The Katherine Region Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee released the 23-page report for public consultation on May 14, and it makes 16 recommendations on how to best utilise the Northern Territory government’s $25 million funding allocation for local flood mitigation.

One of the key recommendations is to commence future planning for the relocation of the Katherine Hospital to an flood-free area identified in the Katherine Land Use Plan.

Willem Westra van Holthe, who chairs the committee, said it was important for Katherinites to understand the recommendation was only the “first step” in relocating the hospital.

“Moving the hospital is a long-term plan,” he said.

“I’d love to see it happen in my term as the local member here [but] it probably wont, it’s more likely to happen in my lifetime.”

He added that he was extremely disappointed by the lack of community input during the initial stages of compiling the report, with only four residents attending a public forum on the recommendations last week.

“Flood affects so much of our community and so many people, it is really surprising that not more people have taken an active interest in this committee and what the committee is doing,” he told the Katherine Times.

“I can only put it down to the fact they’re apathetic and, beyond that, it’s difficult to fathom just why, because it’s such an important issue.”

The report has also recommended that $500,000 of the allocation be used over the next three years to promote the hydraulic efficiency of the Katherine River through weed and sediment control.

Mr Westra van Holthe said debris and an abundance of plant growth in the river made a major difference to how water flowed down the river during flood events.

“There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind, I think, that the growth of weed species like mahoganies and neem trees are causing a significant slowing of the water passage down the corridor,” he said.

In total, just $12.9m of the total $25m funding allocation has been earmarked for “structural mitigation measures”, with another $7.6m in place to relocate the town’s paramedics out of the flood zone.

However, Treasurer Dave Tollner admitted there could be more money available for Katherine if it was needed to provide a substantiative flood mitigation solution.

“Well, we’ve got a whack of money in there for flood mitigation across the Northern Territory,” he said on April 29.

“I think there’s probably been a slight over-allocation of money to the Darwin area and ... certainly some of that money can be used in other parts of the Territory if it’s needed.”

Mr Westra van Holthe said the $25m was a “nominal figure”.

“If cabinet consider that Katherine needs more money out of that total bucket of [$50m in total for the NT], then more money will most certainly flow our way,” he said.

The report is open for comment until June 11, with copies available at the Katherine Town Council chambers, or online.

What’s the draft report say?

THE draft report makes 16 key recommendations on the steps the Katherine Region Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee believes need to be taken in order to best provide a flood mitigation solution for the town, using the $25 million allocated by the Northern Territory government in 2014, including:

Recommendation 1.2: Developing a digital hydraulic model that includes the impact of riverine, stormwater and groundwater flooding.

Recommendation 2.2: Preparing a maintenance strategy to promote the  hydraulic efficiency of the Katherine River, including weed and sediment control.

Recommendation 3.4: Commencing future planning for the relocation of Katherine Hospital.

Recommendation 5.1: Establishing a flood resilience grant for businesses in the flood zone to help them re-establish and return to operation quickly following a flood event.