THE Northern Territory government has released its draft terms of reference for creating a long-awaited flood mitigation strategy for Katherine, but the scope throws a question mark over whether those on the fifth floor are more concerned about providing an answer for flooding or boosting their political popularity.
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Across Australia, accurate flood mitigation strategies have taken up to 18 months to produce.
What is the priority for the government, a timely plan that looks good politically, or one that Katherine residents trust?
The other major concern is funding the mitigation strategy.
You do not have to be financial genius to see that $17.4 million is going to fall well short in delivering something that works.
Chief minister Adam Giles is on the record as saying that his government will spend what is needed to provide a solution, so time will tell if a monumental political backflip is on the horizon.
Even more than the financial impact caused by flooding, Territorians are fed up with the rising level of spin and broken promises they are being asked to endure on issues that affect their everyday lives.
There is far more riding on producing an effective flood mitigation strategy than simply keeping the Katherine River at bay.
The strategy will also be about the NT government proving that the carrots it dangled during the TIO sell-off have a shelf life longer than the time it takes to make an empty promise.
