidity = 69
|Mar afthumidity = 58
|Apr afthumidity = 44
|May afthumidity = 37
|Jun afthumidity = 34
|Jul afthumidity = 29
|Aug afthumidity = 26
|Sep afthumidity = 25
|Oct afthumidity = 28
|Nov afthumidity = 39
|Dec afthumidity = 56
|Jan dew point C = 24.0
|Feb dew point C = 24.4
|Mar dew point C = 22.4
|Apr dew point C = 18.7
|May dew point C = 15.7
|Jun dew point C = 13.1
|Jul dew point C = 11.0
|Aug dew point C = 10.3
|Sep dew point C = 11.9
|Oct dew point C = 14.5
|Nov dew point C = 18.8
|Dec dew point C = 22.5
|Jand sun = 6.4
|Febd sun = 6.6
|Mard sun = 6.1
|Aprd sun = 8.6
|Mayd sun = 9.3
|Jund sun = 9.4
|Juld sun = 9.7
|Augd sun = 10.0
|Sepd sun = 9.4
|Octd sun = 9.4
|Novd sun = 8.4
|Decd sun = 7.3
|Jan sun = 198.4
|Feb sun = 186.5
|Mar sun = 189.1
|Apr sun = 258.0
|May sun = 288.3
|Jun sun = 282.0
|Jul sun = 300.7
|Aug sun = 310.0
|Sep sun = 282.0
|Oct sun = 291.4
|Nov sun = 252.0
|Dec sun = 226.3
|Jan percentsun = 50
|Feb percentsun = 53
|Mar percentsun = 50
|Apr percentsun = 73
|May percentsun = 81
|Jun percentsun = 82
|Jul percentsun = 85
|Aug percentsun = 85
|Sep percentsun = 78
|Oct percentsun = 76
|Nov percentsun = 66
|Dec percentsun = 57
|source 1 = Australian Bureau of Meteorology<ref name="Jabiru, Australia 1971-2024">{{cite web
| url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_014198_All.shtml
| title = Climate statistics for Australian locations – Jabiru Airport 1971-2024
| date=25 April 2022}}</ref>
|source 2 = Australian Bureau of Meteorology<ref name="Jabiru, Australia 1991-2020 normals">{{cite web
| url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=014198&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal
| title = Climate statistics for Australian locations – Jabiru Airport 1991-2020 normals
| date=25 April 2022}}</ref>
}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Localities and communities of the West Arnhem Region|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mining towns in the Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Kakadu National Park]]