KATHERINE’S paramedics should be operating outside of the town’s flood zone by the end of 2016, according to the chair of the committee tasked with recommending how $25 million in mitigation funding should be utilised.
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After eight months, the Katherine Region Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee presented its final report last week that outlines what needs to be done to combat flooding in Katherine.
A total of 19 recommendations are made in the report, which will now be presented to Lands and Planning Minister Dave Tollner before being endorsed by cabinet.
One of the key recommendations in the report is the long-awaited construction of a St John Ambulance NT station outside the town’s flood zone, for which $7.6m has been allocated.
The $25m in funding was provided through the sale of insurer TIO in 2014 and Member for Katherine Willem Westra van Holthe, who chairs the committee, said it was anticipated that paramedics would have their new headquarters – to be built near the Katherine East emergency services precinct – by the end of next year.
“A master plan for ambulance, police fire and emergency services has been prepared,” he explained.
“The subdivision of the land parcel ... is being prepared.
“The tender for the detailed design … is about to be released by the Department of Infrastructure.
“The design of essential services and road access is underway by the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment.
“Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2016.”
Mr Westra van Holthe praised the committee for its work and said each recommendation was “important to improving flood mitigation in the Katherine region”.
“Five members of the public commented on the initial consultation, three members of the public attended the public meeting and two members of the public commented on the report,” Mr Westra van Holthe said.
