The Northern Territory Department of Lands is currently producing a rural area strategy plan to guide the development of the rural area of Darwin. The study area extends from the existing urban development south to the Manton River, and from the Adelaide River westwards to the Blackmore River. One particular aspect of rural planning of concern to the Northern Territory Department of Health is the possible location of rural
residential areas within flight range of large and uncontrollable sources of potential disease carrying mosquitoes. This can pose problems by exposing people to endemic mosquito borne diseases such as epidemic polyarthritis, and also in coping with possible outbreaks of introduced mosquito borne diseases such as malaria.